CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It's what most of us associate with professions such as Medicine and Law, but it's relevant to all of us.
It doesn't just mean continuing to train and learn new things, it means targeted, measurable development.
Before the recession, many companies had specialist training and Human Resources departments and were able to help their staff with their CPD. It used to be very common to be offered a wide range of suitable courses to study, directly connected to your job.
Now that cut-backs have eaten into budgets, training isn't offered by employers nearly as much as it used to be. This could be seen as a disadvantage - but it also means that your development is in your control. You don't have to develop along the lines that your employer chooses, you can chose where you want to go yourself.
Here are a few ideas for starting your own CPD journey:
Past - Think about any training your have done in the past and how it is benefiting you in your job now. Make a note of any topics that you particularly enjoyed and/or are good at. These could be ones to develop further.
Present - How does the training you have done in the past benefit your present job (or job you are looking for)? What new skills do you need? Which areas of your job (or past jobs) are most stressful? Training can help reduce work-related stress tremendously.
Future - Where do you want to be this time next year? In five years? Work out how to get there and break it down into manageable steps.
We have a CPD record cards you can download to record your progress. Your CPD record is a great thing to show prospective employers. It shows that you are professional, committed, skilled and highly employable.
Dt: 3rd May 2011
Author: Pitman Training Swords
www.pitmantrainingswords.ie
SWORDS
