Has anyone done a part time/ evening course to help their career?

[mr405]

Just that really. I've been working in the same kind of role for a few years now and would like to broaden my options. My employers don't pay for any kind of qualification or extended training unless you are in a management role, which is still a step away from me at the moment.

Some of my current role overlaps with marketing/communications which are areas I've keen to further develop. I can't give up full time work at the moment but am prepared to put in time and effort!

If you've done a course or a qualification did you find it helped with your career or moving into a different area?

Does anyone have any recommendations or anything to avoid?

As an employer does anyone have any particular views on doing this?

Have you looked at OU courses? DH did one and changed career because of it.

MidsomerBurgers at the moment that is what I'm thinking I'll do as it seems the most flexible option.

What did your husband do his in? How did he find the workload?

He did history and at times did struggle with the workload due to his job at the time.Sometimes he was on a simultaneous course at work or was out of the country with work.

He does a job unrelated to his degree, but it gave him the impetus to change.

FutureLearn have got quite a few on line courses for career development. There is usually a fee for certification on completion.

They may well have something in your field, and you can do the course at convenient times/your own pace.

You could view it as a taster session before commitment to more complex study.

I am half way through a diploma that I am self funding. I decided to do it after not getting a job 2 years a go. I just got a job in the same place but at the level above the one I was rejected for. I was asked directly in the interview about my attitude towards self development and I think this was the clincher.

I did one evening a week through the local adult college for an access course which took a year. Then took an OU course to further this for another year. I did this around my regular job and then applied for management, my boss really liked the fact that I'd studied on top of family life and full time work. I got the job and now I'm management they've just paid for me to do the final degree in the field I wanted 😊 go for it! It can be really hard to manage your time and I had a few very late nights trying to catch up but it's been sooo worth it

Yes, I've done loads over the years, but nothing that is relevant or I could link to or recommend now. However, I do think that they helped me in my career, yes. In fact I'd say I know they did, as when I first career changed I needed the qualifications I did in the evening around my first job.

Thanks everyone for the replies, it's been really useful.

AdaColeman FutureLearn is a really good idea and one I hadn't thought of!

Good luck with your career development mr405 I hope you get some positive results, and all goes well for you!