In a good economy, the job market is tight. We have record-low unemployment, and many organizations are busy trying to fill open positions. Despite the good economy, budgets for talent development and training are still scarce. Because there are so many unfilled positions, everyone is too busy to train and develop talent. For this reason, you have to do it yourself career development to advance your career.
Reports suggest that baby boomers are staying in their positions longer and avoiding retirement. Millennials have an unquenchable thirst to advance in their careers. The forgotten Gen X remains quietly loyal and dedicated to helping their organizations win customers and are looking to move up the ladder too. With all this competition for career advancement within the organization, how can you succeed when the organization isn’t training and developing you?
Regardless of the economy, or workplace competition, training and talent development are often put on a shelf and forgotten. Career development has to be your responsibility. You have to take ownership of your career development if you want to remain relevant and advance your career. Here are low-cost ways to do it yourself career development.
Podcasts
Do it yourself career development can start with listening to podcasts during your commute. Most podcasts are between 30-50 minutes, the same amount of time as the typical commute. If you subscribe to any streaming music service, they typically include access to podcasts. However, there are many free podcast apps available.
Audiobooks
Another great way to do it yourself career development is by listening to audiobooks. They are another great way to pass the time in your morning commute. You can get a one month free trial on Audible which also gives you two free audiobooks. They email you five days before the free trial is over, which allows you to cancel before being charged. But the $14.95 monthly charge is minimal and will get you one free audiobook a month.
News aggregators
I use Google News, which serves up articles from Harvard Business Review, Forbes, INC., and many more. Every day you can find quick-read articles that give new insights to many of the problems you are likely facing. Using a tool like Google Keep allows you to save the articles to read at a later time. Another benefit of Google News is that it serves related content, which often offers differing views and provides diversity in thought. Using a news aggregator along with a note taker tool is a great way to do it yourself career development.
Coursera the ultimate do it yourself career development tool
Coursera and other MOOCs offer college-level courses without the college pricing. However, to get your certificate of completion usually has a small fee. The certificate isn’t required to do it yourself career development.
Enlist a mentor for DIY career development
Enlisting a mentor is great for your career. Not only can you learn and grow from your mentoring, but it can also be a networking tool. Find a mentor in your organization who shares your values and has skills and experiences in an area relevant to your career. Diversify your mentorship by creating a group of people who care and will give you career and life advice. Mentoring and coaching work best when it is addresses the whole person and not just the technical skills of the job.
There are many ways to do it yourself career development that is no or low cost. The benefits of continuously developing and training yourself are priceless. Don’t be a victim of a lack of organizational training and development and instead do it yourself career development.
