Part-Time Study
For the most part, people want to get training as soon as possible so that they can get out there and look for work. Unfortunately, there can be numerous factors and circumstances that prevent the pursuit of training to the exclusion of everything else. Some of the more common reasons for enrolling in part-time study include:
- Family commitments do not allow the dedicated time needed for full-time training.
- Financial considerations may prevent full-time study. Paying for part-time study may be easier, especially if you have a job that you can fit your studies around.
- Part-time study allows you the time to enjoy other hobbies or interests. Although not a huge consideration, relaxation is an important aspect of learning, making the time you do spend studying all the more productive.
- For those who have to continue working, part-time programs are often aimed at balancing study time and work.
- Part-time education is available and practical for almost any study method. Even though self-study may seem like the obvious part-time study option, e-learning courses are often operated on a part-time basis as well as evening and weekend training courses that are provided by local colleges and training companies.
- Part-time studies may free up time for you to volunteer in the job you are training for. When the training is done, you leave with both the experience and the training. This situation is almost ideal, yet many people preparing for a career in IT simply don't consider it. Many people find that the best way to make this scenario work is to embark on a short full-time study period and then resort to part-time study while looking for volunteer work. Such a situation does require a high degree of motivation and dedication, especially as many people also have to hold down a part-time job as well as the studying and the volunteer work.
Part-time study is just what the doctor ordered for those with busy lives who still need to retrain or obtain qualifications. For all of the advantages of part-time study. However, there are some obvious disadvantages. Most notably, obtaining a degree or certification can take twice as long and so too will your ability to get out and get the job. Specifically in respect to degree programs, a great many of them cannot be taken part-time, which may exclude this as an option completely If, for instance, you are enrolled in a full-time degree program scheduled to take four years to complete, the same degree take when enrolled in a part-time program can take much longer to earn. Time is precious commodity in the IT field.
A second, and perhaps more hidden, drawback of part-time study is the success rate for completion of programs. Because the training does take longer and there are other things in you life besides the study, you can be distracted. Many part-time programs, specifically self-study, are not completed. Procrastination becomes the enemy of the part-time student.
People in part-time study programs will tell you that they require a strategy and game plan to get you through it. Common techniques include having periods of time set aside that are dedicated to study, a dedicated space for books and other course materials, and a "To Do" list to help keep things organized and moving ahead. Part-time study is ideally suited for those with good time management skills, personal motivation, and the patience to see the training through completion.
Full-Time Study
If you have the money, have the means, and you have the motivation, you can train full-time. The length of training programs vary considerably. A degree in computer science may take four years, but a certification program may only take six months to a year. Having the time for full-time study means that you can complete your training in the shortest possible time. Advantages in training full-time include:
- Some students find it easier to stay focused on training when attending full-time because it does not give them the time to become sidetracked.
- Financial assistance may be easier to get for students in full-time study than part-time.
- Full-time students may have greater access to grants and loans.
- Attending training on a full-time basis shows a commitment to both the subject and to your learning goals.
Of course, full-time training does have its drawbacks. The first drawback is the fact that it is full-time, leaving a shortage of time for other activities such as travelling, working, or hobbies. Full-time training requires a commitment from students, and students not willing to make this commitment may not meet their training goals.
