Skilledup.com
Have you cursed your manager after being declined when you requested to take a class or attend a conference?
Have you been the victim of the classic “We don’t have the budget”? If you have heard these crushing words, you are not alone. In today’s post, I will share with you how to get your company to cover the costs of classes that will advance your career in the right direction.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be the guest of Ander Frischer’s podcast at Skilledup.com. On the podcast, we talked about a couple of things, including:
- How to explain to your manager that you don’t know how to do something when assigned a new project.
- How to receive more opportunities and more projects.
- Convince your manager to cover the costs of classes and seminars, and suggest relevant courses for you.
Jedi mind trick, you ask? Does the thought “These are not the classes you are looking for” come to mind?
The background:
For those unfamiliar, I hold an HR degree and have worked in HR for the majority of my professional career. In my HR career, I spent several years in Training and Development at a Fortune 300 company, where I facilitated classes for managers and executives. Topics on everything from interviewing to management training, facilitation skills, and diversity/sensitivity. (Yeah, I was one of those guys) I think I have an idea on how to get companies and managers to pay for courses. I not only approved class rosters but was also sent away for weeks at a time to become certified to facilitate topics so the material could be brought in-house and delivered at scale. Blah, blah, blah. There is relevance, trust me.
A good friend introduced me to Skilledup.com. They then made an introduction to Ander, thinking, “We should meet”. (Networking at work, folks, and thank you, Stu Keikland!)
What is Skilledup?
Skilledup.com is a great resource that offers online courses. These courses are not your typical “how to weave baskets underwater” classes. This site was built to help employees find online courses and enhance their skill sets, thereby increasing their value to employers. Some classes cost a few bucks, and others are free. This podcast is available for free listening. I think it will help if you’re interested in getting your company to cover the costs of training and education.
And no, I wasn’t paid for the session, nor am I being paid for this post—no free swag of any sort. If you have read any of these prior posts, you know what I am trying to do here, and Ander and Skilledup.com share a very similar vision.
Provide employees and candidates with the tools to succeed. It enhances employee performance and, in turn, strengthens companies.
Most companies lack the time, resources, or expertise to empower their employees effectively. This is a great alternative that allows the employee to do what I preach all the time on this blog. Take control of your career.
I have a decent commute every day and end up listening to a lot of podcasts. I have quite a bit to compare to, and I really like Anders’ style. He has an extensive background in broadcasting, which is evident. Not only did he bring in a ton of equipment in hard Pelican cases, Ander sets a great stage, keeps the program moving, and knows how to make the guest feel welcome and, in my humble opinion, sound good.
The proof of this is that he perfectly captured the point I was trying to articulate when he confirmed the following: “Thinking about it from your managers perspective. . . is ultimately what counts”. Yeah, exactly, “what he said”. He is good.
Be a Jedi
So, if you want to learn about how to increase your skill set and make yourself more valuable to your employer, check out Skilledup.com. If you want to hear how HRNasty gets his classes and seminars approved, check out the podcast by clicking here. If you have techniques you have employed to convince your manager to pay for your classes, please share them below.
See you at the after party,
HRNasty
nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone who is good at something. “He has a nasty forkball”.
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Marlaine
December 5, 2014Thanks for this post HRNasty! I love reading your blog.
As an employer, I know the value of ongoing learning and training for employees. We invest in several robust online learning academies that are free to our employees. For the motivated employee, they could even earn a PMI-accredited credential (for project management). This is their path to receive an increase in pay and creating valuable skills and knowledge for their chosen career path.
Sadly, not one employee has taken advantage of this opportunity. Free education that will increase their pay and not one employee has taken advantage of it. Its mind boggling to me. The irony is that many employees believe that showing up every day entitles them to a pay raise. This is NOT the case unless you are a union employee working under a collective bargaining agreement.
So, I agree with you wholeheartedly…employees should take ownership of their career development. Especially when an employer has already invested in the training. It simply requires their own initiative and motivation. I would happily reward an employee who takes the initiative!
HRNasty
December 7, 2014Marlaine,
Thank you so much for your comment and specifically bringing up the employers perspective which I completely missed. Kudo’s to you to for making the investment to provide the training. A PMI cert can give so much credibility to employees and increase their value, it is a testament that you DO want to pay your employees more. Most employees don’t want to ask for training because they feel embarrassed. The truth of the matter is that most employers are like you in that they DO want to invest in their teams because it makes the company stronger. Showing your manager that you have a prior history in training on a topic is a great way to show that your request isn’t some passing fancy. Thanks for the great perspective!
HRN