Professional development is an ongoing process that evolves throughout life.
Professional development refers to all activities, learning and experiences aimed at improving a person’s skills, knowledge and abilities in their field of work or career. This can include formal training, skills acquisition through direct and practical experience, mentoring, certifications, workshops, seminars, or personal development to strengthen soft skills such as time management, communication, leadership, etc. The aim is generally to increase career opportunities and remain competitive in the ever-changing job market.
As a graduate student, how do I navigate my way through assessing my skills, exploring my options and choosing a path that matches my personal and professional aspirations?
Graduate students are often encouraged to develop their professional autonomy. By consulting a career development professional, you’ll be supported in structuring your ideas, taking stock and making informed decisions.
What is career development?
Career counseling is a process in which a qualified professional helps individuals explore, evaluate and make decisions about their careers. Among other things, this type of counseling is designed to help graduate students better understand their interests, skills and values, and to guide them in making decisions about education, training or career choices.
Guidance or career counsellors often use a variety of tools and techniques, such as aptitude tests, personality assessments, in-depth interviews and reflective exercises, to help individuals identify their career goals and develop concrete action plans to achieve them.
Career counseling can also involve ongoing support to help students like you navigate their career path, overcome obstacles, acquire new skills, redirect their career or adapt to changes in the world of work. The ultimate goal is to help people find professional fulfillment by aligning their interests, values and skills with their career choices.
To find out what resources are available, contact the Carrefour des Savoirs team
carrefour.ccsmtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
