In today’s dynamic and ever-evolving tech landscape, professional development and upskilling are not just options—they’re essential ingredients for career advancement and long-term success.
Savvy employers recognize the importance of investing in their employees’ professional development, offering training budgets to support their pursuit of new skills and knowledge.
What you can use these professional development budgets for can also surprise you—not just short classes but also tech courses and even career-change programs and bootcamps!
So, if you’re an employee eager to make the most of your training budget, this article should help you plan the path to unlocking your career transformation.
Here’s what we’ll discuss:
- How to access your training budget
- Asking your employer: How to present the strongest case for upskilling
- How to study at CareerFoundry using your training budget
- Unleashing your career potential: Next steps
1. How to access your training budget
The first step is to understand your company’s policies and procedures regarding training budgets.
Dive into your employee handbook, find the internal wiki page, or have a chat with your manager or Human Resources department to fully grasp the eligibility criteria, application process, and allowable expenses for training and development programs.
Figuring out training budget structure
Depending on the company, this can work in a number of ways. Some employers will pay for your studies upfront and in full (once permission is granted), or some might expect you to foot the costs upfront and they will reimburse you after the fact (usually upon proof of course completion).
It’s recommended to first clarify how this works with your employer prior to reaching out to educational providers.
Crafting a solid application is key to helping you get the approval necessary from the right people. Let’s explore that further in the next section.
2. Asking your employer: How to present the strongest case for upskilling
When approaching your employer about using your training budget for a course like one of CareerFoundry’s tech courses and programs, be prepared to present a compelling case that highlights the mutual benefits of your upskilling.
Most employers will only grant approval for courses that are somewhat aligned with your current job description, and may not support you in learning new skills that they believe are irrelevant to the performance of your everyday duties. You’ll need to build up and present a strong case to justify how you undertaking this course will provide long-term value for them.
Four tips for making a successful case
Emphasize how the course aligns with your current role, the specific skills you’ll acquire, and the tangible value you’ll bring back to the company. Remember, learning isn’t just about personal growth; it’s about investing in the company’s future as well.
Show the connection between your existing role and the training you’re hoping to take
Explain how this course or program will enable you to become more effective in your current role. Which skills will it add? How can you use them to effectively benefit your team or company?
Demonstrate the strong demand for the skills you’ll be learning
There is a huge amount of relevant data, projections, and forecasts out there to help you demonstrate how what you’ll learn in the course can be applied to your particular role or industry.
The following resources are great examples of where you can find useful data:
- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- CareerFoundry’s Tech Jobs of the Future
- Our subject trend articles on the CareerFoundry Blog
- Sites like Statista and Harvard Business Review
Highlight the importance of professional development for employee satisfaction and retention
Here, also, facts are your friends. A LinkedIn Learning survey showed that 94% of employees would stay at a company if it invested in helping them with their learning. The rise in big data and predicted changes in the world caused by the effect of AI on jobs will only add to the need for employers to recognise this.
Start planning early
Depending on how hierarchical the organization is, approval can often take some time, as it will need to be signed off on by stakeholders at many different levels. So make sure to plan ahead and initiate the request well in advance of your desired start date.
How CareerFoundry can help
We can provide an offer letter to our prospective students, which you can forward to your sponsoring institutions such as your employer, a loan provider, etc. Our offer letter includes:
- Program/course details (description, duration, syllabus, hours of coursework)
- Terms and conditions
- Our billing details
- Name of student and billing information
- Our digital stamp and contact details
This offer letter can be provided as a proof of our services—it is not a payment invoice, so there is no obligation for payment. We can customize an offer letter based on each provider’s requirements.
If you’d like to receive an offer letter, we would need the following information from you about your employer:
- Full name
- Address
- Name of the program
- Email address for the student account
- Start date
You can find an overview of open dates for each program on the relevant course page.
3. How to use your training budget to study at CareerFoundry
Now that you know how to formulate a request for using your professional development budget for a course, let’s take a look at some of the options offered by CareerFoundry:
Our programs and courses
CareerFoundry is your one-stop shop for tech programs and courses designed to equip you with the cutting-edge skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s tech-driven world.
Our programs are meticulously crafted to align with industry standards, ensuring that you learn the most relevant and sought-after skills. Embrace the power of project-based learning, where you’ll apply your newfound knowledge to real-world scenarios, preparing you for the challenges and opportunities that await.
