Professional development is good! And fun!

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Forgive my late blogging – I’ve just gotten back from the spring meeting of the Upstate New York Special Libraries Association meeting, right here in Albany. Our topic was “Career Building and Staying Relevant in Trying Economic Times" and we had a great variety of speakers, focusing on professional growth and managing your career. We had an information professional focus, but these topics are helpful for anyone, no matter what industry or employment status.

These aren’t new totally new ideas, but it’s nice to be reminded and reinvigorated. Here are just a few things that I came away with today:

  • Say “yes” to new opportunities, even if they are scary. Volunteer for them even.
  • Spend a small amount of time, one hour a week, focusing on career development and building your network.
  • Evaluate your skill set and compare it to what today’s job postings are looking for, even if you’re not on the job market. Determine professional development opportunities to fill in your gaps.
  • Be proactive. When times are tough, don’t just hunker down and hide your head. Figure out what you can do to make yourself invaluable in your current job or the perfect job candidate.

Professional development is a beautiful thing. And on that note, I can’t wait to see the SBDC folks in Kerhonkson!

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