How to study for a new career while working

If you are reading this article, first off, congratulations! You have taken the first step in moving towards a new career. While many of us dream of changing careers it can be easy to be put off by the barriers to doing so.

If your dream career change involves you having to study while still working your current job you may feel like the task is too great to take on. However, you should remember that there are so many options for flexible study that don’t involve going to university, college or getting yourself into debt!

In this article, we will share with you our top tips for studying for a new career at home whilst still working at your current job.

Studying for a new career while working

If possible, get the support of your employer - Your employer may not be thrilled by the prospect of you taking on training to leave your current role and gain a new career. However, if your employer is understanding and committed to developing you as an individual, they may be able to help you by providing support in the form of time off for exams or to study

While your employer may not be forthcoming in supporting you to study for a new career, they should not be actively hindering your ability to train for a new role. If you have a feeling that your boss might be difficult, perhaps it’s best to play your cards close to your chest and keep you plans to yourself.

Choose a schedule that works for you - It’s undeniable that it can be difficult to juggle the demands of work with home study, particularly when you have family commitments or young children. If you find you are being pulled in all directions when you try to study, aim to allocate your studying to a time when you know you will not be distracted. For example, first thing in the morning before work or after dinner when your children have gone to bed. The key is to be smart and choose a time for distance learning when you will be calm, relaxed, and able to fully immerse yourself in your learning.

Block off time to study - Perhaps you have several deadlines in one month and are worried about how you will cope with the amount of work you have to fit in. Blocking off chunks of time from your schedule will make sure that you don’t commit to extra work or social plans in the run-up to your distance learning deadlines. This will make you less stressed about the prospect of juggling all your commitments and more able to focus on your studies when it really counts.

Remove distractions- It can be all too easy to get distracted when trying to work from home and this can eat into your precious study time. It’s important that you can work in a calm, quiet, well-lit space that is largely free of clutter. Hide any distractions such as phones or games consoles and try using headphones to listen to ambient study music if you find that you are distracted by small noises around you.

Don’t completely sacrifice your social life - While there may be times when you have to forego time spent with friends and family, make sure that you don’t completely sacrifice your social life altogether. Remember, it’s important to have balance in your life, so it’s vital that you still have time to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family. It might help to ringfence specific occasions that you cannot miss out on, for example, birthdays or anniversaries. Just because you are e-learning while working, it doesn't mean that you should miss out on spending time with loved ones.

Accept that it will be challenging at times – It is inevitable that there will be times when you struggle with studying online while still working. However, instead of getting burned out try and accept stress as a healthy and necessary force that will push you towards your dream career. While stress can be viewed as a necessity for reaching your goals, if you feel that it’s all getting too much consider taking some annual leave or requesting time out from your studies to focus on your mental health. Remember that future employers will be hugely impressed by the commitment and organisation required to study in your spare time whilst still working and this will be reflected in your future career opportunities.

Celebrate your accomplishments - Undertaking home learning or distance learning studies while still working is no mean feat. You should enjoy your successes when they come and celebrate every accomplishment - you have earned it! Before long, you will be enjoying a new career that would not have been possible without your hard work and determination.

Thanks for reading our article on how to study for a new career while working. It won’t be long until you achieve your goals and embark upon the career of your dreams!

Whether you are looking for home learning, distance learning courses, e-learning, virtual classroom courses or flexible learning, e-Careers is a great place to start for those looking to take the next step in their career. We have a huge range of distance learning courses for you to choose from.

e-Careers exclusively offers certification with job placement programmes in a variety of subjects which are perfect for career changers and the best part is that the programme can be studied in your own time, with candidates placed into a job upon completion.

Browse our catalogue of professional qualifications and start learning today!

Call us on +44 (0) 20 3198 7700 to speak to one of our Career Consultants today, to discuss your career goals or get started.