If you’re seeking to switch into a specific career area, our career-change programs are flexibly designed so that you can learn while still working. Our full programs are in the following areas:
- UX design
- UI design
- Product design
- Web development/Software Engineering
- Data analytics
- Product management
- Digital marketing
If you’re already working in one of those areas and are looking to drill down even further, we also offer a range of specialization courses:
- Voice User Interface Design
- UI for UX designers
- Frontend Development for Designers
- Animation for UI Designers
- Python for Web Developers
- Cloud Computing for Web Developers
- Machine Learning with Python
- Data Visualizations with Python
Just like the full programs, these courses come with the full support of a dedicated tutor and mentor to assist with your learning.
CareerFoundry mentors aren’t just industry experts at the top of their game, they’re writers, community leaders, vloggers, and innovators who have worked for disruptors and tech giants such as Meta, Microsoft, Twitter, and Google. They’re versed in how to educate. They’ve walked the path before you, grappled with imposter syndrome, and learned from their mistakes.
How CareerFoundry can help you
At CareerFoundry, we understand that learning is not a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why we provide personalized support throughout your learning journey.
Our dedicated program advisors will guide you in selecting the right course for your career goals, while our experienced mentors and tutors will provide ongoing guidance and feedback, ensuring you stay on track and maximize your learning experience.
Payment options and plans: Flexibility at your fingertips
Gone are the days of rigid payment structures. CareerFoundry offers a variety of payment methods and plans to suit your company’s training budget and financial preferences.
These plans are interest-free, with discounts offered for upfront payments, as well as payment plans (to a maximum of 18 months, depending on the program length) which can also be accommodated. On top of that, and of particular interest to companies, no VAT applies to CareerFoundry programs.
We accept Visa, American Express, MasterCard, PayPal, and bank transfers*. For those seeking upfront payment discounts, we’ve got you covered. And if you prefer spreading the cost over time, our flexible payment plans (of up to 18 months) are just a click away.
New: Free upskilling for employees in Germany in 2024
What’s more, if you’re an employee of a company based in Germany, a new avenue has just become available to you, furnished by the Federal Employment Agency: Qualifizierungsgeld.
What does this mean for those working and looking to upskill in Germany? Well, now you can get an allowance from the government (the Agentur für Arbeit) to cover your salary while you take part in your training. It’s important to note that this is instead of your normal salary for this period. This qualification allowance is paid to employees at a rate of 60% of their net salary or 67% for employees with children.
If you’d like to learn more in-depth what this is, whether you are eligible, and how to apply for it, we’ve created a full guide to Qualifizierungsgeld in English.
How CareerFoundry supports working students: Making upskilling a reality
At CareerFoundry, we understand that balancing work and studies can be a juggling act. That’s why we’ve designed our flexible asynchronous learning format to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule.
You’ll have the freedom to access course materials, complete assignments, and interact with instructors and classmates whenever and wherever it suits you.
4. Unleashing your career potential: Next steps
So, now that you’ve learned why you should make use of your training budget, how to go about asking for it, and what kind of courses to consider, let’s set out a plan:
Identify your career goals: First, take some time to reflect on your aspirations and determine the skills and knowledge needed to achieve them.
Explore the potential programs and courses out there: Browse catalogs of tech programs and courses to find a good match for your career goals and learning preferences. Online or offline? Live lectures or flexible schedule?
Partner with Your Employer: Discuss your intention to use your training budget for a CareerFoundry course and present your compelling case. Remember, upskilling is a win-win for both you and your employer.
Apply: Once you’ve secured approval, contact us to begin the application process for your chosen course. It’s time to embark on your learning adventure!
Embrace the journey: Start your CareerFoundry course and begin acquiring the skills and knowledge that will transform your career trajectory. Remember, learning is a continuous process, so embrace the journey and enjoy the transformative power of knowledge.
If this sounds like something that would be of interest to you, then book a call with a member of our Program Advisor team to discuss your options today. We look forward to connecting with you!
*Please note, that some bank cards may charge international transaction fees as we are headquartered in Berlin, Germany. These fees must be borne by the customer, CareerFoundry will not absorb these costs. Therefore, we recommend checking with your bank on their policy before purchasing.
About the author
Matthew Deery
Matthew is a Senior Marketing Content Editor for CareerFoundry. For over 2 years he's been helping to break down the world of tech for career changers. He has spent several years working in tech companies on a wide range of consumer issues. When he's not working, he volunteers at organizations such as SAND Journal and Give Something Back to Berlin.