Assignment Overview

In consideration of lifelong learning, you will design a strategy for continued professional development. Through this assignment, you will research and explore relevant organizations, associations, conferences, and publications that will assist you in remaining current and involved in your intended field. Your strategy should include an assessment of your professional and personal skill sets, and consideration of strategies for continuous improvement and evaluation.

Format

There are two parts to this assignment. In a separate document provide the information outlined in Parts 2 & 3 and upload it to Blackboard on the Assignment page.

Part 1: Skill Assessments

Each year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) surveys employers across the country and asks them to rate the top qualities and skills they seek in their new college hires. Review this list and consider which of these skills you might want to develop:

Top Skills/Qualities Employers Look For: ( My major : liberal arts )

1. Ability to work in a team

2. Leadership

3. Communication skills (written)

4. Problem-solving skill

5. Strong work ethic

6. Analytical/quantitative skill

7. Communication skills (verbal)

8. Initiative

9. Technical skills

10. Detail-oriented

Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2012

Cont’d

Part 2: Field/Discipline Research:

• Keep in mind the skills you reviewed in Part 1. Using the web, you will search and identify the following:
• Identify the above resources using a list, bullet points, or table (below is an example of how you might present your research):

• One regional, one national, and one international professional association related to your field
• At least one relevant, annual (or periodic) conference/meeting /convention
• Major publications in the field (trade & scholarly journals). E.g., if you are interested in Marketing these would include Advertising Age, Marketing News, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, etc.

Part 3: Reflection on a Professional Development Strategy

Based on your research and exploration, answer the following questions:

• Which professional association do you feel will be most beneficial to join upon entering the field? Why? What opportunities will membership provide (e.g., networking, conferences, publications, divisions, leadership/service roles, continuing education workshops/courses, certification, training programs, etc.)? Might there be an opportunity to develop one of the skills identified in Part 1? How do you plan to take advantage of these opportunities?
• What is the focus of your selected conference? Who hosts the conference? Where is it held? If it is upcoming, what’s on the program? What talks, workshops, and events would you be most interested in attending? How might your attendance help you develop the skills identified in Part 1? Who are the speakers? Is there a call for papers/participation? What kinds of presentations do they look to include? How would you pay to attend? Are funding opportunities available? **If the conference has passed, look at the previous program, etc. to answer these questions.
• What kinds of articles/information are included in the major publications you selected? Who is the publisher? Who are the authors? How do you know this is an important publication in your field? Are the articles practical in nature or research-based (or potentially, both!)? Does the Shapiro Library have access to these titles? If so, how will you keep up with these titles after graduation? Why is it important to ‘keep up’ with this kind of information?