This week I mentioned the decrease in company training budgets in one of my posts. The result…WE need to pursue our own personal and professional development. So easily said. Where do you turn for training? Before you get frustrated or give up on this initiative, let's take a step back.
What is the training you are seeking? Let's look at the whole picture and not just the immediate need. Training is not a quick fix. It should be process of learning and development.
Start with an assessment of where your skills are. Then look at which ones you want to develop.
This is a model of general workforce competencies from the Department of Labor. It is a solid list. The DOL has a site filled with specific industry competencies, so visit their site here.
Tier 3 competencies:
- Teamwork
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Customer Focus
- Planning & Organizing
- Creative Thinking
- Problem Solving & Decision Making
- Working with Tools & Technology
- Workplace Computer Applications
- Scheduling & Coordinating
- Checking, Examining & Recording
- Business Fundamentals
Now, where do you rank and where do you need or want to be? Can you say Gap Analysis?
With this information in hand, you can begin to develop your personal learning plan. It will give you an idea of what type of training and development to look for as well as prioritize.
Imagine actually creating this gap analysis and bringing it in to a meeting with your manager? OK, not everyone should or could. But it will provide you with the logic to build a case for pursuing training that might need the financial support of your company.
You could use the findings from your gap analysis and plan to network to find training resources. Imagine asking a colleague where you might find resources for developing creative thinking. Have they read any good books, attended any seminars or seen any webinars on the topic?
Another really helpful resource for creating your personal training plan in ONet Skills Search. Especially if you are thinking about changing careers or industries or both. It maps out the skills required for hundreds of occupations.
Remember, Emotional Intelligence:
- The ability to recognize, understand and express emotions and
feelings - The ability to manage and control feelings
- The ability to generate positive effects and be self-motivated
- The ability to understand how others feel and to relate to them
- The ability to manage change, adapt and solve problems of a personal
and interpersonal nature
Also remember Resiliency.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
