Continuing education is a key to any professional’s success
Careers advice, Office Life

How to persuade your employer to pay for your training

Continuing education is a key to any professional’s success

If you are thinking of asking your employer for a financial contribution for pursuing a training programme or an MBA, prepare some strong arguments. It’s a little bit like preparing a business proposal when you have to prove the benefits of acquiring new skills and fresh knowledge as well as the consequent value that you can bring to the working place. This is not a thing that you improvise, so follow these tips if you want to receive a positive feedback:

Start with emphasizing the advantages of your continuing education

If you want to succeed in your proposal start with the benefits that this training/education period will bring to your performance and the company’s business. “By earning a degree in a job-related field, you can become a better employee. Moreover, employers often see less turnaround and more employee loyalty when they provide tuition reimbursement for education.” Remind your employer of the following advantages: new skills that you can share with your co-workers, appealing resumé for potential clients or calls for tenders, new contacts/business opportunities thanks to a new list of connections coming from this training investment.

Show your loyalty and reassure your employer: you are actually investing in the company

One of the main worries that your boss will express is the transparency of your proposal: are you doing it to find a better job in another company or are you doing it for the business you work for? It is crucial to reassure your employer by providing a clear motivation. The company is investing in you, so what is the best way to show your loyalty? Well, for example, you can open up about specific projects within the company that you would like to be part of, but you know there is some development needed.

Talk about the benefits of acquiring new skills

It is surprising how fast one can acquire new and strategic skills. Continual learning while working is a great way of becoming more flexible, multitasking and open-minded. Bringing a new set of skills will also bring a bunch of new goals to the company. Discuss with your supervisor what type of skills you would like to acquire – for example, soft, hard, or digital.

Find a compromise in terms of schedule and flexibility 

While scouting for training opportunities choose the ones not only adequate for your goals but also suitable in terms of costs and schedule. Finding a good deal or a weekend formula will help both you and your company in managing your working load and professional duties. In the final phase of the negotiation, finding a compromise will help both parties in finding the right balance.

If you want to become an accomplished professional, keep on learning new things and aspire to become better as an employer and a person. Having the ambition of improving yourself, especially if you are a full-time worker, will show to your employer that you are engaged and interested in further progression within the company. If you are eager to find more development-related tips, click here!