A Guide to Balancing Full-Time Work and Study
Are you currently considering returning to study for a career change whilst working full-time? Well here is a valuable guide to managing the two successfully. It may seem hard, but with a rising number of the workforce returning to study, there’s no reason why you can’t manage. It’s all about knowing the right way to go about it.
Work is at the core of contemporary life most and it’s important in providing financial security and an opportunity to develop both as a person, and a member of society. Sometimes though, thanks to unforeseen circumstances, you might need to develop your skills and training to reach the next step in your career journey.
It’s important to remember: it’s not impossible, and with the right information and tips, you’ll be well on your way to finishing your studies and getting that new job or promotion that you’ve got your eye on.
Why Are More People Returning to Study?
More than ever, the skills needed in the workplace are becoming outdated at a scarily fast rate. The use of technology, systems integration, automation and rising redundancies are forcing more into updating their skills faster than seen in the past.
Whether you’re considering a return to study to improve your job opportunities or looking for a career change altogether; you’re not alone. Students aged 40 and older now make up 30% of tertiary education in New Zealand, which has doubled in the past ten or so years.
Out of this age group, four in five mature aged students are enrolled in Level 3-4 certificates and diplomas, which are popular choices for upskilling and balancing learning easily around work.
Of students in New Zealand are
over 40 years old
Study Level 3-4 courses such as Certificates and Diplomas to upskill
So, How Can You Balance the Two?
A full-time employee has ongoing employment and works, on average, around 38 hours each week. These long hours might make it difficult to achieve other goals, such as obtaining skills through study and completing a Diploma; which often takes 12-18 months to finish. But thanks to the benefits of online study there is now an efficient alternative to finding a great balance between the two.
Students aged 25-40 study online every year
The biggest users of online or distance education in New Zealand are aged 25-40, with 11,000 choosing this method of study in the past year alone.
Taking any courses online, for example; Certificate and Diploma courses, is an excellent tool for coping with full-time work. There are many benefits of online study which includes:
A survey by The Learning House found that 44%of students that studied online found a higher-paying job after studying. Another 45% reported an increase in salary at their existing job, through promotion. This just shows that studying online is a great way of meeting your career goals, no matter what they are.
The Best Tips for Balancing Full-time Work and Study
A survey by The Learning House found that 44%of students that studied online found a higher-paying job after studying. Another 45% reported an increase in salary at their existing job, through promotion.
Turn Your Commute into a Study Session
This is a helpful response to balancing full-time work with study. If you often find yourself having to travel long distances to work that requires public transportation, such as a bus or train, then using these hours to study online can be beneficial by using free time efficiently and allow down time for later
Have a Comfortable Study Space
Being able to study in the comfort of your chosen environment will help you feel more stress-free rather than having to travel somewhere for your course. Such environments can include being in your own home or even outside and this can be used to your advantage by helping you concentrate on the task you need to have completed
Create a Study Schedule- And Stick to It!
There’s so many apps out there, such as ToDo List that can help your organise your assignments, weekly tasks and study. It’s best to plan out a week or two in advance what you’ll need to do, and book out a couple of hours a week to get things done.
Don't Work Yourself Too Hard
If you choose to study online, this is a great way of lessening the strain of study outside of work hours. For example, if you have a really busy week one week, just pick up the study you couldn’t get done the week after. The flexibility that online study allows is perfect for this. So remember to take sometime for yourself every few days.
It’s not impossible to have the best of both world, to continue earning money while developing the skills you need to negotiate a pay rise, land a promotion or even change careers. With the right study method and a bit of discipline, you can be well on your way to ticking off your career goals in no time!
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