How Continuing Education Can Take You to the Next Level in Your Career

Competition can be intense when seeking a new position of employment in the workforce these days. If you aren’t updating your skills and growing in your career field, you may be left behind for more qualified candidates. One way to ensure that you are staying relevant in your field is by taking continuing education classes.

Updating your skill set through these classes can help you reap a number of benefits such as becoming more eligible for promotions, opening up different employment opportunities, and pushing you to the top of your career ladder.

What are continuing education classes?

Typically continuing ed classes are noncredit courses that will enhance skills you already have. They tend to dive deeper into specific aspects of necessary skills; they’re designed to help you excel in a specific area, specific field. Thanks to modern learning technologies, many of these classes can be done online, helping working professionals enhance their skill set without time away from the job. While traditional institutions of higher learning, like universities and colleges, do offer them, you can also find them through employment agencies. Your current employer may offer specialized classes, as well.

Will continuing education really help my career?

Employers want employees who are ready, willing and able continue to advance their skills in their professions. From the tech industry to medical careers, employers are highly selective in their hiring and firing process. Staying ahead of the competition is crucial in today’s workforce, so it makes sense to continue to expand your skills and understanding in your particular field of employment.

In addition to furthering your career objectives, learning new skills while still staying in the workforce can help you hone the knowledge you learn so you will be a more qualified candidate for higher paying positions and advancement in your field. And, as a plus, some employers will even fund your educational pursuits which can open up more opportunities for advancement.

Additional career benefits

One overlooked benefit of continuing your education while working is that you can increase your capability to transition smoothly to a new job. Whatever the next step is in your career-new company, advancement within your current company or a switch into a new industry or field-taking these courses while you work can help you gain new skills and make the transition easier.

Many professions require some type of licensure and training. Furthering your education will prepare you for licensing and certifications you may need to stay relevant and up to date with your work. From transitioning into a more rewarding career to upgrading your promotability, learning new skills will be critical to achieve success.

Taking Advantage of Networking Opportunities

There is no doubt that networking is also an important key to getting ahead in today’s workforce. Continuing education introduces you to fellow students, instructors, and contacts you may never have had reached otherwise. It lets you build relationships with professionals in similar career fields, helping make the understanding of your course work easier, as well.

When you are actively seeking to advance your career through continuing education, learning from others who have the job titles you’re interested in pursuing can help immensely. Networking with people who have done similar training will give you a better understanding of what’s involved in your own career pursuit. Your new networking contacts may offer leads or even employment opportunities, as well.

The continuing education courses you take offer networking opportunities. Academic institutions and even employment agencies can be great places to make contacts that can help you advance your career. Staying engaged with your contacts through social media communications online and social events offline is how you can make the most of networking.

If you are looking to enhance your skills in areas like technology, business, criminal justice, hospitality or other career fields, check out what Bryant & Stratton has to offer. As a respected institution with over 170 years of teaching experience, Bryant & Stratton provides a number of ways to continue your education in a number of career-focused fields.

For more information on continuing education opportunities or career-focused degree programs, contact Bryant & Stratton College today.