10 Career Development Resources to Help You Succeed

Career development doesn’t have to break the bank. If your career isn’t where you want it to be.

Know that there are plenty of career development resources available to help you.

And many of them will depend on where you are in your career journey. If you’re unsure where to start, you’re in the right place.

Let’s review 10 free career development resources that can help you succeed. And why career development is so important. 

What is Career Development?

Career development is a journey that involves developing new skills, setting professional goals, and lifelong learning. 

It means taking an honest look at where you are in your career compared to where you want to be.  

Career development resources often include mentoring, coaching, networking opportunities, and skills training. 

Why is Career Development Important?

Career development is important because it can take you from your current situation to your desired destination.

Professional development can help you build the skills needed to advance your career if you’re underpaid or underemployed.

10 Career Development Resources

Here are 10 free career development resources to help you succeed. 

The right resource for you will depend on your background and where you are in your career.

1. Alumni Resources  

If you’re a college graduate, most universities have career development resources available for alumni.

It can include resume and cover letter review services, career webinars, and alumni networking events. This can be a cost-effective way to grow your career.

Contact your school’s career services department to learn how they can help you. Remember how much you paid for tuition.

And consider this getting your money’s worth. Now if you didn’t go to college, ask to be a plus one for alumni events through a friend that attended university. 

2. Career Quizzes 

Career clarity is a key part of your professional development.

A career quiz can help guide your next moves if you’re struggling to find a career path that’s right for you or making a career change. 

The Princeton Review‘s Career Quiz consists of 24 questions about your career preferences. The quiz only takes a few minutes to complete.

And best of all, it’s completely free. However, you’ll need to register for a free account before viewing your results

3. Occupational Outlook Handbook

Understanding the trends in your industry will help you know where to focus your career development efforts. 

The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) is published by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics every two years. It can help you know what’s happening in your field.

And includes information about the fastest growing industries, highest paying jobs, and job outlook for hundreds of occupations in the US.

If you’re thinking about investing in higher education, make sure to check this out first. So that you have confidence that your degree will be relevant in the next 5-10 years.

4. SCORE 

SCORE is a free mentorship service offered to any US citizen or permanent resident that owns or wants to start a business.

Once accepted into the program, you’re assigned a mentor to help you develop as a business owner. If you’re someone with an entrepreneurial spirit, you’ll wanna check them out. 

This is a service that we’ve used personally and highly recommend.

5. disABLEDperson Inc.

disABLEDperson, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to reduce the high unemployment rate of people with disabilities.

Their platform includes a disability job board, resume builder, and a college scholarship. This could be an excellent career development resource if you identify as having a disability.

6. Management Leadership for Tomorrow

Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) is a non-profit that helps promising Black, Latinx, and Native American students in the US with career readiness. 

This is a good option if you’re looking for a career development resource that provides a hands-on approach.

Students accepted into their Career Prep program are assigned career coaches. 

The best part is that MLT has a highly accomplished alumni network that you can tap into. 

7. Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO)

SEO is a program that helps underserved and underrepresented undergraduate students to achieve career success.

The program offers career guidance, interview prep, industry exposure, and professional development training.

The best part is that SEO has branches all over the world. Including SEO Europe, SEO London, SEO Africa, and SEO China. 

8. Career Podcasts 

Self-improvement podcasts can be a good resource for career development.

Listening to podcasts can be a nice way to build your career on the go. 

One podcast we recommend checking out is The Exclusive Career Coach Podcast by Lesa Edwards. 

Lesa and guests drop gems on job searching, navigating the corporate world, and so much more.  

9. Volunteering 

Volunteering at industry conferences, charity events, and awards can be a hidden career development opportunity. 

It can lead to industry exposure, networking opportunities, and skills development. All of which can boost your career. 

Not to mention, volunteering is a great thing to do and will leave you feeling like a good human.

You can find volunteer opportunities in your community or online at volunteer.gov if you’re based in the US.

10. NetWerk®

Now we can’t end this list without shouting out our NetWerk community and how it can help you. NetWerk is the destination for the next generation of leaders. 

Our mission is to help 1 million women get promoted by 2030. 

Our career resources are perfect if you’re underpaid, underemployed, and ready to change that.

Our Free Career Center gives you exclusive access to guides on job searching, creating an elevator pitch, networking, getting promoted, and much more.

Getting Started With Our Resources for Career Development

Career building is not a journey you should do alone. With the right attitude and career development resources, you’re one step closer to your dream career. 

Hopefully, this list gives you the career guidance you need. Get started today by joining our NetWerk community! 

Once subscribed, you get access to dozens of free career guides and templates.

Remember to be patient with your professional growth. Things will happen over time, not overnight.

Over To You

What are you doing to build your career this month? Let us know in the comments section @netwerkmovement. Share this with a friend looking to level up this year!