After working for say 8 to 10 years, one typically gets this feeling of ‘hitting the glass ceiling’ . Your career growth slows down. You realize you need to upgrade your skills and qualifications, but feel you are a little too old to go back to college. Plus you may have financial responsibilities and quitting your job to go back to college may not seem like a viable option. So what do you do ?
Let me tell you this, “However old you are, upgrading your skills and getting an additional qualification, is ALWAYS a GOOD IDEA“
Thankfully, in today’s day and age, there are plenty of learning opportunities for working professionals. Gone are the days when one completed college and then started working. Many working professionals, now go back to college (both full time and part time) after working for few years. Here are some options that you may consider
Company sponsored training programs:
Many organizations have in-house training programs or partnerships with training institutes. Check with your company HR to see what they have to offer and which option suits you best.
Executive MBA/Business programs:
Most top business schools in India including the IIMs, ISB, MDI, NMIMS, SP Jain and so on offer full time/weekend executive programs where the average age of participants is anywhere between 28-35 years.
Online education:
There are a plethora of courses that you can pursue online. Based on your requirement, you can choose either a certificate or even a complete degree option. I would recommend starting off with a single course or a short term certificate program, before you commit to a full-fledged degree program.
Private Training Institutions:
There are many private institutions that offer certificate or diploma courses which are generally shorter in duration (6 months – 1 year). The advantages of such program are that these courses are generally industry oriented.
Professional Certifications:
Depending on the industry you are in, you could opt for professional certificates such as the CFA, CMA, or say a technical certification in Analytics, Digital Marketing – something that would add to your skill and help you advance in your career.
Before you take a decision on what to study and from where, talk to people in your industry (maybe a senior manager in your organization, or your company HR/Training personnel) to understand its impact on your career. Plan your finances too.
In 2005 Jay Rege, along with his wife Jothsna Rege, co-founded Academy One, a career guidance and study abroad counseling venture. Prior to co-founding Academy One, he worked as a software developer with HCL Technologies. He holds a computer engineering degree from Mumbai University and a MBA from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, USA. He has also been a visiting faculty at a few colleges where he teaches topics related to entrepreneurship.