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5 Professional Development Opportunities You Should Consider When Advancing Your Career

Business professional seated at desk looking at a piece of paper
  • 09 May 2023
Kate Gibson Author Contributors
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  • Career Development

In today's rapidly evolving job market, it’s vital to continuously upskill and learn new technologies to remain competitive. According to a Gartner study, 58 percent of employees need new skills to do their jobs effectively, which requires professional development.

If you want to advance your career, here’s an overview of professional development opportunities and how to pursue them.


Free E-Book: A Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essential Business Skills

Access your free e-book today.

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What Is Professional Development?

Professional development is the continuous process of enhancing your skills, knowledge, and competencies in your career.

It can take various forms, such as:

  • Completing training programs
  • Attending events (for example, workshops, conferences, and seminars)
  • Pursuing additional education

If you want to jumpstart your career advancement, here are five accessible professional development opportunities.

5 Types of Professional Development Opportunities

1. Online Courses and Certificates

Online learning, also known as e-learning or distance learning, is a form of education that allows you to access course materials, learn from instructors, and interact with other learners in a virtual environment—regardless of your location.

According to a 2021 LinkedIn report, 57 percent of learning and development professionals increased their company's budget for online learning—up from 38 percent in 2020. In addition, 70 percent felt online learning was more important to their organizations’ professional development strategies than before the coronavirus pandemic.

Online business courses have become a common path for working professionals. For example, Harvard Business School Online’s certificate courses cover subjects ranging from financial accounting to leadership and management.

In a recent survey that explored the value of an HBS Online certificate:

  • Ninety-one percent of past participants said HBS Online had a positive impact on their careers
  • Forty-two percent received an average $17,000 salary increase
  • Thirty-one percent got a promotion

By becoming an online learner, you can develop skills to earn a promotion or boost your salary.

2. Formal Education and Degree Programs

Advancing your education is an effective way to become more competitive in the market, increase your earning potential, and improve your career prospects.

A master of business administration (MBA) is one degree to consider because of its potential return on investment. A report by Statista shows that 92 percent of surveyed companies hired MBA graduates in 2022, up from 80 percent in 2020 and 50 percent in 2009.

The benefits of earning an MBA include:

  • Obtaining in-demand industry skills
  • Expanding your job prospects
  • Making lifelong connections

It’s crucial to ensure you have enough time and money to obtain this type of degree. Reach out to your manager or human resources department to ask about what support they might offer.

Related: How to Ask Your Employer to Pay for Your Education

3. Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars

Attending conferences, workshops, and seminars is an often-overlooked form of professional development. Such opportunities allow you to step outside your daily routine, engage with others in your field, and explore new ideas and perspectives.

Other benefits include:

  • Learning: Exploring the latest trends, research, and best practices in your field to improve your job performance
  • Networking: Connecting with other professionals to exchange ideas, share experiences, and build collaborative relationships
  • Skill-building: Participating in hands-on training and workshops to build and develop skills
  • Expanding worldview: Getting exposure to diverse perspectives and ideas to gain insight into your industry’s challenges and opportunities

Contact your manager or organizational leaders to express interest in attending industry events. Odds are, they can help you access them.

4. Vocational Training and Mentoring

Mentorship is a relationship you build with a knowledgeable industry professional who can provide tools to help you achieve your goals. Your mentors can support your career objectives and offer guidance and feedback to ensure you’re on the right track.

Mentorship can take several forms, including:

  • One-on-one coaching
  • Informal conversations
  • Structured training programs

This method of professional development is beneficial at any career stage—especially if you’re a first-time manager. Your mentors’ past mistakes and the lessons they’ve learned can help you navigate similar challenges.

Vocational training, also known as technical or career training, can equip you with practical skills, hands-on experience, and industry knowledge to perform specific job functions.

It comprises:

  • Classroom instruction
  • On-the-job training
  • Apprenticeships

Both mentorship and vocational training aim to develop your skills, knowledge, and confidence to achieve your career goals.

5. Networking Events and Groups

Networking is critical to professional development. It enables you to establish and maintain relationships that can lead to career advancement opportunities, new business ventures, and valuable industry insights.

According to the Harvard Business Review, professional and personal networks shrunk by approximately 16 percent during the pandemic. Allowing your network to deteriorate can have major professional consequences, such as a decreased sense of belonging within your organization.

When growing your professional network, seek opportunities with networking components to meet people both within and outside your field. For example, the HBS Online Community enables you to connect with like-minded professionals from around the world.

A Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essentials Business Skills | Access Your Free E-Book | Download Now

Unlock Your Potential with Professional Development

Professional development is crucial to advancing your career and staying competitive in your field. With online courses’ increased availability and accessibility, there’s never been a better time to invest in your education.

By taking online courses—like those HBS Online offers—you can learn at your own pace from anywhere and grow professionally.

Do you want to start working toward your professional development goals? Explore our online course catalog—covering subjects ranging from leadership to financial accounting—and download our free guide on how to advance your career with essential business skills.

About the Author

Kate Gibson is a copywriter and contributing writer for Harvard Business School Online.
 
All FAQs

Top FAQs

How are HBS Online courses delivered?

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We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

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We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Written English proficiency should suffice.

Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

+–

No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

How do I enroll in a course?

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All programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly from program to program, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

After submitting your application, you should receive an email confirmation from HBS Online. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk email folders and double-check your account to make sure the application was successfully submitted.

Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your Dashboard. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.

Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

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No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

What are my payment options?

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We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

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After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

 

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