Using Education to Advance Your Job Into a Career

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Most people don't walk directly into a job that they want to keep for their working lifetime. Maybe you have graduated from college and are now entering the workforce with some basic skills. Perhaps you have left a different industry and are embarking on a new career path. In either case, it's likely that the first position that you hold will be considered entry-level. In many scenarios, this can essentially be viewed as a job. You may learn enough to be successful at it and gain some experience to take on extra responsibilities, but driving it to become a career may be difficult by just working alone.

Continuing education can help push you from a lifelong job to a valuable career. The programs offered and skills you pick up might be directly related to your current duties and help you perform them better. On the other hand, they may introduce topics that you currently aren't involved with but would someday like to be a part of your daily work. Courses are often very focused and cover details that no college curriculum can dig into. Also, they're not just for degreed graduates - several classes relate to skilled trades and other industries where staying sharp is important. There are numerous benefits to continue learning after college, but here are five of the main reasons:

1. Moving Up the Ladder

Acquiring additional skills while keeping up with daily tasks can be difficult, especially if they're not part of your current duties. Maybe your company doesn't even have someone yet with certain expertise that may be beneficial to growth. Obtaining additional knowledge not only shows initiative, but can also help you stand out from your peers when it comes time for promotions. This represents a major step in transforming that initial job into a sustained career.

2. Increasing Your Income

Learning something new not only provides a benefit to your company, it also can give a boost to your paycheck. Research has shown that employers value the role of continued education and typically compensate employees that pursue it. Payroll structures differ from company to company, but financial advancement may be realized in the form of a raise or promotion to a new pay tier. In the end, devoting some time and money to additional education is a small investment for the potential of increased income for years.

3. Staying Relevant

Maybe you are happy with your position in the company and how you are valued for it. However, job skills and industry trends can be very dynamic. It is essential to stay on top of what is happening outside the walls of your business as well. Outside education can bridge this gap and ensure you bring the most recent information to your work every day.

4. Expanding Your Knowledge

Certain jobs, and even careers, can be narrow-focused and might not expose you to varied subjects. Continued educations courses can let you dip your toe in the water and explore a topic you would otherwise never have exposure to. This will allow determining if you want to pursue something further, whether it's a role in a different department or a separate industry altogether. It doesn't even need to relate to your job - it could be a class that makes you enjoy your favorite hobby more.

5. Protecting Your Future

The business world is far from predictable. Demand for products wane, buyouts and mergers happen, and management regimes change. Sometimes through no fault of your own, the job you have performed well at for years is suddenly no longer available. If you're thrown back into a pool of entry-level workers, you may find that the competition is stiff or the pay doesn't match what your previous company was paying. Completing continuous education courses can give you an edge in marketing yourself and help raise you above other candidates. This results in a smoother, quicker job search and may land a more satisfactory position where you don't need to "start over."

No matter what your motivation is, there is never a wrong time to start continuing education. Programs are often offered during evenings and on flexible schedules, so you can continue to work while learning. The end result will be a greater potential for long-term success.