What have you done to further your own professional development in the past 5 years?
The interviewer is asking this question to determine if you are driven and motivated to progressing yourself professionally. Tell the interviewer about any certifications, career-related conferences, leadership workshops, or higher education. This is a great opportunity to show how well you understand the professional landscape of your profession with specific titles of conferences and trainings. If you haven't attended many conferences or workshops, then consider how you have gone above-and-beyond in your work to learn from others. You might have a mentor, or maybe you've briefly stepped away from your career to try a new job in the hopes of gaining a new skillset that will compliment your profession.
"I have found it increasingly important to engage with and learn from other industry professionals, so I joined the American Medical Writers Association and have been attending the annual Medical Writing & Communication Conference for the last 3 years. I have learned so much about the profession and the many facets of the industry from attending these conferences. As a member of the association, I'm also regularly up-to-date on new trainings and summits to enhance my skills."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
The short answer is I avoided complacency. I did not like what I saw or what I was 5 minutes or a day before. And I had to change that. I studied to become a better programmer. I also read about new developments in my field of interest. This was not always easy, but what is? Each little victory encouraged me further to continue.
Amanda's Feedback
This is a good start. Consider enhancing your response by being more specific. Name specific changes you've made or actions you've taken to further your professional development. For example, what did you study to improve your programming skills? Did you attend conferences or workshops that expanded your skill set or knowledge? What developments did you read about and what sources did you turn to?
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