I seem to have spent quite a bit of time recently talking to candidates about the types of personal training and development they should be doing. During my wondering I started to think about how much CPD played a part in people’s lives particularly within the project management community. I see the APM have a CPD framework but I have never spoken to anyone who has used it but then again it is not something I have asked about either..
The starting point I suppose is whether anyone feels CPD is worth doing? In an earlier life I qualified as a Chartered Engineer. Part of my responsibility as a professional was to keep myself up to date with the latest engineering developments as well as continually improving my skills. I moved out of that arena and into freelance work for a short time where my needs were different again and if I am honest I was not as diligent at managing my own development. For a candidate I suspect the driver would be whether it gets you your next role. Are there different drivers for those looking for permanent as opposed to contract work?
My first contact with a candidate will often be a CV, which seems not to have changed significantly during my career. Should CPD be included on a CV? Would this tell me more about you as a candidate? Should I value the inclusion of CPD?
Opening the discussion further what about all of you involved in project management. How is your professional development managed? or is it something that HR inflict on you?
What are your experiences? Do you value professional development? Do your clients? What should constitute a CPD activity?
With the move towards professional status the responsibility for continually managing your development will become very real. It will be interesting to hear your thoughts on this. Let me know what you think.
Twitter: EdWallington
For me, CPD is critical. The need to be able to demonstrate continuous learning and application of the theory is crucial for any professional, no matter the sector. We need to maintain our project management understanding, develop new skills, and ensure we are best placed to tackel ever increasingly complex projects.