Michael DeSafey | Executive Recruiter and HR Professional
The Importance of Continuing Education Throughout Your Career
Career education comes in many forms — and they’re all valuable. From online degrees available at universities to professional certificate programs, and even adult vocational courses at your local high school, life-long learning is beneficial to both your personal and professional life.
Here, we’ll be focusing more on the professional side. We’ll explore how continuing education makes one hirable and promotable and more competitive in the construction, environmental and engineering industries.
Top Talent Earns the Best Wages
Recently, there have been many boardrooms buzzing about employee well-being, employer branding, social responsibility, and so on. We’re not making light of it. But let’s not beat around the bush here. The number one reason we get up and go to work every day is for a paycheck. And educated staffers earn better wages.
Consider these Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) numbers:
- Civil Engineering Techs, with an AA or AS degree, earned an average of $53,000 in 2019. Their duty is to help civil engineers plan and execute systems and projects.
- With two more years of school and a bachelor’s degree, Civil Engineers earned about $87,000 in 2019.
- That’s a difference of $34,000 per year for two years of education!
Still, higher learning isn’t always an option. Between budget constraints, travel for work or family obligations, this might not be the right time to commit to two more years of school. That doesn’t mean you can’t hone your professional skills in other ways.
The Value of Short Courses, Adult Ed & Certificate Programs
Professionals in the construction sector can always benefit from technical classes. If you’d like to learn a second language, become proficient at computer networking, or finally master Microsoft Excel, look to your local community colleges for inexpensive adult education. Hone your professional skills, update your resume and let the HR department know what you’re doing.
As social distancing requirements begin to lift, you might also appreciate the opportunity to network at clubs or professional organizations. The right club memberships can be beneficial to both your current employer and your future in the profession.
The Value of Professional Organizations for Ongoing Career Development
We think Roy Atkinson at HDI.com says it best: “Professional associations provide real, tangible value to those who belong to them. They become fellowships and institutions of learning, sounding boards and crisis counselors, and authoritative sources of information and nourishment for a career.”
- Professional organizations help construction professionals keep tabs on what’s happening in the industry.
- They allow you to rub elbows with others in your field.
They also provide terrific networking opportunities. Your employer might even agree to pay for club memberships. And if not, they’re usually tax-deductible.
Ultimately, there are endless opportunities for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental fields to build upon their skills. Individuals that treat education as a life-long process will ultimately earn higher wages, find more employment opportunities and become more valuable to prospective employers. Whether you’re looking to earn a higher degree or pick up a new skill, you’ll reap the rewards for years to come.
Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com