Studying whilst in employment

FortuitousFluke

FortuitousFluke

FortuitousFluke

Soldato
Joined
7 Jul 2011
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Location
Cambridgeshire
I've seen a fair number of university threads on the forum at various times, and some asking for advice on vocational qualifications, but I don't think I've ever seen one dedicated to studying for a qualification whilst employed.

I got my degree about 9 years ago so I have some experience of study in a traditional setting, but since embarking on my CIPS course a year ago I've got to say I find working alongside study much more difficult to manage.

As this kind of learning is a different animal to your standard full time student fare, I though it might be useful to have a thread where people can discuss their studies, share tips, get advice from people who may be studying for the same qualifications and maybe ask questions if they're thinking of undertaking something similar.

I decided to tackle my qualification through a distance learning approach, my study is completely dictated by myself and basically consists of reading, further reading, and some use of e-learning (past papers, online tests etc). The main issue I've had is stopping life from encroaching on study time, "I know I'll throw an hour at the books on my lunch. Crap, the car is on the fritz and now I have to go to the garage instead". The best thing I've done so far is start taking my partner to her jewellery design classes, it give me two hours a week to sit in a pub revising, sounds stupid but it's been incredibly useful.

So, how many other people do we have trying to juggle life, work, and study? What are you reading for? How are you finding it? Would you recommend it? Do you have any tips to share?

tl:dr - Juggling modern life is hard, tell me that you agree and let's all hug until it's better.
 
I also found it difficult at first but I just had to drill it into myself that I either do it or I don't progress.

I won't sit at my PC and do it because there are too many distractions, I'll use the laptop downstairs as it's only powerful enough for browsing and word etc etc. In the summer I'll sit in the garden and do it.

On the relationship front you've got it pretty good having some time to study whilst she's at a class, for me I'm just upfront about it and will say I'm spending the night studying so we'll do something another night, however we don't live together so it's easier.

TLDR: Just do it :D
 
I have recently completed the last part of my professional qualification, meaning 24months of logsheets, an 8000 word case study, a two day written exam and an oral interview - whilst in my personal life I have a 1 year old kid and moved house twice!

We had a weekly study group set up to answer past paper questions, discuss any issues with our understanding of things.

Pretty tough going while working at least 45 hours a week and trying to get some "family time"

I got there in the end - but it wasn't ideal.

My advice is do it if it's something you really want to do - if you think there's a chance of not completing it you will let life get in the way
 
I'm studying for an MSc while working full time, I also commute 20hrs a week and have a young child so it makes it difficult. My strategy was that I'd study on the train but often times I find I'm too tired or some other excuse.

The biggest challenge I find is proscastination is easy and finding excuses not to do it, I probably only get about an hour a day of free time at home so tend to want to spend it doing something relaxing/enjoyable.

A few years ago when doing the PG Dip I found a good tactic was to study during my lunch break at work which was otherwise 'dead time', however this only really works if you can afford to take a full lunch break. My old job wasn't so busy so I could generally have a full hour for lunch whereas now it is more 20mins to grab some food.

Another tip I think is to (as you've found with pub etc) is to put yourself in a different place with fewer distractions. In theory I could be studying now, rather than on this forum...
 
I'm finding it hard to find the time to do my ccna whilst at work and also the application for teachers training... would not want to do a masters or similar whilst working. Good luck to you all! :D
 
I just finished doing a 2 year MSc in Cloud Computing, whilst working in Central London, looking after a 2yo, having another baby, changing jobs and parents going through a divorce.

I was doing assignments on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day + on my birthday so had little to no free time for nearly two years. It was mentally exhausting and bad for my young family as I'd ask them to sod off every weekend so I could have peace and quiet at home to do some research/studying.

Handed in my research report on Monday 4th April, all finished now, thank ****.
 
Doing ACCA whilst working full time, fortunately I don't have the responsibilities of children, so I try to squeeze in 30mins to an hour when I get home after my 40minute drive, before I completely switch off for the rest of the day.

It's grim, but once it's done, it's done and you can reap the rewards from it!
 
I've got to hand it to those of you with young families, I don't know how you do it. I'm in the process of planning a wedding and that's a big enough distraction!

Just got my latest result through, scraped it this time but a pass is a pass. I had an inkling that this was going to be a closer run thing, the paper wasn't kind.

I'm about half way through the entire process now and I've started to think about where I want to take my development. Whilst I know I'll curse myself once I start I like the idea of pursuing a masters after my CIPS.
 
I'm doing it, changed careers 3 years ago in July and I'm doing a law qualification outside of working hours. Started 2 years ago next month and I should be done in 2 more.

I already have a degree which was completely non-academic (practical, CAD based) with no exams so I haven't really done any proper studying/exams since A-levels (which I didn't study for and did awful in!) and GCSE's. I'm now a couple of months from 25 so it's been some 6-7 years since being in "proper" education!

I'm taking it slow so as to not have to sacrifice my entire social life which is the benefit of it being a course with complete freedom, except for exam sessions only being in Jan and June. It's still tough though. I get up at 6am ish every morning and on the 3 weekdays I don't go to the gym before work I do 60-90 mins of studying. Also try and do an hour or so in an evening but that's less predictable. A couple of hours on a weekend too.

