Are you looking to take your career to the next level as an LGBTQ+ professional? A professional development plan can help. It is a roadmap that defines your goals, determines what skills you need to develop, and tracks your progress. Here, Pink Media discusses how you can create a professional development plan that will set you up for success in your chosen field.
Set Specific Goals
The first step in creating a professional development plan is to define your long-term goals. Think about where you want to be in 5 years or 10 years and write them down. BetterUp notes that you should also consider any short-term goals or objectives that need to be met along the way. This will give you a clear vision of what success looks like and will help keep you motivated as you work towards achieving it.
Identify the Skills You Want to Acquire
Once you have identified your goals, it is important to understand the skills required to achieve them. These skills may span from problem-solving and decision-making to technical proficiencies like coding languages or software applications. Make a list of the essential skills necessary for success in your field, including those that need progress and those that are new.
Go Study
One of the best ways to develop these skills is by going back to school with an online program. Earning a degree online is a great way to advance your career and open up new opportunities. With an education degree, for instance, you’ll gain expertise in instructional practice and learner development, while also learning more about the topics you want to teach.
Talk to a Mentor
Mentoring relationships can be hugely beneficial for those in the LGBTQ+ community looking to achieve success in their career. A mentor can offer key advice and guidance based on their own experiences, such as advice on career choices and job opportunities, networking strategies, and effective communication. This can help accelerate growth and increase the chances of success.
Update Your Resume
Building a stellar, professional-looking resume is an important step if a career change is on your horizon. There are free online resume templates that make it easy to create one. You can select from a library of professionally designed options and customize your layout by adding your own copy, photos, colors, and images.
Also, if you have your resume as a single file but you need to split a PDF because a particular position wants materials submitted separately (for instance, they want the references separated from the rest of the resume), you can use this tool for free.
Establish a Strategy
Now, create a plan of action to facilitate your development. Set realistic deadlines and put in place monthly check-ins with yourself, as well as weekly check-ins with someone else (e.g., your mentor) for feedback on your progress and areas to improve. Doing so can keep motivation high and drive you to achieve your goals.
Assess Your Success and Enjoy Your Victories
You can now reflect on your progress and appreciate your wins along the way. Take some time regularly to assess the progress you’ve made toward your goals and make tweaks as needed. Also, Psychology Today suggests taking time to celebrate successes, no matter their size — they all add up in the end and should not be overlooked.
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