You can improve your skills by attending classes again while keeping your current job if you follow the advice in this article.
Going back to school can be an excellent choice for you if you are interested in expanding your skill set, advancing in your present profession, or taking on a new role in the workforce. The downside? Going to school can be financially difficult, time consuming, and it may cause you to lose your current job. On the other hand, there are ways to further your education that won’t drain your bank account or require you to put your career on hold. Here are five pieces of advice from a Tips9ja Media employee who has successfully gone back to school while also maintaining a full-time job.
1. Consider online courses
There are thousands of courses and degree programs that are affordable and available online. Some of the top colleges in the United States offer flexible programs that allow you to earn your degree on your own time, while still connecting with peers and lecturers.
2. Does your company provide financial aid for higher education?
Investigate whether or not your company provides financial assistance or compensation for college costs. The Tuition Reimbursement Program at Thomson Reuters is available to employees for undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate studies. This program gives employees the opportunity to improve their current position, get ready for future responsibilities, make a career change within the company, or get more prepared for a leadership role within the company.
3. Keep your manager informed
You’ll need support from your manager, so make sure that you have a talk with them about your goal. Begin by stating why you’re going back to school, and be open and honest, and show how the firm and your team will benefit after you acquire your degree. Be prepared to discuss what your potential schedule will look like and how long you believe it will take to receive your degree. If you suspect your workload may impair your ability to complete your degree, consider the potential of needing decreased or flex hours. Once you begin your study, keep your manager up-to-date by letting them know what classes you’re taking and how what you’re working on can have an impact in your career.
4. Create a schedule and stick to it
Carve out time every week to focus strictly on your course work and stick to it. For example, if you know that you’re going to spend roughly 12 hours per week on coursework, then set aside 3 hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 6 hours on Saturdays. If you aren’t going to be attending your class on the university’s main campus, you might want to think about going to a nearby coffee shop during this time instead so that you can avoid any potential distractions that might be waiting for you at home.
5. Use real life examples in your work
Be sure to connect school life to real life by integrating real work-related scenarios to your coursework. Find a process in your organization that you believe can be improved, and use that as the basis for your project if you are taking a class on operations management and have been tasked with developing a new process for a company. For instance, if you are taking such a class, you should look for a process that you believe can be improved. After you have finished it, you should discuss your ideas and strategy with the appropriate people in your organization to determine whether or not it can be put into action.