Posted by Professional development and training are very important in a competitive business world. The truth is that the business environment changes so much, and so often that to stay competitive, an employee should continuously learn something new. Professional development and training are the best way to update knowledge and skills in a timely manner.
However, they usually cost a lot.
Every company hunts specialists whose resumes certify their commitment to continuous learning. Courses and training that are relevant to the position are what HRs look for. However, when it comes to financing employees’ professional development, companies usually try to steer clear of this responsibility. It is very difficult to make an employer pay for training.
Nevertheless, there are a few tips that can help you get your company to pay for your professional development:
Place a Request for Training
If you do not bring up the subject of further education, the company will not be aware of it. Take the initiative to study the company’s guidelines on professional training and decide whether you can comply with its policies. If yes, you need to tell your boss why you think these courses or this particular training will be beneficial for the project completion or your overall performance.
You need to take things into your own hands and prepare a list of courses that you are interested in. It is a good idea to analyze each course and training to showcase what hard and soft skills you would get upon completion. The more convincing you are, the better are your chances of getting the necessary funding.
You can also try to highlight how your supervisor and the upper management will benefit from your training. If your extra knowledge facilitates the resolution of their problems, be sure they will be the ones who will advocate for your professional development.
Compare the Costs
Nothing speaks better than numbers. You can demonstrate that your education costs are less than the expenses the company bears by hiring a new employee. Also, you can mention that you will be awarded certification will positively reflect on the company’s image.
If you can compare online courses vs. personal training vs. a week-long event, go ahead. Given the reasonable price range, your employer is likely to approve professional training that is in the affordable value.
Include some positive examples as a part of your presentation. It is quite simple to do because many executives openly share facts about their career advancement and the courses they had. Even though they might fund them themselves, you can still use their example of how professional development helped them at work. Moreover, you can study your competitors, specifically their policies on employee development. The more convincing you sound, the better is the outcome for you.
Find Out about Tax Deductions
Some countries are open for professional development financed by businesses. They even offer tax deductions and credits to the companies that invest in their employees’ education. You can check this with the accounting department but be attentive because not all programs are eligible for such deductions and credits.
Be Direct
If you know what program you need, do not be afraid to tell your employer directly about it. First of all, there is nothing wrong with getting a formal rejection. Your company may be low on budget, and extra expenses may reflect on its sustainability. Sometimes all that is needed from you is to be more persistent and confident about what you want and what you can provide.
Final Words
Professional development and training are critical if you wish to advance your career. If you want to grow further within the company, you should request for your professional training to be funded. If the company rejects such requests several times, it might be the time to think of looking for a company that would offer this opportunity to you. Otherwise, you are missing out on skills and knowledge that can be beneficial to you and the business.
Getting the company to pay for your education can be seen as an achievement. Even though all organisations look for highly educated specialists, they are usually completely complacent about funding their professional development. Thus, if you get your training paid, make sure you can return the favour.
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About the writer:
Sandra Larson is one of the owners of ElizabethanAuthors website and a writer who has built her career working in professional essay writing on time. She has also recently started her independent research concerning different student and job-related problems, the findings from which she shares online. In this article, Sandra talks about the necessity of professional development and the role of the company in funding it.