You may have skipped higher education because you were so keen to get into the working world, or maybe you just didn’t get the grades needed to take your education further. That does not mean that you have to completely forget the idea of ever getting any further qualifications.
In fact, several studies have highlighted how many people mature into education at different stages in their life – and the older you learn, the more you keep yourself cognitively strong.
However, lack of education is not a precursor for lack of ambition, and there are many young people who realise later on in life that putting themselves through some kind of extracurricular training or education could have a significant impact on their future promotional prospects.
It is for this reason that towns and cities across the nation have a rich and varied range of evening, weekend and online courses that will give you the additional knowledge and qualifications that will set you apart from your colleagues and help you to supercharge your career.
How do you know which course you need?
You need to go through a period of introspection to clarify what your immediate and long term goals are, and assess the availability of relevant courses.
Try not to get sidetracked when you start researching courses. While a practical silversmith course would be great fun, and allow you to make your own men’s silver bracelet in your spare time, it will have no bearing on your career in product development. So make the distinction between hobbies and fun pastimes, and keep your focus on your career aspirations.
You may want to discuss your plans with your supervisor or department head. It might be that your employer has a budget for extracurricular training and personal development, in which case this would help further your cause and cover the costs of the training.
Whatever your particular area of expertise, check out where there may be significant skills gaps in training and knowledge. This gap could be filled by yourself, and consequently place you in a much more sought after position, which itself will increase your value and the level of alary you could command.
What time do you have available for study?
In many ways we are so fortunate to have so many options for self study through the internet. This means that you can choose the hour and place of your study, making sure that it fits around your schedule, rather than trying to cram it in around work and family time.
However, it may be that you would prefer to go to a bricks and mortar learning establishment. Often the interaction with other people is essential to getting the most out of the training, and meeting people with a similar background and aspiration helps to supercharge that learning process and spark the mind in more creative ways.
Whichever format you decide to go for, bear in mind that working towards any kind of qualification is a major commitment, and could impact on your precious downtime. For older students with children it can become particularly draining time wise, so make sure that your family are on board and willing to support you proactively throughout the process.
What should my selection criteria be?
Type of qualification: does the course provide you with the right type of qualification that is recognised and accepted within your industry. There are many ‘dud’ course out on the open market, and you don’t want to get yourself signed onto something similar which will actually not give you the right qualifications – especially if you are paying a good amount of money for it.
Recommendations: Read every single testimonial you can about the course from those who have already done it. These will give you a good flavour of the overall experience and usefulness of the course.
Check out the syllabus: Make sure that the syllabus aligns with your career goals, and that it will be interesting and interactive enough to keep your attention and prove challenging enough. Check any additional exams, or practical modules that might require additional time, or time away from work that needs to be factored in.
Calculating the cost: Knowing how much it costs is just one aspect. Will the investment pay for itself in time, and if so, how long could that take?
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