It’s a competitive world out there, and even if you’ve only taken a year off work to raise your kids, you’re still at a disadvantage from your colleagues and competition. Even if you believe you’re still qualified for a certain position, someone else might have gained experience or a qualification in the past year to give them a slight edge. No matter how old you are, or where you are in your career, it never hurts to earn a few extra skills outside of work. If you’re hoping to go back to work in the near future, perhaps your should consider going back to school first.
Languages
Businesses are always expanding, and the ability to speak at least one foreign language is always coveted by companies of all sizes. There are now so many ways for you to pick up this valuable skill in your spare time that there are no more excuses for putting it off. You can download several apps on your phone and learn a few phrases every few minutes, and language CDs are still a useful learning tool. However, if you prefer some interaction, you can hire a tutor to teach you at a time to suit you or give you lessons over Skype, or you could join a language club in your area and learn with other people.
Business
By getting a business qualification, such as a Bachelors in Business Administration, you’ll be learning about a variety of skills that are invaluable in an office environment, and have a lot of options if you need to find a new job. Thanks to the internet, you don’t even need to physically attend your lectures; you can sign up for an online BBA programme and start learning about accounting, management and marketing, which are all essential business skills. Even if you’ve learned everything you should already know through experience, having a formal qualification can give you an edge over other applicants who have also just learned through experience.
Web design
If you want to start earning money again, but you don’t feel ready to go back to work, there are many jobs you can do from home. So many people are going into business for themselves, and they’re all aware that a website is the easiest way to reach a wider market. Most will choose to do it by themselves, and end up with a bad website, and others will pay a web designer to do the work for them. Learning how to do web design can open up a whole new source of revenue for your family. You don’t need a formal degree to become a web designer; some intensive night classes at a community college will teach you the same technique for a fraction of the cost. You could also earn while you learn by becoming a web development apprentice. If you decide you want to go back to work further in the future, you can still do this as a side job to bring in extra income.
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