When you are making your career development plans, if you are interested in advancing to higher paid jobs, you may need to factor in more education. Depending on the field you are working in you may get to a certain level and get stuck if you do not have a college degree. But do not let that stop you; you are never too old to go back for more education.
The only real concern is working education into your work schedule. Some companies will work with you. They may already be aware that in order to hire from the inside, employees who want to go back to school will need assistance. They may have specific company policies already in place. Check with your human resources manager or your company website to see what they are willing to do for you. Some companies will not only adjust your schedule, they will assist you by funding your education. Of course, you may need to maintain a specific grade level in order to get the maximum funding available.
The next thing you will need to do is to go to the college and speak to an admittance advisor. They can assist you in mapping out a schedule and a course plan that you can handle. It is important not to attempt to carry too many hours; you certainly do not want to be overwhelmed. Once you have a better idea of what you need, go back to you Human Resources Department and your current manager and see how they can assist you. Keep in mind that if the company is going to make funding available for you, they want you to succeed.
Do not be discouraged if things concerning your scheduling do not fall immediately in place, it does not mean the company is unwilling to help you, it may mean they need a bit of time to reorganize your department to be able to accommodate you. Just as you want them to work with you, you will need to work with them. Once you decide how you need to proceed, let them know what you are planning. Do not wait until you are in a time crunch and classes are beginning to give your employer the heads up, you may have to wait until the next quarter to get the scheduling you need.
Be sure that you are taking courses that will help you attain your goal. While it is true in some fields that a degree will garner more money on your paycheck regardless of whether the degree is relevant in your chosen field, some jobs are specific in what the degree needs to include. Don’t waste your time or your company’s patience by choosing poorly and then being disappointed when it is not correct.
Once you get everything in place, do your best, study hard and make your company and your fellow employees proud of you. As long as you enter into this challenge with the right attitude , everyone will be willing to support you and make things easier for you.
David Couper is a career coach and writer who for the last twenty years has worked in Europe, Asia, and in the USA with major organizations including the BBC, Fuji Television, Mattel, Sony, and Warner Bros.
He has successfully coached individuals at all levels including CEOs of major companies wanting a new challenge, frustrated souls wanting to make their dream come true, and front-line employees laid off and desperate to get a job.
David has published seven books. His works on interpersonal skills, counseling in the workplace, and management issues (published by Connaught, Gower, HRD Press, Longman, Macmillan/Pearson Publishing, Oxford University Press) have been translated into Swedish, Polish, and Danish, and published in the UK and the USA.
David has a degree in Communication, a postgraduate qualification in education, is certified in a number of training technologies, and has a Masters in Psychology. He is a member of the American Society of Training and Development, Society of Human Resources Professional, Writers Guild and the British Academy of Film and Television.
He has dual US/UK citizenship and speaks French and Japanese.
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