What do you do if you're a late career professional considering further education or training?

To make this assessment more effective, consider using tools like a SWOT analysis to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This can help you clearly identify gaps in your knowledge or skills that additional training can fill. Additionally, researching job postings in your desired field can provide insights into what qualifications are currently in demand, helping you choose educational paths that will make you a more competitive candidate.

Reflecting on professional needs and goals before pursuing further education is crucial, especially for late-career professionals. This strategic approach not only aligns learning with current industry demands but also ensures the investment in education directly supports career advancement, making the effort both relevant and valuable.

If you are actively seeking professional advancement including promotion within your current role, utilise any mentoring, and study assistance programs offered by your organisation to assist with deciding on and supporting your course of study.

Avalia??o é um olhar maduro e crítico sobre seu profissional. E quando isso é atrelado as suas necessidades é se mostrar vulnerável para ajustar a rota e definir como melhor seguir na carreira profissional da educa??o e de treinamento.

It’s a good idea to speak to people in the field you are interested in to find out their thoughts on obtaining a qualification and what their experiences have been. It’s always helpful to get first hand experience as well as doing your own research online.

Sometimes, what people need is a credential that authenticates to a manager in a future position. But really, education should be about transformation. So I always think about what I want to be able to do differently in the future that I cannot do now (whether that is deeper expert knowledge or new skills). And I think about the transformation of my network to get a community that helps me grow in that area and opens possibilities. As a result, I rarely go for online education (I do sometimes, but rare). I need the time and space and external impetus to transform, and I need new people to enter my life with meaningful relationships.

Research professional bodies in your field and see if they offer a qualification- they can often be the new “gold standard”.

Importante pesquisar. No mundo atual temos várias linhas de trabalho dentro de diversas profiss?es e mais ainda dentro de treinamento e o sistema educacional. Busque algo que também tem a ver com seu propósito e miss?o aqui. Onde irá colocar esfor?o em algo que no final irá gerar impacto e agregar valor na vida das pessoas.

It's important that late-career professionals take a careful look at various aspects of their lives, such as the time they can dedicate, current schedule flexibility, available resources, and adjustments required (if any). Getting clear on these factors in advance helps filter research options and also facilitates decision-making.

Um ponto extremamente importante. Prepara sua emo??es, tempo, mas também suas finan?as para os próximos passos da sua carreira. Ela dá respaudo pra sua decis?o e sua decis?o se tora mais assertiva quando financeiramente você se prepara e se antecipa.

Estude! Mas sem culpas, e o que elimina as culpas e traz a disciplina é sua gest?o do tempo. Bem elaborada, pensada e sem impactos. organize suas atividades, onde seu próximo e novo tempo entra na sua rotina, amarre bem cada atividade, n?o deixe nada parar ou criar um engarrafamento de tarefas onde para tudo. Sua volu??o e desenvolvimento passa muito por aqui!

Yes getting to talk to those and networking with those already in the field can give you a real insight to what the career is really like

I try to learn one new thing a month. Whether that be a new program or a new way of managing people, I make it a personal goal to engage. This might mean a LinkedIn Learning module. This might mean YouTube. This might mean reading a book on management. This might mean coding a new program with new syntax. I think that we always think of adaptability as responding to outside influences. But I want to change. I want to evolve. If 1/3 of my life is at work, then I want it to be dynamic and changing. So adaptability and a motivation to learn should be coming from a willingness to see possibility.

Seja sempre flexível e adaptável. N?o se trata de n?o ter mais opini?o, mas de alguém que n?o está fechada e inflexível com tudo e com todos. Se mostre com vontade, fa?a acontecer!

Not all education needs to be "professional" but all education affects your professional abilities. I have been at company dinners where my knowledge of East Asian History has landed a deal because people felt that what mattered to them was respected. I have read books about how artists work and used that to change how I think of management if I assume that everyone is creative. Education changes how we see the world and relate to one another. I learned how to do pivot tables to do budgets, but now I use them for project management. I took literature classes so I am better able to think about people's complex motivations. And ultimately, learning things makes me happy, brings me a sense of accomplishment. And that shouldn't be devalued.

Do what brings you joy, works around your lifestyle and can sustain you financially and emotionally. Research provider and research the network in your field of choice

Assess your motivation for seeking that continuing education. Is it for personal or professional reasons? Improving your knowledge base and skillset is definitely admirable. However, let's get clear on the motivations and reasons for why you want that advanced degree or certification. Is this going to put you in financial hardship? Is this degree or certification going to be a value add to your career where you will reap the financial gains from it? If you are considering a degree/certification to advance your career, ask your network where they see it adding value to your career path and determine your next steps forward.