Photo credit: Hamza Butt via Flickr
Published: November 6, 2017
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Teresa Scannell has worked at U of T for almost 25 years. She is the career and work-life consultant at the Organizational Development and Learning Centre (ODLC).
Thinking about professional development and setting personal goals? Book a consultation with Teresa or other ODLC colleagues. Her initiatives as a consultant at ODLC includes providing individual career counselling and coaching services for staff and delivering career management workshops. Scannell shares her seven quick tips to grow your career at U of T.
1. Explore the Career Community at U of T
Consider how you might contribute to it as a way to enhance your visibility.
2. Network
Build your network before you think you need to, it takes time to cultivate a strong network.
3. Stay open to new possibilities
...Even if they are not perfect. Consider a secondment, temporary transfer, or an opportunity to join a committee even if it means extra work.
4. Professional development
Continuously develop yourself, take courses, attend conferences and upgrade your education and certifications.
5. Have a Plan B
Assume you, your role, or your department will change and knowing what you might do next will help in dealing with uncertainty.
6. Develop broader knowledge of U of T
Take an interest in what is happening beyond your role and understand how you fit within the bigger picture. Attend events or read newspapers and reports that are not directly connected to your work to broaden your knowledge.
7. Know the priorities and strategies
That are important to the University and its community and take an interest in the trends that impact higher education more broadly.