How much time do you spend improving your career on your own time?

[puffff]

For those who have full time jobs, do you spend time outside the office developing skills that will help your career? Do you take classes or attend lectures that aren't required by your employer? Do you have personal projects that you've undertaken because you know it improves your marketable skills? Or do you read professional publications and textbooks to stay up to date in your industry?

I'm curious how much people 'work' during their own time.

 

[daveshel]

I spent several hours a day for about 5 years working on my industry certifications. After that I burned out and couldn't do it any more.

 

[Descartes]

For about 6 years that's just about all I did. It paid off, but there's definitely a point where you simply can't continue. That's partly because you ultimately reach a point where there's simply no real new ground to cover, and partly because even if there were you're too burnt out to pursue it.

In my industry, the best people are the ones that likely spent a significant portion of their personal time in improving their understanding. Most are compensated accordingly.

 

[Cal166]

The Task/Tickets that are assigned to me to complete, i learn a bit here and there and thats about it.

 

[Dacalo]

Been taking accounting classes past two years and then studying for CPA exam, working full time. Kinda burned out, but the last exam is on this Saturday, so I will be a soon.

So few hours a day, and then most of the weekends.

 

[LS21]

no explicit hours outside of work. i consider work time with career improvement type (network on-the-job, learn on-the-job, etc)

 

[Orsorum]

Have already attained my masters in tax and my CPA license. Even at this point, though, I have a lot of room for growth so I push myself constantly in the type of work I take on and the locations I expose myself to. I usually spend at least five hours a week in the evenings reading technical journals.

 

[FoBoT]

for a large part of the past few years, most of my job has been in an area that has been career enhancing/self teaching etc
so i haven't had to do it at home, since i was able to do it at work/on the clock

 

[JRich]

Sometimes on my breaks I'll study device flow charts and wafer maps. I don't really need to know them, but it helps.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I'm required to have 40 CPE hours a year.

I'm going to a 3-day conference in Vegas this May. I also do learn-live internet streaming classes.

 

[Allanv]

I am a contractor so i am always learning..

who works 80 hours weeks?

 

[Xavier434]

Does wasting your time away on a tech forum count if your career is technical?

 

[pontifex]

option for None. I work 40 hours a week?

 

[RKS]

24 hours of Continuing Legal Education every 2 years including mandatory alcohol and drug abuse seminars. :roll:

 

[MetalMat]

I read books on sales and financial stuff during my free time, nothing too crazy.

 

[KeithTalent]

I do the mandated PD, but not much more than that as I feel it is enough, aside from reading a couple of management books here and there.

KT

 

[mrCide]

I'm in IT, because it's what I'm good at. I don't want a further career than where I'm at (Sys admin). Should I plan on doing something different or 'higher', I don't want it to be in IT--even if it means starting over.

With that said, aside from what I read about on forums and tech sites in addition to any troubleshooting I do, the answer is not very much time.

 

[JBT]

From time to time I some stuff but I'd put my self in the rarly category.

 

[ponyo]

I occasionally read trade publications and talk with other tradesmen. I pick up a tip and shortcuts here and there. My industry is pretty static so I don't have to keep up as much.

 

[puffff]

I'm a bit surprised how few of us work outside of work.... admittedly I don't do a lot, but at least once a week I get the feeling that I should be doing more.

 

[pcslookout]

A few hours a month on a regular basis.

 

[Aharami]

I really should. But Im just too damn lazy

 

[rh71]

None, though that must change.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

none. i work at the office so i dont have to work at home. i already put in my time with higher education to qualify me for my position. if i wanted to do something different, i would prepare myself appropriately, but as long as i continue to do my job well, and continue to want to do the job, what is the point?

 

[Riverhound777]

I really should, but I can't bring myself to do it. I started studying for my MCSE but never even took the first test. But I do read all the Hardware forums and Anand Articles, that counts right?