Choosing PD Educational Programs
Making the decision of which PD educational options to choose
Are you considering taking PD training to get promoted or to start a new career? Consider the following factors when choosing educational programs.
Making the decision to go back to school or take a short training program for your professional development can be an overwhelming decision especially if the program you are considering is offered in multiple educational institutions. Consider the following factors when making your decision. First determine which of these factors is most important to you and describe your ideal for each of these factors. Then create a table in MS Excel so that you can compare each option. You may want to give each option a point from 0-5, a “5” being a school that meets your ideal 100%.
Employability
If your purpose for taking training is to get promoted in your current job, to increase your odds of getting a job or to change fields/roles, then be sure that your end goal will be realistic with the program you choose. This may seem obvious but it is not uncommon for graduates of a program to think the training would increase their employability or status but find that they had researched their prospects prior to taking the training. Ask your HR representative or conduct information interviews with hiring managers in your field to make sure taking this program will get you a promotion, job change or land a job.
Cost
Cost is usually one of the biggest factors in the decision to take training. If you have access to PD funds, then this may help with funding your training. If money is no object, then you are lucky but for most, money is a concern. Ask yourself if the program will cause an increase in your earning potential. If the cost of your education is $5000 and it will increase your earning potential by $1000 a year or more, the return on your investment would occur in 5 years. Not bad!
Location of school
Commuting time, especially if you will be juggling taking training while working full-time, will be another consideration. However, if you like the idea of moving away so that you can focus on your PD, then you may want to look for a school that is in a different city.
Duration of program
Usually shorter is better from the student’s perspective but be careful. Make sure the shorter program will definitely increase your employability in the labour market. Sometimes graduates of more extensive and longer programs will get preference for positions.
Reputation of school/program within the industry
If the program you take is not highly recognized in the industry, it will be a waste of time, money and energy. Talk to professional organizations in your industry or cold call people working in the job you want to ask them what programs are highly regarded.
Equipment
If your program is technical, make sure the school has up-to-date, industry standard equipment. All too often graduates or their employers complain that they were trained on out-of-date software and equipment.
Private or public institution
Be very careful of private institutions. Some have very bad reputations due to pressure sales, offering non-accredited degrees and being fly by night. Check with the Better Business Bureau first before registering. It is best to stick with private institutions that have been around for many years and have gained the respect of employers. Public institutions have the advantage of offering a wider selection of courses, grant degrees and are accredited. Private institutions have the advantage of making special arrangements with suppliers allowing them to keep up-to-date with the latest technology and software.
Practicum or internship as part of the program
Programs that offer a practicum or internship as part of the program can really increase your odds of landing a job in the field on graduation. If you are taking training to help secure a new job, this factor alone could be the programs biggest selling point to you.
Job search support
Does the program support your job search prior to graduation? If you are taking the training to land a new job, then again, this support is very valuable. Many private institutions receive government funding based on employability of graduates. If they receive this funding, then they will build job search into the program to ensure that you get that job on graduation.
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