Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plays a crucial role in building and maintaining effective HR practices. It’s not just about gaining initial qualifications but about staying up to date with the latest skills, knowledge, and industry trends. In HR, where employee issues, conflicts, and legal considerations are a constant part of the job, CPD helps you navigate these challenges confidently and effectively.

CPD is all about tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge, and experiences you gain over time, whether through formal training or on-the-job learning. For HR professionals, it’s a way to ensure you’re always growing, applying what you’ve learned, and keeping up with the evolving demands of the workplace.

In this blog, we’ll explore how you can engage in CPD during your CIPD journey, helping you stay ahead in your HR career and make a lasting impact on your organisation.

Stages of the CPD cycle

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an ongoing process, and the CIPD integrates this cycle into your learning journey. Let’s break down the four key stages of the CPD cycle and explore how you can embed CPD into your CIPD studies.

Stage 1: Identity and Plan

Start by asking yourself: What do I need to learn, and how will I go about it? The first step is to identify your development needs. You can use the CIPD Profession Map and the self-assessment tool AVA, which is an AI-powered learning assistant available 24/7 on Avado’s Learning Hub.

Ava offers CIPD learners instant answers to their questions, along with personalised guidance, creating a more streamlined and efficient learning experience. It’s simplified explanations and language translation features break down complex concepts, enhancing understanding and removing barriers to learning. This makes the entire learning journey smoother, more accessible and highly engaging.

Keep in mind that learning isn’t just formal coursework—it comes from every experience that helps you grow, such as:

• Learning how to do something differently at work
• Conversations with colleagues
• Attending conferences or webinars
• Listening to podcasts or reading research articles
• Taking on a new project or working with a new team

It’s all about seeking out experiences that push you forward and help you improve how you engage in CPD.

Stage 2: Learn

Once you’ve identified what you need to work on, it’s time to dive into the learning experiences. This stage can be a blend of planned and unplanned opportunities. Learning can happen anywhere—whether it’s through a formal course or an impromptu conversation with a peer.

You can take advantage of:

• Online learning modules
• Webinars and podcasts
• Team collaborations or new projects at work
• Avado’s Learning Hub, provides structured, engaging learning paths designed to fit into your busy life

By immersing yourself in these opportunities, you’re actively developing the skills and knowledge you need to thrive in your role.

Stage 3: Reflect

Reflecting on your learning is crucial for embedding new knowledge and improving your practice. But instead of waiting weeks for feedback, Avado offers a much faster way to get insights—QuickScore.

QuickScore is an instant assignment feedback tool available on Avado’s Learning Hub. It’s designed to ease the uncertainty that comes with assignments, helping you understand whether you’ve answered the questions correctly and giving you the confidence to make immediate adjustments. It offers real-time feedback, giving you clarity on how well you’ve grasped the assessment brief. This allows you to make quick corrections and stay on track. After receiving instant feedback with QuickScore, you can take a moment to reflect on how this feedback can be applied to future projects or assignments.

Reflection isn’t just about recognising what you did right—it’s also about spotting areas for improvement and figuring out how to apply what you’ve learned more effectively.

Stage 4: Apply and Share

The final stage is where everything comes together: applying your learning in real-world scenarios. It’s time to take what you’ve learned and put it into action. This could be through:

• Starting a new project
• Tackling challenges that push you out of your comfort zone
• Seeking feedback from colleagues

But learning doesn’t stop with applying it—it’s also about sharing it. You can collaborate with others, build networks, and exchange ideas through platforms like Avado Connect—an exclusive community for HR and L&D professionals. With over 1,400 members, you can join monthly masterclasses, explore job opportunities, and connect with like-minded professionals.

You can also share your insights on social media platforms like LinkedIn, in team meetings, or even through blogging. Learning is a social experience, and by sharing what you’ve learned, you contribute to your development and that of your community.