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April 09, 2005
The need for training
When I left school and then, university, I was relieved. I thought that now, the big money comes in and, best of all, I never need to go back to learning for grades and do tests and all that.
This was and increasingly is wrong thinking! If you ever thought that the degree you have secures you a job and will last forever, forget it. You are doomed already, basically.
It is wishful thinking that you will have a job with one company for the next 10, 20 or 30 years and that they take care of you until you retire. Companies only take care of you when you constantly upgrade your skills to add value to their operations. You are on your own!
The best thing is, don't expect your company to pay for your skill upgrade. Why is this the best? It is the best because it allows you to chart your own course. Imagine where you want to be in 3, 4, 5 years and start working towards it.
There is nothing that can hold you back. No HR manager, or CEO - go for it! It is great if your current employer supports your effort. It is fantastic when your plans and their plans go hand in hand. If not - go for it on your own, nevertheless.
I will soon embark on a 13 day training course that could throw me off to a totally new career - if I want.
The training will strengthen my ability to do something for a different company, or something on my own. Or something with my current company. My current employer supports the training and naturally, they want to have a return on their investment.
So whatever I learnt, I need to transfer those new skills to my colleagues.
Together with my boss we identified the potential outcome and benefits for the company through this training. I would have gone for it anyway - with or without support but by supporting me, the company created a win-win situation. Now, the company and my colleagues all across the region will benefit from it.
I now can have a new career with my company, or enhanced capabilities and responsibilities in my current job - anything goes.
Don't wait for your employer to do something for you. Invest in your own future - like any company needs to invest as well.
See training and related expenditure as your own personal R&D. R&D keeps a company competitive and so does training for you.
Remember, that your skills are outdated 6 months after you left university or school. In other words, your half-time is 6 months.
Have you done anything in the past 6 months that upgraded your skillset? That helps you to secure a place in the future.
That significantly improved your current resume?
Posted by Andreas at April 9, 2005 03:34 PM
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Comments
haha LoL
Sorry that I've made a mistake, by addressing the wrong name here *oops*
Correction to my previous comment, the comment shall begin with
"Andreas, your opinions are extremely true."
My sincere appology to Andreas. Please forgive my mistake haha
My first time ever addressing a wrong name while dropping comment :p
Posted by: Tien Soon at April 10, 2005 10:48 AM
Mack, your opinions are extremely true. Continuous improvements and learning is a critical element to stay at the competitive edge, especially in technical field.
Whatever we've studied in Degree programme, could have already obsolete by the time we're ready to enroll in career path. Education institution takes 2-3 years to draft and propose an academic syllabus, then the Ministry of Education Malaysia takes 3-4 years to approve an academic syllabus, all resulting in an average of 5 years delay to introduce a new course, or major changes. Whatever we're studying in Degree courses are considered stone-age knowledge in this fast moving world.
Without motivation for self-improvements, certainly, we might be easily dropped out from the competitive edge.
Posted by: Tien Soon at April 9, 2005 09:26 PM
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