5 Investments For Your Career That Cost Less Than A Coffee

img_9968_1_grande — Photo via Eirin Kristiannsen

It’s hard to know what to spend your money on when you’re just starting out and have a budget about as big as your first studio apartment.

Here are five ideas for investments you can make for your career that cost less than your morning coffee run.

Join a young professionals network
Professional organizations give you the forum to grow your network, build your own personal brand, and learn from like-minded professionals. From my experience, your employer may even sponsor you!

Attend lectures and keep in the know
Whether you subscribe to newsletters, attend industry lectures, seminars or breakfasts or just have a list of cool things you’d like to attend this year, saving some dosh so you can go and see industry professionals in person is a great investment. You can even network with them afterwards!

Learn a new skill
Just because we are done with school doesn’t mean we should stop taking classes. Sites like Skill Share offer free online courses, workshops, and tutorials in things like photography, design, cooking, technology and more. I have found the more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know. Keep learning, growing and expanding your skill set. It’s amazing how the seemingly little things, or things completely unrelated to your job, come in handy when making connections at work.

Read up
Being on top of industry trends will give you an edge and something impressive and interesting to talk about as you ride the elevator with your colleagues. Keep checking the news app on your phone, search for trade related websites and keep up to date with all the latest news.

Ensure your online presence is stellar
What does your LinkedIn profile say about you? Make sure the first impression you are giving people is the right one. You are in complete control of the identity you portray in a profile online.