November is National Career Development Month, making it the perfect time to focus on building your professional skills and connections. As you reflect on your career, it’s important to adopt a holistic perspective. Pitt’s Career Center emphasizes the importance of balancing hard and soft skills in your development. “Employers are looking for well-rounded individuals who not only have the technical expertise, but who can also communicate effectively and work in teams.”

Whether you’re a student exploring career options or a staff member considering your next career step, Pitt offers a variety of resources to support your growth and help you make the most of these opportunities.

Never Stop Learning

At Pitt, we’re big fans of college courses as a key avenue for learning. However, we recognize that they’re not the only opportunity to gain new skills. From individual courses to skill certifications, there are many paths to gain the knowledge you need to pursue different career opportunities.

Everyone Can Learn with LinkedIn Learning

Students, faculty, and staff all have access to LinkedIn Learning, a vast online library of on-demand video courses taught by industry experts. With topics ranging from data analysis to project management, LinkedIn Learning helps you gain new skills at your own pace. You can take an individual course or complete a full learning path to earn a certification. You can also add your completed courses and certificates to your LinkedIn profile. Use LinkedIn Learning to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced job market. The best part? It’s free with your Pitt credentials!

Courses for Faculty and Staff: FSDP

The Office of Human Resource’s Faculty & Staff Development Program (FSDP) offers a variety of workshops designed to enhance your professional skills. From leadership and communication, to technology courses led by Pitt IT pros, these free courses provide the tools to succeed in your current role or prepare for future opportunities.

Networking on LinkedIn

Building a strong professional network is essential to career development. Don’t just connect with people in your current role, reach out to those in the careers you aspire to achieve. This can open doors to new opportunities, mentoring, and guidance. Whether you’re a student seeking internships or a staff member looking to transition into a new field, LinkedIn is a powerful tool.

Internships and Shadowing

For students, internships are key to gaining practical experience and standing out to employers. The Career Center is a great place to start looking for these opportunities, and many tech-focused internships are available through Pitt's partnerships. Check out Handshake to view and apply for jobs and internships, as well as take advantage of other career development resources through the Career Center. If you’re not using Handshake, be on the lookout for phishing schemes posing as job or internship opportunities.

Many people think that their opportunity to explore different career options ends once they aren’t in school any longer. But that does not need to be the case. Cross-training or job shadowing can allow you to gain new skills and gain insight into different roles that could align with long-term career goals. It also provides redundancy in departmental roles, to ensure that work can be completed even when folks are on leave or staffing changes occur. Win-win.

The Power of Mentoring

Mentoring relationships are invaluable at every stage of your career. Students can find mentors through Pitt’s Career Center or by speaking directly with instructors or staff. Staff and faculty can seek out mentors within their own department, from University committees and organizations, or through professional associations. Mentors can provide guidance, feedback, and advice, helping you to navigate your career path with confidence.

Being a mentor also has tremendous benefits, from personal fulfillment and development of interpersonal skills, to expanding your network and gaining leadership skills. The University Center for Teaching and Learning’s Center for Mentoring serves as a central resource to support professional excellence by encouraging growth and development of faculty as mentors, scholars, and teachers. 

Manage Your Social Media Presence

In today’s digital age, managing your online presence is crucial to your career success. According to a LinkedIn article, 43% of companies review the social networks of candidates who have responded to vacancies. That number goes up to 70% when making a hiring decision. Over half (57%) of companies report that they have chosen not to hire candidates because of what they found in their profiles.

Consider maintaining two social media accounts: a personal one set to private, and a public account that anyone can look at. The professional account doesn’t need to be all business—it can showcase your personality and personal interests. But be mindful of what you share! Post content that you wouldn’t want a potential employer or professional contact to see on your private account. A snap of you rooting for the Panthers or posing in your cap and gown in front of Cathy are great on your public account; a image from a night on the town should probably be kept private.

Get Started This Month!

Make November the month you invest in your career development. Whether it’s signing up for an FSDP course, completing a LinkedIn Learning certification, or building your network, there are countless ways to grow. Visit Pitt’s Career Center, connect with a mentor, or explore new career paths—all while using the great resources available to you through Pitt IT!

-- By Haree Lim, Pitt IT Student Blogger