5 ways to invest in your career

5 ways to invest in your career5 ways to invest in your careerIt may seem counterintuitive to spend money on your job when your job is meant tomakeyou money, but the reality is thatsometimes its worth spending a little bit of extra cash to invest in a career.Any money that you put into sharpening your professional skills or making you look mora professional should come back to you in spades when your boss (both current and future) sees all the effort youve put in.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreHere are some of the best ways to smartly invest in your careerProfessional coursesSure there are plenty of ways to hone your skills while on the job, but that can take time, especially if youre teaching yourself. If you instead decide to take some classes, you might be able to garner those saatkorn skills- taught to you by a professional- in a shorter period of time. As an added bonus, t heres always the chance that your current employer will be willing to pay for, or at least chip in for,classes that further your job skills.Professional clothesEven if you work remotely or as a freelancer,dressing for your role is a big part of success. You might be surprised how throwing on a pencil skirt and blousemakes you instantly feel more professional, as opposed to working in yoga pants from your bed. You dont need to spend a ton here to make a difference, either. A couple of staples- like some white shirts, a couple of skirts, and a few pairs of pants- should do it.Setting up your home officeEspecially if you work remotely- but even if you only occasionally need to work from home- it helps toupdate your office with at least the basics. A good computer (assuming your company doesnt provide one), a printer, and a scanner are probably a must, but some additional things like anergonomic chair, some plants, and good lighting will go a long way as well.A professional portfolio re viewThese days its about way more than your resume- your name is probably out there in more ways than one, from Facebook and Twitter toyour own professional website. Sincefirst impressions are so important, it doesnt hurt to have a social media expert help you out by looking over your existing profiles to catch any glaring things that you might want to change. If youre in a career where branding is important, these people can help ensure that your objectives are clear across all of your channels as well. While were at it, it might not hurt to have a professional help you set up your website (especially if that type of thing really isnt your schtick) and glance over your resume.Leadership coursesBesides any courses that might help you further your specific professional skills (like copy editing, for example, or writing code), you might alsoconsider signing up for a class that teaches leadership skills. Its pretty much a given that in any type of career,leadership skills are a must, a nd an employer that sees youve taken the manahme to improve your own is sure to be impressed.Taking the time to up your professional game doesnt have to cost a ton- especially if you spread the suggestions out over a given period- butinvesting in your job in strategic wayscould actually be one of the smartest things you do to advance your career.This article first appeared on Flexjobs.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people