What is Professional Development?

October 13, 2009 · Posted in SQL Server 

I am writing this post because the SQL PASS Professional Development(PD) Virtual Chapter is going to be launching soon. I wanted to define what this means to me, not PASS, and put out a desperate cry call for help. Arnie Rowland and Mark Caldwell are my partners in crime with supporting roles from Blythe Morrow and Thomas LaRock. The virtual chapter is launching at the Summit. More to come on this. This is what we are in need of.

  • Short article\post authors on Professional Development topics as they relate to the SQL Server Professional
  • SQL Bloggers who would like their existing professional development content syndicated to the PD feed like general topic on SQLServerpedia.
  • Volunteers for monthly live meetings
  • Help us spread the word through your networks and blogs
  • Your ideas on how the Professional Dev PASS virtual chapter can serve the community.

This chapter can only be as good as its members and by helping the chapter grow, you are really helping yourself grow.

So what do I think consists of professional development? Well, you could start of with this tag but that might give you the wrong impression. ;) Let’s see what the Internet says:

From Wikipedia:

Professional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning opportunities situated in practice. It has been described as intensive and collaborative, ideally incorporating an evaluative stage [1] There are a variety of approaches to professional development, including consultation, coaching, communities of practice, lesson study, mentoring, reflective supervision and technical assistance.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_development

That is pretty close to what I was thinking especially skills\knowledge obtained for personal development and career advancement. Here are some PD topics IMO:

  • Social networking\Blogging
  • Handing tough situations\office politics\obnoxious coworkers in the work place
  • Negotiating offers and raises
  • Career path decision trees
  • Job seeking skills
  • Presentation delivery techniques
  • Management(Time, People, Project etc.)
  • Development of organizational skills
  • Volunteering in the SQL Server community

And the list could go on for a long time. Hit Arnie, Mark or myself up if this is something you would like to help out with.

What do you think should be covered in a Professional Development virtual chapter?

This content is published under the Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Tags: , , ,

Comments

  • way0utwest
    I'd also include ways to increase your specific career knowledge. So resources, ideas, ways to learn more about SQL Server (or development) for DBAs. For lawyers, how to better debate or write a brief, for doctors, new medicines, etc.
blog comments powered by Disqus