I would like to find a place, where I could progress my professional skills and personal values.
Since the thread topic is about 'helping' it is part of this discussion if the reply is intended as help.
Personal Values
Personal values are the things in life which are important to you.
The place to progress is in your own head.
Sometimes it can be a bit difficult to focus on something as complex as this so I found the best method to sort it all out is with a pencil and note pad.
You sit down someplace comfortable with no distractions (turn off TV Radio & phones.
You write down a list of everything important to you right now. The order of importance is not important when writing the list.
Its okay if there are duplicates.
Its okay if there is a lot of things listed.
How you spell it or write it is not important as long as you know what it means.
Once you are satisfied, set it aside and start a new but different list.
On the new list make three sections.
Always Important, Often Important, Sometimes Important.
Use the first list to sort the second list.
Look at each thing you wrote on the first list and rewrite it in the section it most applies.
Once you have the second list filled out.
Take a hard look at how you have it sorted.
Move things around till they all really fit where you have them.
Keep a copy of this 2nd list.
From time to time pull it out and have another look and see if anything has changed. You might find some things which are important to you were not listed and some of the things you listed may no longer be important to you.
This process is called assessing and reassessing your personal values. Many people do this in their heads day after day. Once you 'see' your values laid out in front of you and get your head thinking about them you too may do this in your head.
You should remember that personal values can change according to what you are doing, who you are with and the conditions of life you are currently experiencing. These changing values are as important as the constant values because they can lead you to success or ruin depending on how you act.
Professional Skills
Professional skill is the methodology needed to master something. Not only the things you do but how you do them.
Skill is a combination of knowledge and experience.
To develop a skill you must first find a place to gain knowledge about it then you must find a place to acquire experience using that knowledge.
You can find knowledge on any subject on the internet/web. It helps understanding the skill you are trying to develop. While this 'general understanding' is important, employers look for accredited education in your career history. These are documented proof you have been educated in the areas which apply to that skill.
At the end of my career as a truck mechanic I had 4 pages of accredited education including one degree and 3 specialized degrees.
But...Knowledge is not the only component to a skill. You need registered work history performing skill related jobs.
I was fortunate enough to have mechanic related jobs my entire career. I did 'other' jobs too but those 'other' jobs did not build my skill specifically. What they did do was establish a work ethic. Later in life, I listed those 'other' jobs and included the skill related tasks I performed while doing them.
For skill development, it is important to work in jobs which are known for that skill.
While working those jobs, it is important to build a dependable work ethic which your employer will reward later with a good reference.
Positive references on an application can make or break your hiring chances.
While working in your skill, find opportunities to document your skills in writing. You do this by attending seminars, taking tests to become certified and volunteering to teach tradesmen.
Keep any letters of accommodations from customers or employers too. Get yourself a folder or notebook binder and keep any and all related documents.
The first step tho is to actually know which skill you want to develop.
Take a look at your personal values list and compare it to career descriptions. Find a career which allows you to experience your personal values naturally.
Once you know which career to choose, look at the job descriptions within that career to determine which skills you wish to develop first.
At first, you may want to choose jobs which equally build all career skills then using this as personal feedback, choose a specialty. Or...you can focus on a specialty and master that then later in life expand you skills to other areas.
The website for the Occupational Outlook Handbook lists career groups. You can then click on one to see what is involved.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
It also has a USA sort based on different criteria which can suggest occupations(careers) which meet those criteria.
Granted, it is a US government website but the information is relevant to your searching needs for information about a career.
Your own country may offer a similar website?
The important thing to remember is you must first sort your personal values before you can choose a skill right for you.
During my career I met many people who chose poorly and they were very unhappy in life.
I chose wisely and enjoyed a happy, fruitful career.
May you find inner clarity!
Thank You