All in all it will take a few years but I'm still plenty young enough to reap the rewards of a change in career and being a qualified solicitor before the age of 30 is still decent enough. I could do it in half the time but I'd have to sacrifice social life and run the risk of not doing so well in exams (6/6 distinctions so far).

Luckily the gf leaves for work at 7 and spends hours running/in the gym almost daily in the evenings so I do get the quiet time to study. A nice pair of noise cancelling headphones with ambient music doesn't go a miss for the other times.

Come summer it will be nice to study in the garden to get the best of both worlds.


Bottom line though, avoiding procrastination when studying at home is a serious difficulty whatever you do and it's far too easy to check a text only to find 15 mins later you're still sat on facebook/here etc
 
Earlier this month I completed the CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), similar to ACA/ACCA.

I went to University straight from sixth-form and graduated in 2010 with a BA(Hons) Degree. I also completed some Fitness Instructor qualifications alongside my degree (as my career plans had changed) but fell in to a temporary finance based role on return from uni as summer work.

I moved away and bought my first property in 2011 whilst finding work elsewhere (locally) and a position with more scope for progression and a Finance related qualification (career plans changed again :p).

In early 2012 I started the Foundation/Certificate level as I had no exemptions or relevant experience. This took approximately 6 months with distance learning whilst working and juggling a relationship, material not that challenging in itself but squeezing it all in whilst trying to turn a house in to a home was tough at times.

I had a 6 month 'break' whilst I settled and began the Professional tiers of my CIMA last 2012. I studied 'Face to Face / In Center' 25 miles away usually 1 or two days most weekends. I took a short break (mostly due to CIMA getting their act together with new examining methods) in June 2015 and picked it up again in October and powered through to sit my final exam in February this year.

I've been fortunate in that I don't have any dependents to juggle, a short commute, favourable working hours but also a work ethic and focus that allowed me to prioritise my studies enough to make good progress but also attain a work/life/study balance. This is important because without it you'll begin to resent it (studying).

At times I would spend time on my lunch or before work skimming material to keep it fresh and in fairness most of my evenings and a significant part of my weekends were spent with my head in books.

Part of me has purposefully avoided a relationship because deep down I know that the commitment it requires and also the time my study needed wouldn't have been feasible.

If you don't have the 'luxury' I did of being single and able to re-jiggle life to accommodate study needs, then my only advice would be to be as proactive as possible so that you can create time to study. For example getting washing/cleaning done while things are cooking. I used to pretty frantically rush the weekly shop, or cook dinner whilst making my lunch and washing up and packing bags for the following day. It bought me an extra 30-45 minutes each night and over the week that adds up. So in this respect try to utilise 'dead' time as efficiently as possible. My boss used her commute to listen to audio recordings she'd made on theories/notes but some methods aren't for everyone! I did also use some of my annual leave allowance around exams or as and when I felt it was needed.

A fairly non-existant social life and some fairly frantic evenings has paid off though (I still managed two weddings, two stag do's and to keep up appearances with my friends but did pass on the less important events because study came first) and one month before I turn 27 I'm fully qualified and off on holiday in June. It was all worth it :)

If you don't have the time, make it.
 
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I'll watch the thread with interest. I've never been able to manage it. I've started a 2nd degree twice and each time had to drop out, due to some major crisis or other. On a 5 day course recently, even that got interrupted so I missed the 5th day. I've switched to online courses as I can do them at my own pace. That hasn't worked in the past, but I'm giving it another go.
 
It's tough. Currently finishing a Project Management Diploma and going on the complete a Bachelor of Applied Management specializing in Construction Management. I'll also do a post grad in the same line with my MBA straight after that. That's the current plan at least :p . But I should be able to do it. Focus isn't really a problem for me. Or hasn't been so far.

Technically I have probably no need to do any of these courses as I already own my own company with a healthy pipeline of work but if ever disaster strikes, I have something to fall back on. But in reality, I'm doing it for the hell of it. Or that's what it feels like right now.

I have to attend classes every 2nd week which runs 2-3 nights a week and a Saturday. Rest I study at home. That's the difficult part as we're snowed under with assignments that require actual research and not answers regurgitated from the lecture slides.

Joined a study group that meet every 2nd Monday for a few hours to hit the assignments together. Helps tremendously.

2 years to go!
 
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I *touch wood* have been very fortunate as I was studying whilst working full time, away as well, and struggling with life and time.

Then they offered me redundancy which I took as it allowed me to do a full time access course to uni. People do work but struggle because apparently, coming from uni students, it's more intense than the first 2 years of uni.
I'm hopefully doing really well as 18 distinctions, 6 merits and 3 passes with 18 more to go.....
I'm looking to get a job and hammer that over summer...
I'm really careful with my money to avoid that stress.
I want to give it my all with no distractions.
Because I don't work I've been turned down by all my choices so I'll have to go through clearing but hoping for experience in summer (already planned some in couple of weeks).
Fingers crossed.
 
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