People can take career breaks for all kinds of reasons.
Whether it’s leaving due to ill health, to care for a loved one, or deciding your current career isn’t what you want to do anymore and taking time to step away or reassess what you want from a career.
Whatever the reason, it can be a nerve-wracking experience when you start thinking about returning to work, especially if your career break has spanned a few years, or if you’ve decided to take a step in another direction.
- How much has your industry changed since you stepped away?
- What new technology is involved? And how much has it changed how you used to work?
- Are there any new regulations you need to know about?
- Do your current skills match the requirements of employers today?
These are just some of the questions that will likely play on your mind when you decide to return to work. And with the UK in the grips of a skills shortage across a variety of industries, employers are crying out for qualified, skilled workers to fill key roles.
But while all this can seem daunting, the return to work after a career break is also an opportunity to start anew.
You’ve had the chance to reassess your career goals and decide what you really want your career to bring to you and your family.
You’ve potentially decided your current industry isn’t for you and have taken the time away to explore a new field - perhaps even a completely new industry - or maybe you’ve seen a gap in the jobs market and want to step in.
Wherever you are in your decision to return to work, one thing that can make you stand out is a new, updated qualification that demonstrates to employers your commitment to keeping up with the latest practices or challenges in the industry you’re looking at.
Gain the skills needed to return to work with College Online. Register your interest in our online courses today, upskill, and make a seamless return.
The importance of Upskilling and Reskilling before a return to work
Despite UK unemployment rates remaining low for several years, we’re in the midst of a massive skills gap that employers say is creating challenges around recruitment.
Nearly one in 10 vacancies in the UK is linked to a skills shortage according to a Government survey, with employers stating they are struggling to both upskill their own workforce with internal training, or find external talent with the relevant skills, qualifications or experience.
All this means huge potential for anyone thinking of making a return to work, as upskilling or reskilling can make you stand out in a market crying out for qualified talent with relevant experience.
Upskilling and reskilling can also help those returning to work overcome one of the biggest challenges faced by those coming back into the workforce - and that’s the challenge with confidence.
More than a third of all adults returning to work after a break (and an even higher proportion of women in particular) say they suffer with low confidence after a career break, according to a Vodafone survey.
Among the biggest reasons for the confidence dip is the fear that their industry has left them behind, that they’ll struggle to get to grips with new systems or equipment that have emerged since they stepped away, or that best practices will have changed.
Education can help alleviate these fears as the course content will cover any industry changes, modern practices or new regulations that you need to know, so you can gain the new theoretical knowledge to supplement your practical experience.
Even if you want to move into a new career, your past life experience can be a great base upon which to build new knowledge through education and is something valued greatly by employers as often those from other industries can provide fresh perspectives and be a huge value.
Plus, gaining an education before returning to work is no longer only for those in the fortunate position to stick to an inflexible timetable.
Online education can be a much more practical, and flexible way to gain the knowledge you need to re-enter the workforce, while fitting better around other commitments.
Employers also value employees who continue to educate themselves online, with one study highlighting that employees with an online qualification received a promotion (23%), a pay rise (19.8%) or a leadership position (17.5%) after gaining their qualification - so these are routes back into work that employers value.
The Benefits of Online Education for Returnees
Flexibility and Convenience
One of the biggest barriers to education before returning to work is how it will fit in with your life.
“Traditional” education is comparatively inflexible and inconvenient for anyone looking for this route, with students required to attend classes in-person at set times.
This can immediately disqualify those with additional commitments like childcare, or even those who want to return to work while they study in order to fund the course.
Online education is a great alternative as learning can be done around existing commitments, without causing disruption, meaning that valuable, accredited courses are more accessible to a wider range of people looking for a route back into work.
Another issue with in-person learning, is finding a relevant course within a reasonable travel distance to the student.
If the local college, adult learning centre or other educational provider doesn’t provide the relevant, accredited qualification, it can mean a potential student either misses out on the education (and the return to work benefits it can bring) or is forced to travel long distances.
Again, learning online provides a far more convenient path to a qualification, because the course can be completed from anywhere and provides students with a broader range of providers so they can choose the course and provider who fits best with their needs.
Building Confidence and Updating Skills
A common criticism of education among employers is that students aren’t prepared for using their theoretical knowledge in a practical environment, so much so that many employers have said education needs to be better at producing candidates who are “prepared for action, not instruction”.
Online education tends to overcome this because courses are built with employers in mind (at College Online we work with leading employers to create our courses) and are accredited by the relevant industry organisations - rather than just an educational provider.
Modules are designed and updated to provide students with practical knowledge and keep them updated on the latest developments in their industry.
This means that when students complete their online course, they not only have the new theoretical knowledge, but understand how it translates to practical skills in the workplace.
These industry relevant skills are a huge boost to employers and something they often look for when reviewing a candidate’s educational background.
For employers looking to fill specific skills gaps, especially in fast moving industries like technology or digital marketing, knowing students are keeping up to date with the latest trends is invaluable and can help candidates stand out.
Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about online learning is that it can be isolating, with students not surrounded by others in a classroom and potentially lacking support.
However, online education can provide a supportive learning environment that more than matches that of in-person learning - which is something students agree with.
In fact the vast majority of students (83%) say “digital learning” is more convenient for them while 67% say learning online allows them to contribute to classes and discussions in ways they prefer (removing the pressures of standing up in front of a class).
Also, when asked whether online learning made them feel like part of a community, only 20% disagreed.
