• You’ve passed your professional exams. Tick.
  • You’ve completed your training contract. Tick.
  • A promotion is somewhere on the horizon. Tick.

Mission accomplished – right?

It’s fair to say the first part of your mission is accomplished. So celebrate and give yourself a pat on the back. But don’t take too long about it or soon you’ll be lagging behind your colleagues.

Reasons why your CPD is important

Continuing professional development is key because it ensures you continue to be competent – and excel – in your profession. It’s an ongoing process, which continues throughout your career.

The ultimate outcome of well-planned professional development is that it safeguards the public, your employer… and your career.

Here are 8 specific benefits:

  • CPD ensures that you maintain and enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise you need to deliver a professional service
  • CPD ensures your capabilities keep pace with the latest standards
  • CPD ensures you are aware of the changing trends in your profession. The pace of change is probably faster than it’s ever been
  • If you stand still you will get left behind, as your knowledge and skills become outdated
  • CPD helps you continue making a meaningful contribution to your team and the achievement of its objectives. Simply put, you become more effective in the workplace
  • And in becoming more useful, you advance your career, moving into a position where you lead, manage, influence, coach and mentor others
  • Experience is a great teacher but it means we tend to do what we have done before. CPD opens you up to new possibilities
  • CPD advances the body of knowledge and expertise in the profession

The importance of continuing professional development should not be under-estimated: it is a career-long obligation that doesn’t stop when you qualify.

You owe it to yourself to take it seriously.

See also: Career Options When Your Audit Contract Ends

If you are a lawyer or chartered accountant and interested in working in the Bermuda/Caribbean region, visit our jobs portal to see the latest vacancies. Our site also includes a downloadable All You Need to Know guide which will tell you all you need to know about living and working offshore.