I'll never forget the day I was laid off.

I sat in my car feeling frustrated and hopeless.

It wasn't until the following week that I asked myself:

Along with updating my resume and applying for jobs, I focused my attention on professional development.

Let's take a look at how investing in professional development can help your job search.

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Use Professional Development as a Secret Weapon

If you're going through a layoff, getting easily stressed is very easy.

Taking time for yourself seems anything but a luxury, and the pressure to find a job feels like a volcano ready to erupt.

Here's the truth: Investing in professional development is not a distraction.

It's an investment that makes you a better candidate for your next opportunity.

Here's why professional development could be a secret weapon for you:

1. You Become More Qualified: Employers look for candidates who are constantly learning and growing. Identify new skills you haven't yet mastered and work on acquiring them.
2. Progress Boosts Confidence: Layoffs can spark self-doubt, but actively learning helps you regain confidence. Even when unemployed, taking a free course, attending a seminar, or mastering a new program fosters growth.
3. Discover Networking Opportunities: Professional development builds skills and fosters connections. Engaging in communities, taking online courses, or volunteering connects you with individuals and guides you to new opportunities.
4. Employers Love Self-Starters. If you have an interview and they ask you, "What have you been doing with your free time since being laid off? " Imagine responding, "I took a course to sharpen my skills and applied my new knowledge to a personal project. That response will put you ahead of many others in the candidate pool.

How Can I Invest In Personal Development?

In today's digital world, the barrier to entry to invest in professional development has never been lower.

You don't need to spend a lot of money to learn something new.

Check out these low-cost avenues to level up your skills:

• Free Online Certifications and Courses - Websites like Cousera, Edx, Google Skillshop, and Hubspot offer some great courses to learn new skills.
• Linkedin Learning - If you're a premium subscriber, you can access Linkedin Learning. Some sections offer free access. You can showcase your completed courses on your profile.
• Podcasts and YouTube - The best place on the internet to learn something new is on YouTube through podcasts and demonstrational videos.
• Freelancing - Pick up a freelance gig to apply your skills in real-world projects to build a portfolio.
• Build a Personal Brand - Share stories and insights on your social media platform of choice to build credibility.

Take Action Today and Learn Something New

I know this might sound overwhelming, but please don't overthink it.

Just start.

Choose one small thing:

• Take a free course
• Listen to a podcast
• Write a LinkedIn post about something you recently learned.

Progress doesn't come immediately, but every step moves you closer to your next opportunity.

Job searching isn't just about landing a job; it's about becoming your best self in the process.

Stay Branded and Keep Building.