Thread: - Employer Sponsored Education -

Hi guys.

As many of you know, I'm a pretty motivated young professional who is really just into soaking up as much as I can. I've been lucky enough to play a key role in some big things in my life and am still in the learning phase of things.

Launching my first entrepreneurial endeavour early next year while working full time and I can't wait. Taking an Executive Education course at the top business school here in Canada and am hoping to enroll in one at Harvard next fall, if I can convince my employer to sponsor me.

Anyone have any experience in doing just that? I know a lot of large corporations have processes for this, but our Agency is around 25 people. I have a high level of seniority for my age in comparison to my coworkers and have managed to impress my employer thus far.

Any tips on how to approach this? The classes range from $9000 to insanely high. I'm just looking to keep taking in as much as possible.

Also, are these typically fully sponsored?

this is why a big company might be better - most progressive companies will pay for at least 1/2 of any continuing education. they understand that a smart employee is a better employee - and they can afford it.

if the class is directly related to your job, you at least have a basis. $9k+ is kinda high, though i don't know if there are tax breaks for businesses that participate in this in canada.

one other thought - can you get similar experience at work? can you volunteer for extra work that will give you real-world skills in the topic? might be another approach.

- chuck

alot of times they expect a commitment to extend your employment with them when they invest in your education

Its a tough one, but I have been able to get all of my school paid for.

At 17 started at UPS and that paid for my 2 year
then at 19, landed another job as an engineer, and they paid for a lot of my training as well.
and now again, my current employer is paying for another 4 year, even though I still do my own thing.

I found the key was to prove that you can be a valuable asset, and by sending you to school it will benefit them

Originally Posted by carendt242

if the class is directly related to your job, you at least have a basis. $9k+ is kinda high, though i don't know if there are tax breaks for businesses that participate in this in canada.

one other thought - can you get similar experience at work? can you volunteer for extra work that will give you real-world skills in the topic? might be another approach.

Definitely pricey, and I would be lying if I didn't want to utilize it for the name in part. But it is directly related to my job.

My hope is it could open some doors to move up to work in product at Facebook, Google, or something similar here in Canada. Hootsuite is here, amongst others. It would definitely help me stand out. Outside of work I definitely am pushing myself with school at Ivey in tech entrepreneurship, lots of extracurriculars (sit on a couple of boards as a director, chair another), and constantly seeking out mentors to learn from. I'm just early on in my career and, while I obviously don't want to burn out, I'm young and ambitious. Figure I should use the energy while I've got it!

Originally Posted by miabullitt

alot of times they expect a commitment to extend your employment with them when they invest in your education

That's definitely something I've considered. Good point. Definitely not a deal breaker either.

Originally Posted by miabullitt

alot of times they expect a commitment to extend your employment with them when they invest in your education

Basically this for smaller companies.

As for large ones, they usually cover the full expense for permanent employees. I got a friend in Waterloo that had to do his MBA exam twice because he failed the first time, all this covered by his employer. He's lucky they didn't can him for that.

Just looked up Hootsuite. I've always imagined a tool like this, looks well done.

BTW, do you ever sleep lifeoftheparty?

General education is pretty standard at most medium to large corps. The Executive track is what becomes more tricky. I posed the question to my company and their response was "what is that?" Now this is some HR pencil pusher...but that tells me not many, if any, actually get sponsored by the company to do Executive MBA type work.

The sponsorship is the business committing your time to do the work. Executive MBA's generally require you to travel and dedicate time during general working hours...and the programs want to make sure your company is in it for the full 2-3 years required. I'd love to get my executive MBA...but I will probably wait till i'm in my mid to late 30's. 5-8 years out.

Originally Posted by Paulski

Just looked up Hootsuite. I've always imagined a tool like this, looks well done.

BTW, do you ever sleep lifeoftheparty?

Hootsuite is great! Rumours of a Facebook acquisition were floating around earlier this month, but were dispelled.

And no. Sleep when you're dead.

Originally Posted by saintv90

Executive MBA's generally require you to travel and dedicate time during general working hours...and the programs want to make sure your company is in it for the full 2-3 years required.

This is less for an EMBA and more for just executive education. Usually 1-2 week programs.

I'm still able to get an MBA. I just don't know if it's as applicable to me and its a huge opportunity cost. I'd rather learn at work and get some education on the side. Benefit from what I learn, save $, and benefit from the school's name still being on my resume. I've talked with many MBA profs (they teach me right now in a program on tech entrepreneurship) and lots of them say I should skip it seeing as I don't aspire to be a consultant or investment banker.