Just tipping into September and that certain golden light and softness of air can bring back memories of new clothes, new bags, new notebooks, new pencils – the start of a fresh term. But if you’re out of formal education and wanting to career shift instead, how can you use the impetus that early autumn brings to acquire new skills? Especially if like many people, you’re on a limited budget of time and cash. Here’s a mélange of ideas to get you started.
- Workshops/short courses/conferences
Look at listings on the web as well as local and national papers and magazines/journals relating to your area of interest. Bartering for a reduced fee by offering your services to the organisers in some capacity could not only save you money, but could also introduce you as ‘part of the team’, giving you the chance to shine, get noticed, get experience and maybe even meet the speakers or trainers. Even when a workshop is free, offering to help in some way gets you involved and talking with more people than simply showing up as a participant. If you are there just to listen, take note of people whose experience interests you during the day, and make contact with them. Following up that contact by email shows courtesy and initiative and could lead to other fruitful openings and more learning.
- Internships/Work experience
Everyone’s got a horror story these days of internships that consist of photocopying, watching paint dry and more photocopying. But if you choose wisely, you can find work experience that really does take you in the direction you want to go. Of course you may not get paid, so don’t necessarily give up that waitressing job whilst you try this option. Target companies or organisations in your chosen field and be pro-active, contacting the relevant department. Ask friends and family to spread the word for you to help find opportunities. Don’t discount options that are close but not precisely what you’re looking for; a week spent in one of these could give you contacts who might recommend you to more relevant agencies.
If you’ve got experience you think an organisation might benefit from, you could offer it in exchange for time spent learning the new skill you’re after (make sure you negotiate how much time you’ll spend on each side of this bargain). If you simply have a sheer desire to get an inside view of a new field, be prepared to take whatever’s going (for a limited time). Once you’re there, and without making a pest of yourself, talk to anyone and everyone you meet about what the work involves and what you’re hoping to learn – you never know who talks to who: even that accountant on the third floor might be best buddies with the Creative Director.
- Skill swaps
Advertise the skills you have on web and local newsagent notice boards, and ask for tuition for the skill you want in exchange. The library or even an interested local bookshop can also be good places to help with this – have a word with the librarian or book-seller and see if you can help set up a community of collaborative learning in your area.
- Evening classes
Underrated and sometimes under-used, this old standard never fails, so long as i) you commit to keep going week on week, even if your enthusiasm fades, your classmates are dull and it’s a dark rainy night: ii) you find the right class at the right level: iii) you do the homework! Make the most of this incredible low-cost opportunity and keep Adult Education where it belongs – available and affordable for everyone.
- Volunteering
Great if you want to work in the charity sector, but even if you don’t, a wise choice of volunteering will open the gate not only to fantastic and worthwhile experience, but also offer you the possibility of meeting new people who share your interest and lots of relevant free training. Ask what opportunities there are before signing up, and be pro-active once you’re there in pursuing your interests.
- DIY
Create your own course of study! There probably isn’t a subject under the sun now that you can’t learn from the web, let alone through visiting your local library and asking for help. Be disciplined, and create a programme for yourself with milestones and targets. Find a study buddy to share progress with. Find a way to test yourself at the end of a pre-decided period (for example, if you’re learning German, watch a film in German without the sub-titles, go to a lecture in German, arrange exchange conversations with a German student, or of course, go to Germany!)
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