Investing Your Time to Pursue Professional Development | 3 Things to Consider

We've shared a variety of resources regarding professional development on Idealist Career Advice: from pursuing low-cost professional development opportunities to asking your organization to sponsor activities that support your career growth, it's clear we're fans of taking matters into our own hands when needed.

However, one thing we haven't talked about before is the non-monetary cost to advancing your own professional development. Namely, the time commitment it requires.

Not every professional development opportunity is created equally, and they definitely won't lead to the same results for every person. So how can you best evaluate when something is worth the time you put into it (and when it's definitely not)?

To help you answer that question quickly and effectively, here are five things to consider when pursuing your own professional development:

1. Is attendance required? If you're pursuing professional associations, conferences, or Meetups, you'll want to consider whether your after-work hours can be spent on these types of networking opportunities, as well as how often you'll attend them.
2. Can I attend each class or meeting? Take a look at your calendar. If you're signing up for a class or joining a new professional association, make sure you're willing to sacrifice a bit of free time. Growing in your career takes take, so if something doesn't feel like it's worth the extra effort then it may not be right for you.
3. Should I pursue a more hands-on role? Depending on the type of professional development opportunity you're pursuing, you may have the chance to take on a leadership or collaborative role. In-person and online courses require a significant time investment, but so do clubs and alumni leagues that require members to pitch in. Whether you're writing the newsletter, sourcing funding, or introducing yourself to new members, take into account how much time you're willing and able to spend on extra work.

The best results from joining a professional association come from regular attendance at events and stepping up to committee work and leadership roles, but it's better to reserve your effort for the opportunities that you truly care about. Any dues you pay are only a fraction of the investment compared to the time you’ll spend growing your network and cultivating your career.

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by Allison Jones