The difficulty is that they have other pressing needs while considering this change. A mortgage, the kids’ education, bills and other financial responsibilities can put people off going back to study.
Others have just finished high school and would rather be earning an income and perhaps taking a break from the many years of study. As much as this is a great idea, many often regret the decision as the idea of earning an income is suddenly more appealing than further study. Consequently they continue with the part time – or possibly full time – position they have that doesn’t offer career choices. They do so because it’s meeting an immediate financial want or need, even at the expense of gaining a higher qualification.
Part Time Courses
It is quite possible these days to partake of university, college or TAFE (Tertiary and Further Education) or some form of learning part time via distance education while still earning an income. For some, this is the only feasible way of furthering their learning and gaining a qualification.
Obviously doing so part time is going to take longer, but when planning on a new career, consider the long term. A full time 3 year degree is going to take 6 part time years to complete. However, if this is the only way to get into a particular field or partaking of such a course can help to land a certain job, then it’s well worth the investment.
If not yet working in the desired field, often these part time courses provide the chance to get one's foot in the door. Bouts of work experience that are required to accumulate practical skills build contacts within the industry. As knowledge is furthered, it’s possible to go back to these acquired contacts and potentially pick up work part or full time. This can start to direct one's income earning to line up with what is being studied.
For the recently finished high school student, part time study is one option worth considering. A traineeship or apprenticeship may also be appealing. These aren’t limited to the recent high school leavers but can be less appealing to an older person due to the restricted income.
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
A traineeship is generally a 12 month long, structured program that includes experience acquired at work. Often workforces will cover the cost of the traineeship on the proviso that the trainee works with them once qualified over a particular time frame.
These can be appealing to someone freshly out of school as it means that within a short time frame – one year – they will have a qualification with a secured job and income. And how much more appealing if the trainee hasn’t had to cover the expenses of gaining the qualification?
If a teen is toying with the idea of working for a year or so before pursuing university or college plans, perhaps encouragement toward a traineeship isn’t a bad idea. The teen may be indebted to the company to work for a particular number of years after finishing the traineeship, so take this into account as well as the positives.
- Studying only a small amount whilst also in a working environment
- Gaining a qualification alongside work
- Guaranteed work at the end of the training
An apprenticeship is over a longer timeframe. A structure program, the apprenticeship combines training with a registered training organisation (RTO) and practical experience at work. Generally these are four years in duration and in the trade area, resulting in the apprentice acquiring a recognised trade qualification at the end of this time.
Again the initial income isn’t brilliant but after these four years the apprentice is often able to
- Take on their own clients and build up a business
- Work alongside the person they trained under
- Perhaps even take on their employer’s business as they are looking to retire
It can be hard to find the right course, right type of study and sometimes even the motivation to take on further education. Those who do manage to do so however find it rewarding, rarely regretting taking on this something extra that is going to put them in good stead for the future.
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