You’re an established professional with a successful career. Or perhaps you’re in the early stages of your career and trying to climb the ladder. Either way, going back to school is probably the last thing on your mind as you focus on doing your best at work while maintaining your personal commitments.
However, further education can be extremely helpful in progressing your career, regardless of your level of experience. Education is an ongoing process, and we all have more to learn and new skills to build.
Going back to school can allow you to explore new skillsets or bring your existing skills up to date, as well as give you a valuable qualification that will qualify you for that promotion or allow you to transition seamlessly to another field.
Should I Go Back to School?
Of course, we all know that we will probably need to seek a new qualification if we want to switch things up and transition into a different field. However, there are plenty of other times throughout our careers when further education can be extremely valuable. Going back to school can refresh your skills, bring your knowledge up to date, equip you to start your own business, or allow you to gain a necessary qualification to gain that promotion you want.
Additionally, in today’s competitive job market, employers are increasingly looking to hire highly-trained professionals. Companies receive a large volume of applications from qualified, trained, and experienced candidates. That additional, recent qualification will help you to secure a higher-paying job with better prospects.
The Advantages of Further Education
Going back to school and continuing your education can have a number of advantages for professionals at all stages of their careers.
Better Salary Prospects
There’s no denying that there’s a direct correlation between your qualifications and your salary. Master’s degree holders have a significantly higher average salary than those with a bachelor’s only, across virtually every sector.
Further education will help you to secure a pay rise in your existing role or put you in a better position to land a promotion. Similarly, an additional qualification on your resume will qualify you for a range of better-paid roles with other companies.
Prepare for a Career Change
Are you considering mixing things up and transitioning to a different career path? Whether you want to make the shift from business to healthcare or marketing to human resources, chances are you’ll need an appropriate qualification.
Even if you want to transition to a related area, having a specific degree combined with your experience in your current field will make your resume stand out and put you ahead of other candidates. Life’s too short to be stuck in a job that you don’t love. So if your passion lies elsewhere, go back to school, get the degree you need, and follow your dreams!
Update Your Knowledge
Knowledge isn’t static. Even if you have a top-quality degree from a renowned institution, things have likely changed since you completed your studies. New legislation has been introduced, new technologies have been developed, and exciting new theories and approaches have come onto the scene.
This is particularly true of technology-driven fields, but virtually every sector is constantly evolving, so it’s important to keep up with the latest developments. Not only will potential employers want to see that your knowledge is up to date, but being across the latest will help you to perform better and be more effective at work – and all of this is valuable for your career!
Grow Your Network
Going back to school is about more than just completing assignments and getting a piece of paper. The best education institutions will allow you to connect with other professionals in your field. You’ll get to know not only renowned professors and tutors in the field, but also build a network with your peers and fellow students.
This is particularly true of online degrees that are designed for working professionals, like EDHEC’s courses. With a diverse student cohort of established executives, you’ll make many useful connections that will be valuable for years to come.
Become an Entrepreneur
Tired of working for someone else?
Your credentials might be enough for your current job, but what if you want to branch out and start your own business? Becoming an entrepreneur can open up a wealth of opportunities, but it’s not an easy path to take.
If you want to launch your own company, preparation is key. You need to have a broad set of skills and knowledge of the latest business approaches and strategies. Going back to study business will put you in the best position to become a successful entrepreneur.
Flexible Study Options
Sure, going back to school can have many advantages. However, who can afford to pause their career or put their personal commitments on hold to go back to school and study full time?
Luckily, these days there is a range of online study options that allow you to gain a valuable qualifications while continuing to work full-time, look after a family, or both. In most cases, your employer will support you with your studies, as gaining skills benefits them as well. They may offer you time off for your studies, and may even pay for part or all of the costs associated with your degree.
Ready to Give Your Career a Boost?
Whether you want to secure a promotion, change career direction, or simply keep your knowledge up to date, it’s easy to see why you should go back to school.
Want to go back to school and take your career to new heights? EDHEC’s online courses allow working professionals to continue their studies in a flexible learning environment while meeting their work and personal commitments. Take a look at our course catalogue for more information.
