5 Ways to Find Out How a Company Can Help You Develop Professionally

Most college students know that learning isn’t something that only happens in the classroom. In fact, RippleMatch research reveals that many young job seekers care deeply about professional development in their first job, ranking it as more important in choosing a job than other factors like compensation and company prestige. 

But if you’ve ever searched for detailed information about professional development opportunities at different companies, you might have found it challenging to even figure out where to look. If learning and development are priorities for your career, try some of these methods to find out exactly how a company can help you grow professionally. 

Visit and read through the company’s careers page

The careers page is a great way to learn about a company’s professional development programs in the initial stages of your job research, especially when you already have a list of target employers. When reviewing a company’s career page, look for information about mentorship, onboarding, tuition reimbursement, and company-wide events like lunch ‘n learns. You might also find that the company offers webinars, events, or mentorship opportunities during the recruitment process, which would give you a sample of what professional development would look like for employees, too.  

Conduct some online research on review sites

In addition to looking at a company’s career web page, check out review websites like Glassdoor, which offer detailed benefits sections for companies in different industries. These sites allow current or past employees at a company to share reviews about their benefits, including professional development. For startups in particular, you can also check out sites like BuiltIn. If you’re not sure yet which companies you might want to apply to, RippleMatch publishes a list of companies that offer exceptional professional development programs. 

Invite current employees for an informational interview

If there’s not much information available online, then your best bet is to ask a real person. Search for your target company’s employees on LinkedIn or your college’s alumni database, and then send them a message asking if they would be willing to share their experiences with you in an informational interview. This option is more time-intensive, but it can give you the chance to ask candidly about how a company’s professional development programs have helped someone to advance their career. Consider asking questions like:

• Did you start your position through a formal training or leadership development program?  
• What was the onboarding process like?
• Do you have a mentor at your company? 
• How does your company contribute to employees’ professional development?  
• What conferences have you attended on behalf of the company? What have you learned?
• How often do you receive feedback from your manager? 

Ask during the interview process

If you’ve already made it to the interview stage, you will have the chance to ask questions at the end of your interview. Use this time to glean more information about how companies help their employees grow. Ask about established professional development programs, opportunities for going to industry conferences, and what kind of on-site or off-site training they offer. You can also ask about funding for continuing education classes relevant to your job, or if you will get a subscription to LinkedIn Learning as part of your benefits package.

Keep in mind that it’s not just the financial cost that goes into professional development; it’s also the time. Inquire if the company offers time during work hours for professional development activities. For example, would you be able to take a day off to attend a conference or a workshop to learn a new skill? Or will all professional development need to be completed on your time? 

Finally, you should ask about the frequency of your reviews with your manager and how often you can expect to get feedback on your work. Having a lot of structured feedback from your supervisor, especially as you start a new role, can help you get acclimated to the company and ensure you are doing the best you can. This is also an important part of professional development, and the answer usually varies from manager to manager even within a company.

Request additional information after getting a job offer

Suppose you didn’t start thinking about professional development opportunities until after you received a job offer. There’s still time to see what’s available! Reach out to the recruiter or hiring manager to ask specifically about professional development for new and established employees. They may be able to send you more detailed information or a welcome packet. You can also ask any of the questions that you didn’t ask in the interview to get the final details you need before making a decision.

Remember that while professional development is important for entry-level employees just starting out at the company, it’s also important as you advance in your career. Seek employers who will care about helping you grow as a professional not just at the beginning of your career, but as you progress through your career as well.