Of those who agreed that online learning was more supportive and suited their preference for learning, factors like lively discussion forums (usually started and driven by the students themselves) played a big role in the supportive atmosphere.
Students also benefited from better mentorship and career counselling, with online providers having good industry connections which created opportunities for employment after the course.
In-Demand Skills for Today’s Job Market
It’s estimated that around 20% of the UK workforce (about 6.5million people) will be significantly underskilled for their jobs by 2030.
In fact two-thirds of large UK businesses already report that they struggle to recruit employees with the skills they need.
For those returning to work, this skills gap presents a huge opportunity to get ahead in a competitive jobs market by showing evidence of updated knowledge.
When it comes to education prior to returning to work, understanding the skills that will be useful can help you to land on the best course.
One of the biggest areas for development in the UK workplace is digital skills, with more than a quarter of employees saying they lack the sufficient digital skills for their role.
Some of the most in-demand skills in the UK economy at the moment include:
- Engineering
- Software development
- IT and communications
- Business
- Architecture
- Graphic and web design
Employers also worry that there is a lack of “soft-skills” in the UK job market, particularly when it comes to communication and leadership.
According to one report, employees with higher levels of these essential soft-skills can potentially earn an average £4,600 more per year compared to those who only have the technical knowledge.
This could make leadership or management courses a lucrative option for those looking to return to work as they would have the necessary skills employers are looking for.
Ultimately, the UK job market has ample opportunity for those looking to return to work who can demonstrate recent education or development in areas like digital literacy, leadership and management, or those with updated industry knowledge like those working in finance and IT.
Register your interest in online education courses with College Online today. Reap the benefits of online education and gain the credentials needed to return to work.
Choosing the Right Online Course to Help You Return to Work
Understanding skills gaps and opportunities is one thing, the most important thing is choosing an online course that will help you achieve your goals.
Evaluating online courses can be daunting simply down to the sheer volume available today, but there are some key thing to consider or look for:
What are your career goals?
It’s important to think about why you want to return to education and what you want to achieve. With your career goals in mind, what skills are you lacking that could hold you back? Do you need to freshen up your digital skills? Or do you want to take a step into management but need the leadership skills? Taking a self-assessment can be a good start for understanding where your current strengths and weaknesses lie.
Research your course provider
You should pay close attention to the accreditations of your chosen course provider to ensure your course is relevant and recognised by potential employers. Reviewing the course curriculum in detail should help you understand what you’ll get from the course and can help identify particular areas that you might want to focus on, or whether the course is teaching the latest best practices. Student reviews or testimonials can also give you a good idea what success previous attendees have had and what career benefits they say from taking the course.
Course Format and Duration
Ultimately you want your online learning to fit around your current commitments so understanding what is required as a time commitment can be a big help. For example, is a short course, a few evenings a week the best option? Or can you commit more hours towards achieving a higher level of qualification? It’s important you consider what you can commit to in order to improve your chances or gaining a qualification.
Aligning your course with in-demand skills
There is huge potential for those returning to work to get a foothold in the job market as employers struggle to find qualified staff. Demonstrating up-to-date knowledge can improve employability and help prepare you for your chosen career path.
Certifications and career advancement
Will you leave your course with industry recognised qualifications or certifications through your online course? These can be highly sought after by employers in particular industries as accredited courses are recognised as being the most up-to-date and relevant in terms of course material.
Register your interest with College Online and get tailored support from our specialist team who will support you in identifying a course suitable for your requirements.
Overcoming the common challenges of online learning
It would be wrong to suggest that committing to online learning is easy, but there are things you can do to better fit your new commitments around your current life.
- Set realistic study schedules: Using a calendar tool like Google Calendar can help you plan in study during the week and help you stay on track with your learning - rather than trying to fit studying in as and when you can.
- Connect with classmates: Whether you need help to stay motivated or want to avoid feeling isolated during your studies, set up WhatsApp groups or online forums with your classmates where you can ask questions, share concerns, and keep each other focussed.
- Create a structure: Prioritising tasks and your time can help you stay on track with your learning and prevents you from bouncing from one thing to the next without making real progress. At the start of the week (or month) set yourself a goal to complete certain modules or tasks and then plan these into your study calendar.
- Create a study space: Depending on your home environment, try to create a quiet space that’s just for study time. Avoid reading course material in front of the TV or while you’re doing other tasks - instead create an environment that makes it easy for your to concentrate.
- Be proactive in self-learning: Don’t be afraid to ask questions but take your online learning as an opportunity to be proactive in seeking out information yourself.
- Familiarise yourself with your online support: Whether you need technical or academic support during your studies, or want career counselling towards the end of your studies, understanding how to access your support services can help you get the most out of your experience.
How College Online Can Help You Return to Work
College Online can help equip you with the skills and qualifications you need to stand out in competitive job markets with courses created with the help of our industry leading partners and employers.
Our expert driven, personalised learning experiences give you skills that employers want, with industry accreditations ensuring you are ready to enter the workforce after completing your course.
You’ll have access to personalised support from day one.
Whether it’s help and guidance choosing the right course based on your goals, supporting you through your studies with our leading support services, or helping you find employment at the end of your studies, you’re never alone in your online learning journey with us at your side.
You can access specialist resources during your studies, easily network with your fellow students, while your own dedicated Student Success Coach and tutor is always on-hand to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
If you’re interested in re-entering the workforce but want to freshen up your skills and knowledge beforehand, Get in touch and let’s see how we can help you achieve your goals and get the career you want.
