6 minute read
Growing Your Career
By Alison Rhodes, Director, City of Boulder Parks and Recreation and Dean Campos, Parks and Recreation Manager, Town of Wellington
PART 1 - Alison’s Input
So you have found yourself a job in a parks and recreation agency – congratulations! If you are like most folks who work in public service, you’re here because working to make the community better aligns with your personal values. And, like most folks, you are probably going to be happiest longest if you are learning. So, how do you support your own professional development? Here are some easy, not earth shattering tips to grow in your career.
1. Start by knowing your professional development goal
Identify your overall career goal
It always helps to know where you’re going before you start any journey. The goal does not have to be a specific position, e.g. “I want to be a Director” – it could be that you want to be performing new roles, e.g. “I want to be a people leader”. If you have no idea, think about what you like and don’t like to do and look for a job that optimizes the good and minimizes the bad.
Know your strengths:
Knowing what you’re good at helps you know what jobs a good fit for you and the types of people you should seek to work with to compliment your skills (and is also helpful for avoiding imposter syndrome).
Know where you need to grow
If there is a job you want or even in your current role, it is helpful to identify any skills or competency gaps – these can drive your development actions.
2. Ways to grow and achieve your goal
Formal Mentorship
CPRA, the academy and even some organizations have mentorship programs. I have found success in just asking people I admire if they have time for coffee with me and keeping a running list of topics or questions to discuss with them when we meet informally. I’ve also participated in NRPA/AAPRA’s mentorship program and truly enjoy meeting talented professionals from all over the country – and what is really great is that this
investment is also driving some great recruitment for our department.
On the job growth:
The keystone to career advancement is rocking the job you’re in. When you have that under control, signing up to support a department team can provide you perspective on other elements of operations, learn new jobs, and meet new teammates. In Boulder, we’ve used teams to drive our learning and growth strategies, develop our service delivery model and complete ADA audits – these have gone quiet the past two years and I’m eager to bring them back for our teammates’ development.
Formal Learning
Sometimes the best way to learn is through formal teaching-
Certified Public Manager program
CPM programs offer public sector professionals an opportunity to “develop and improve management and leadership skills” with coursework in crisis management, public engagement, strategic planning, and more – this nationally recognized certificate can provide learning and credibility. CU-Denver’s program is the only program in Colorado and they have partnered with CPRA so that the association benefits from parks and recreation professionals participation – win/win!
Parks & Recreation Emerging Professionals Program
Delivered by CU-Denver in partnership with GP RED, this program is geared for folks looking to grow in parks and recreation leadership. The PREPP is ideal for those needing an “introduction to executive-level competencies needed to move up”. Conferences and Certifications can also provide technical skill and networking to support growth.
PART 2 - Dean’s Input
As a professional in the Park and Recreation industry, one of the most important action steps you can take to elevate your career is to identify your professional goals. In my own career I have found value in seeking out necessary experience to gain the knowledge base to progress to the next level within my journey. I have been in different organizations intentionally, to not only help the entity become better; but also learn from my experiences. If you are unsure on a career path within the parks and recreation industry, I have always encouraged the mentees I have mentored to try different positions and experiences to figure out what they like. This strategy is helpful because you find out quickly what you can tolerate, and what you love. The strategy is a lot like dating. I think there is also value in seeking out mentors when navigating through your professional development. These individuals provide an unbiased opinion and will guide you when facing challenges. This becomes super helpful because, usually these types of people are truly interested in your growth and overall well-being. In terms of seeking out these individuals, it’s all about doing your research and seeking out those professionals who exemplify those leadership qualities you seek, are successful in their career, are intelligent, and most important; bring a unique perspective to the table which will ultimately help you grow. After your research, just ask! Ask that professional to grab a cup of coffee or a phone call to learn from their journey. You’d be surprised how willing most leaders open to helping. I truly believe that most of these professionals want to help support your growth and will not only make time for you, but also provide guidance when needed, especially in tough times. At the end of the day, know that you own your career and growth is dependent on you. You are in the driver seat and can move forward and learn in any situation.
