6 Benefits of Continuing Education for Career Advancement

Higher education is always changing, and these days, a wealth of opportunities can be found among students of all types and from all walks of life. You don’t have to confine yourself to the traditional and arguably restrictive idea of college education as just a few brief years in early adulthood. You can always benefit from higher learning.

The appeal of continued education is multifaceted as it not only keeps professionals competitive in a rapidly changing job market but also offers several personal benefits such as boosting confidence, providing new perspectives, and opening socialization opportunities among others. Just as important, continuing education can be uniquely flexible, allowing students to learn as they see fit.

There is no denying that a culture of continuous learning drives innovation and engagement. How this is achieved can differ from one professional to the next. While job-based training is available, higher education institutions have a valuable role to play in shaping a diverse and well-educated workforce, often through the power of continued learning programs and professional studies coursework.

Not sure how you want to proceed with continued education? This guide will clarify what it means to be a lifelong learner and why this is so important. This begins with answering a vital question that aspiring professionals from all walks of life must eventually ponder: is college necessary for a successful future? Keep reading for the answer — and to discover the far-reaching impact on continued education.

1. Key Benefits of Continued Education

The main goal (and the main advantage) of continued education involves the lifelong ability to pursue ambitious academic objectives. These can vary greatly, depending on students’ career trajectories, work-life balance, passion projects, and more.

Above all else, continued education provides the chance to make progress. Without it, many people come to feel stagnant as they get overly comfortable in their careers or their personal lives. Continued education reminds us that it’s never too late to improve ourselves. Opportunities for growth include:

Enhanced Work Skills

The modern workplace is changing at lightning speed, and we’re not just referencing the constant unveiling of new technologies. Beyond this, theories and methodologies that were commonplace just a few short years ago have shifted significantly. Along the way, employers’ expectations for basic skills have also shifted and, at this point, both technical acumen and soft skills are expected.

There are several ways to develop in-demand skills, but continuing education provides one of the most reliable solutions for addressing lingering skill gaps. Through targeted coursework, students can discover which skills they are lacking and which are most needed in the modern workforce.

Professional Development

Professional development is a far-reaching concept that involves not only seeking new knowledge and a broader skill set, but also doing so in a goal-oriented capacity. These career-driven goals are ambitious, yet realistic. Typically, continued education provides the most practical and accessible strategy for bringing these aspirations to life. Continuing education courses provide a solid blueprint for skill development, delivering the unique blend of encouragement and accountability that today’s working students desire.

Increased Job Opportunities

Over time, an expanded skill set and a strong professional network can translate to a variety of compelling job opportunities that might otherwise seem out of reach. Through continuing education, students can prepare to enter new fields while also drawing on transferable skills gained through their previous professional experience. Today’s top employers make it abundantly clear that they appreciate when job candidates reveal their personal drive through continuing education and a clear commitment to lifelong learning.

2. Career Advancement Opportunities

Plenty of hardworking professionals eventually encounter career plateaus, in which they struggle to advance beyond a certain level. Usually, education forms the most reliable path to breaking out of these stubborn plateaus. There are numerous ways to move up the career ladder, but most professionals follow one of two main strategies:

Receiving Internal Promotion

While it is currently common practice to frequently move between organizations, some professionals still prefer to stick with a single employer for several years (or even decades) and rise through the ranks via internal promotions. This approach might not always produce significant raises, but it may offer other perks: stronger relationships with coworkers, for example, or the simple comfort of continuity.

No matter the reason for seeking internal promotions, the likelihood of advancement can be increased through the power of continuing education. High-level coursework, combined with strong on-the-job performance, should convey commitment and a readiness to tackle new challenges. Management will take notice as their employers expand their skill sets, and generally, will follow through with significant promotions or pay raises.

Finding External Changes

Continued education can make it easier to shift into new fields or niches. It’s also a great strategy for boosting the job search process and ultimately, earnings. After all, heaps of professionals now rely on external job changes to secure higher pay. Data from the Pew Research Center reveals that professionals who change jobs see pay increases of 9.7 percent, compared to 1.7 percent for those who remain in the same position.

Finding the right job is rarely easy, however, and even with a strong resume, it can be difficult to make employers take notice. This is where continued education can prove valuable: courses can be listed on resumes or LinkedIn profiles while also drawing attention to relevant and recently obtained skills.

3. Improved Job Performance

While continued education goal-setting often centers around new job opportunities or the path to advancement, current job performance should also be top of mind.

