My column theme for January is “starting fresh,” with fresh as the operative word. As in: new, rejuvenated, revitalized. Frankly, given the January we’re having, I’m not feeling it. It’s hard to summon peppy thoughts with everything that’s been happening.
For that reason, I’ve made a decision. I’m formally declaring January a practice month, with the new year actually starting Feb. 2. If things still look dicey when I poke my nose out on Groundhog Day, I reserve the right to head back into hiding until St. Patrick’s.
In the meantime, let’s tackle the third topic in this month’s Fresh Start series. So far we’ve looked at relocation and returning from long-term unemployment, with career change and business startup slated for the coming weeks. Today, I’ll focus on upgrading education as a way to start fresh in 2021.
Regardless of your age, vocation, or current education level, pursuing more learning can be wonderfully invigorating. There’s nothing like mastering a new skill or discussing a challenging idea to improve self-confidence. In these days of isolation, education can also be a healthy respite from mental inactivity.
And, for the unemployed and those who dream of different employment, this pandemic era presents a unique time-out, letting you transform yourself while waiting for opportunities to improve.
So, what would you like to learn? When discussing education, it’s always good to keep a broad perspective. If you limit your thinking to formalized or packaged programs, you risk overlooking some excellent options for upgrading your skills or knowledge.
For example, maybe you want to learn welding but don’t want to take a full semester course, much less an entire degree program. I chose that trade as my example because I know someone who teaches welding on an hourly basis in a private studio to small “pods” of two and three students.
And I know he can’t be the only one teaching a skill on this basis. In years past, I’ve met people offering individualized classes in everything from carpentry to answering multi-line phone systems. I even knew someone who rented out his tractor-trailer while tutoring driving students in preparation for licensing.
The lesson? You don’t necessarily need a formal degree or certificate program when the actual goal is the training. On the other hand, sometimes the degree is the goal. Perhaps you’ve wanted to finish a program you started years ago, or maybe you’d like to add a new credential to your résumé.
If you’re ready to make an education upgrade of your own, these steps will help you start.
1. Decide what to learn. Let your imagination go wild by writing down everything that pops into your head. Want to know how to fly a plane? Build a cabin? Speak Arabic? Operate a backhoe? Design clothing? Maybe you want a project management certificate or a Masters degree. Write it all down so you can look for patterns and priorities.
Once you’ve sorted the list somehow — perhaps by grouping topics or by separating the “fun” and the “work” subjects — you can decide which two or three are the most compelling at the moment. These are what you’ll research first, and perhaps jump into.
2. Look for training options. This step improves with creativity. For example, let’s say you do want to design clothing. It makes sense to look for colleges and tech schools offering related classes. But had you considered craft stores, tailor shops, sewing machine manufacturers, community education programs or hobby groups? Any of these might also lead you to formal or personal instruction in clothing design. If so, the training might also be customizable, which could better suit your needs.
3. Knock down barriers. Education can be a fraught subject. If you’ve struggled at school in the past, you might feel anxious about learning now. Or perhaps you can’t imagine how you’d find the time to pursue training. It might be the cost that hinders you, or the lack of a computer or other equipment.
Whatever threatens to hold you back, it’s time to ask: Really? As in, is this barrier really going to keep you from your dream? Take a fresh look at the problem as if you were trying to solve it for your best friend or your child. Now focus on finding the solutions for yourself that you know you would seek out for them.
4. Keep going. Not every class or lesson will delight you, so be ready to either stick it out or let it go. In either case, keep looking ahead to the next learning opportunity, and the next. Who knows — you might find this fresh start morphing into a fresh perspective on life overall.
Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com.
The Link LonkJanuary 16, 2021 at 10:13PM
https://www.twincities.com/2021/01/16/working-strategies-starting-fresh-in-2021-upgrading-your-education/
Working Strategies: Starting fresh in 2021 – upgrading your education - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
https://news.google.com/search?q=fresh&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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