Advise Yourself First

Notes from a presentation from H. Maldonado, Buffalo State College

Advise Yourself First: Preparing to be your best professional self at any stage of your career & on any budget.

1. Assess the outcomes you want from you work

• Intellectual growth
• Personal and educational goals
• Realistic self-appraisal
• Effective communication
• Leadership development
• Collaboration

2. Understand the realities of being a professional

• Part of a larger whole
• Competition for resources
• Varying levels of supervisor quality
  
• Your professional development is your responsibility ALONE
  

3. Define where you are in the professional development cycle

• GOAL
• Plan
• Resources
• Action
• Assess Results
  

4. Which part of your career are you in?

• New Professional- Developing competencies; demonstrating professional behaviors
  
• Mid-Carer-
• Late Career-
  

5. Assess the reality of your career

• Identify where you are
• Identify where you would like to be
• Identify the training, planning, skills, and contacts you need to get there; Review job market & descriptions; network
  

6. Assess the realities of professional development that is available

• FREE: Library books, internet articles, list-servs, committee work, campus leadership, workshops, extra assignments, professional organizations, interning with another office
  
• LOW:Local conferences, purchasing books or materials, One class @ SUNY
  
• MID: Regional conferences; Multiple classes @ a SUNY school
  
• HIGH: National Conferences; Full time college study
  

7. Advising Yourself First Time line:

• Desired Outcome:
• Goal:
• Plan:
• Resources Needed:
• Connections to Make:
• Support Needed:
• Timeline:
• Result:
• Assessment:
• Repeat!
  

8. Think about the little known resources

• Individual department awards
• Campus Grants
• Informational groups & mentors