This is a definite strength of lifelong learning: it boosts a variety of skills that play into job performance, including everything from technical abilities to collaboration, empathy, and more. Positive outcomes might include:

Higher Productivity

A wealth of research indicates that a well-educated workforce is more productive. There are a number of reasons for this enhanced productivity: increased education sometimes accompanies increased technological literacy, which allows employees to make the most of time-saving, accuracy-boosting software solutions.

Higher education also helps employees develop productivity-enhancing soft skills such as time management. This, in turn, allows employees to produce better results in less time. These skills will ideally be honed over time, and continued education can give even highly experienced professionals a definite boost.

Keen Problem-Solving Skills

Employers regularly cite problem-solving as among the most sought-after competencies in potential new hires. These skills can be difficult to obtain, and even after years of practice, this critical competency may call for a refresh. A variety of continuing education courses help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by providing hands-on learning opportunities that challenge students to re-examine their perspectives and tackle problems in new and innovative ways.

4. Personal Growth and Confidence

While a myriad of people cite professional goals as their primary reason for pursuing continued education, personal goals also matter. The simple act of enrolling demonstrates self-investment. This can ultimately have a huge impact on both confidence and general quality of life.

Expanded Knowledge

The intrinsic joy of learning is worth pursuing simply because it is satisfying to gain knowledge. This can involve exploring new concepts or taking a deeper dive to uncover additional findings about previously studied topics. Either way, there is no need to limit the quest for knowledge, and preliminary research actually indicates that this pursuit can improve quality of life, especially in our later years.

Boost in Career Self-Esteem

For many people, professional aspirations and accomplishments play a vital role in shaping their identity. When career plans feel as if they are on track, a positive self-perception is more likely. Though, when professional aspirations are not yet reached, there are other ways to achieve a positive self-concept.

One of the most reliable paths to improved confidence and self-esteem? A commitment to lifelong learning. This connection stems, in part, from the goal-oriented nature of learning: every time we master a new concept or complete a course, we also achieve a goal. This provides both a sense of purpose and a sense of satisfaction. This ultimately influences professional performance, as achievements in academia help us feel more confident in the workforce.

5. Overcoming Challenges and Objections

Any educational effort will include some element of challenge, and continuing education is no exception. Coursework can be rigorous, and a plethora of continuing education students face obstacles with their schedules and personal lives. Understanding these potential challenges is essential, but with the recognition that such concerns can absolutely be addressed and overcome.

Managing Time and Resources

Time management represents one of the greatest challenges of continued education and college in general — but in a great deal of cases, it’s a challenge worth taking on. After all, the need to juggle a busy schedule will remain relevant in the workforce, and with continuing education, it’s possible to practice critical time management and organization skills in a lower stakes setting.

What It Will Financially Take

Like any college experience, continuing education courses call for a financial investment. Online and part-time options can make economic concerns easier to handle, but tuition and other fees still represent obstacles for some would-be students. Financial aid can help bridge the gap, and continuing education students are eligible for significant grants or scholarships.

Additionally, various employers are willing to contribute to this effort, as they recognize the value of upskilling their workforce. Remember: if continued education helps fuel career advancement, the return on investment can be considerable.

6. Becoming More Creative

Creativity is highly valued in today’s dynamic workforce, not to mention, personally satisfying. There’s a unique confidence that comes with discovering new ideas and new forms of self-expression. Continued education encourages creativity and provides countless chances to practice thinking in new and compelling ways.

Experiment and Explore

Some professionals struggle to get creative, simply because they are too focused on the what-ifs. The understandable professional concerns are top of mind. Between strict timelines and stakeholder concerns, it’s easy to get too wrapped up in a fear-based mindset to truly think outside of the box.

When embracing creativity in the context of continued education, these limitations are no longer relevant. This means that students are free to experiment and explore to their hearts’ delight.

Brainstorm Innovation

Multidisciplinary knowledge underscores a multitude of today’s most exciting innovations. Continuing education courses provide wonderful exposure to fascinating concepts that may play into unexpected breakthroughs.

Continued education also provides plenty of opportunities to practice purposeful brainstorming, often through group projects or other collaborative efforts. This could lead to more productive brainstorming sessions in the workplace.

Invest in Yourself With Continuing Education

Are you ready to level up your skill set as you seek new and exciting professional opportunities? Learn how Carson-Newman University can advance your career with a degree in Professional Studies. As a Christian liberal arts university, we are eager to help students reach their full potential as education citizens and worldwide servant leaders. Connect with us today so you can learn more.