Contribute to your profession and community

Your professional development doesn't end when you complete your degree or land your dream job. Look for opportunities to contribute to your profession and community, and also to continue your own learning and growth:

• Become more actively involved with professional associations specific to your career goals. You could volunteer for a board or leadership position, present at a conference, and contribute to research sponsored by the association. Apply for a Capella Alumni Grant to fund your travels to make presentations at national conferences.
• Volunteer through your employer or professional association to serve as a mentor to new employees in your career field.
• Serve as a guest presenter for a class at a local high school, college, or university on a topic related to your profession.
• Publish articles in trade journals, peer-reviewed journals, or professional blogs. Explore the Capella Writing Center for resources on academic publishing.
• Take a course to develop new skills related to your professional or personal goals. Capella offers a variety of free, self-paced courses on a variety of topics.
• Participate in professional development opportunities sponsored by your employer.
• Give back to the community by presenting a proposal for conducting pro-bono consulting work to a local small business.