PSY 693 Professional Capstone

Week 6 Discussion

DQ1 After exploring the resources for this week, please answer the following questions:

What does professional growth mean to you?

Why is networking so important? How can you do this more?

How important is continued education for your future success?

DQ2 After researching various professional development opportunities, what short term plan of action (1-3 years) will you take to remain current in your field? Be sure to address networking, professional organizations, journals, continued education, etc.

 

MORE INFO 

professional growth and networking

Introduction

Networking is an important part of the professional growth process. It helps you build relationships, learn new things, and stay connected with your peers in a way that can’t be done through just reading about them online. I’ve compiled some tips for improving your networking skills so that you can improve your career and make new friends along the way!

Join a professional organization.

Joining a professional organization can be a great way to network and learn more about your field. There are many types of organizations, including trade associations, associations for specific industries or sectors, business groups and chambers of commerce. You may find that your chosen group has benefits beyond networking opportunities—they might even sponsor events where you can meet potential clients or employers.

As with any type of association membership (including those offered by schools), it’s important that you do some research before deciding whether or not joining an organization is right for you!

Volunteer.

Volunteering can help you build your resume, make connections, and get your foot in the door. You might even meet new people who will help move your career forward. For example, if you’re volunteering at an animal shelter or helping out at a food pantry, this could be an excellent opportunity for networking with other volunteers and potential employers who work there too!

If the idea of volunteering doesn’t sound fun or interesting enough for you right now (or ever), don’t worry—there are plenty of ways to get involved without actually making any changes on paper. For example: attend local events where community members come together to serve others; volunteer on behalf of an organization in need; donate items such as clothes or toys; donate money instead; raise awareness about problems facing our world through social media posts

Get to know people.

When you’re first starting out, it’s important to get to know people. You don’t need to become best friends with your colleagues or friends, but you should at least be able to converse casually on topics that aren’t directly related to work.

First of all, start by getting acquainted with your immediate colleagues. If you don’t know anyone in particular well yet, just try talking about the weather or something else neutral (like sports). After a few weeks have passed and things have settled down a bit more around here at HQ then ask them if they’d mind taking an informal survey about their favorite foods!

Once we’ve gotten used to each other it’ll be easier for us all later on when we’re working together longer term projects together etcetera; so if there’s something specific either one person wants done then let’s try find out if anyone else has done similar thing before…

Take online courses.

Online courses are a great way to learn new skills, especially if you have time constraints. Online classes are usually offered at your own pace and can be taken anytime day or night. You’ll also save money on the cost of travel, which makes them more affordable than in-person classes—and if you’re working full-time and busy with other responsibilities, it may make sense for you (and your employer) if online courses allow for flexibility in scheduling during work hours.

Make a good first impression.

You’re about to meet the person who will be your boss for the next few years. What do you say?

First impressions are important, but they’re not always easy to make. If you’re nervous or shy, don’t worry—you’re not alone! It’s natural to feel some self-consciousness when meeting someone new for the first time and being put on the spot in front of others (it’s why we have those awkward first-date rituals). But there are ways that can help calm your nerves:

• Be positive and smile while talking with them. Even if they ask you a question that makes no sense at all right now (like “What kind of cheese do I like?”), smile politely and answer honestly rather than saying something vague or evasive like “I don’t know; try different types until one sticks.” The more positive attitude shows that person how much confidence is behind whatever answer comes out from their mouth next time around!

Keep up your connections.

Keep up your connections.

The best way to make new friends is by keeping in touch with the people you already know and like. If you haven’t heard from someone in a while, follow up with them and ask for advice, information or referrals. If they don’t respond immediately, give it another week or so before calling again. Remember: no one likes being ignored!

If possible (and depending on how busy your schedule is), try to keep at least one person from each meeting on which you attend informed about what each other has been up to since then—or even just send out an email reminder if there are no further plans between now and then.

Remember that networking is an ongoing process.

The first step to networking is making sure you have a network. While there are many ways to build a network of people who can help you grow, the most important thing is to make it happen by reaching out when you need assistance or advice.

Networking takes time and effort, but it’s worth it in the long run. You’ll get more opportunities, better connections with other professionals and be able to support yourself in your career path (or find one).

When you are in a field that requires continual learning and networking, it’s important to be proactive about making these things happen for yourself.

Networking is a skill that you need to continually develop. The same way you can’t just do one push-up, you can’t expect networking to be done once and then expect results. It’s important for all of us to keep at it and make a good first impression on people who may want our help in the future, but more importantly, it’s also necessary for us as individuals because without a connection with someone else we’re working with or someone who has some influence over our career path (like an employer), there will be no way for us to advance in any capacity beyond where we currently are.

You have got this! You know what needs doing; now go do it!

Conclusion

It’s great that you care about personal growth and networking, and we hope this article has given you some ideas for how to do it. Remember that personal development is a lifelong journey, so there’s no need to rush into anything. If you have any questions about what we’ve discussed here, feel free to ask us in the comments section below!