Office of Academic & Career Success
Providing central coordination for the undergraduate advising, career services & learning support communities

It’s Our Turn: Free Professional Development for Career Services Staff

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We dedicate so much energy to guiding students in their career journeys, but it’s also important to focus on our own growth. November is National Career Development Month—a perfect reminder to invest in our professional development, which can be energizing and empowering, and help us bring our best to our work with students.

While current funding for external training may be limited, that doesn’t have to be a major roadblock. There are many valuable, no-cost options that can help you make progress toward your goals. The topic of professional development recently sparked a rich conversation in our Career Services Network Community of Practice (CSN CoP), where colleagues shared ideas and tips for building a culture of continuous learning. Whether you want to deepen your expertise, explore a new topic, or simply recharge, there’s something for everyone.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Assess your Skills & Strengths

Before deciding what type of professional development you want to pursue, it can be a great idea to assess your current strengths and identify skills you’d like to develop. The NACE Professional Competencies for College & University Career Services Practitioners can help you do just that! This industry-standard framework provides a structure for evaluating strengths and pinpointing areas for growth, making it easier to choose opportunities that align with your goals.

2. Take Advantage of Campus Resources

Start right here at home—take advantage of the wealth of professional development opportunities available on our UW-Madison campus.

Office of Academic & Career Success (OACS)

OACS supports career services staff with tools, opportunities, and resources to thrive—because when staff thrive, our students do too! Explore upcoming professional development offerings like Motivational Interviewing training and Helping Skills and Practice workshops, AND remember to save the date for the Academic & Career Success Conference next March. Information and registration details can be found on the OACS Event Calendar—your professional development event hub. 

Learning & Talent Development – Office of Human Resources

A wide range of programs and resources are available to all faculty and staff through our colleagues in the Office of Human Resources. Among the hundreds of offerings, career services staff members have found particular value in programs such as:

Plus, you can access free career counseling through the Employee Career Counseling program for personalized support. 

Academic Staff Grants & Mentoring

If your role is categorized as Academic Staff, you have access to these specialized programs and professional development funding opportunities:

3. Access On-Demand Learning through LinkedIn Learning

It’s not just for students! UW employees have free access to LinkedIn Learning, too. Explore curated courses aligned with NACE’s professional competency areas for career services staff, including: 

Important Note: LinkedIn Learning is now integrated with Workday Learning for UW-Madison employees. Most will lose access to the current version of LinkedIn Learning for UW-Madison employees on December 1, 2025. Student access remains unchanged. Act now to retain your LinkedIn Learning history.

4. Expand Your Knowledge of Industries and Hiring Trends

Curious about industries or employers you don’t normally interact with? Consider attending information sessions or panels hosted by employers or career services colleagues across campus. Browse Handshake to find upcoming events and make a list of those that spark your interest. It’s a great, low-effort way to stay updated on the job market and connect with employers and fellow career services colleagues!

5. Explore Free Membership Opportunities & Resources

As a member of the UW–Madison career services community, you get free access to three professional associations: the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE), the Career Leadership Collective, and the Hire Big 10+ Career Consortium. These free memberships come with great resources and learning opportunities. While some extras—like conferences or training—might have a cost, there are plenty of valuable, no-cost options included.

National Association of Colleges & Employers

  • 50+ free webinars on subjects like AI, career pathways, and more
  • Premier research and legislative insights on topics related to career services, recruiting, and workforce development 
  • Online NACE Community where you can exchange ideas, ask questions, and learn about best practices from peers 
  • Mentoring program that connects you to mentors and/or mentees within NACE’s membership of over 17,000 professionals
  • Affinity groups to help you find community and connections with colleagues across the nation who share your experiences, have the same professional objectives, and seek to find solutions to similar challenges.
  • Opportunities to get involved, advocate for, and improve our profession  

Career Leadership Collective

Hire Big 10+

Let’s Make Time for Ourselves

As career services professionals, we’re constantly supporting others—but our own growth matters, too! By tapping into available free resources, we can continue to learn, lead, and thrive. Whether you choose to explore a new skill, attend a workshop, or connect with a professional community, investing in yourself as a professional is a powerful way to strengthen your impact. Let’s commit to making space for our development—because when we grow, our students and our campus community benefit.