If you are currently unemployed, dissatisfied with your job, or want to progress in your career, you might want to consider additional job skills training. By getting job training and certification, you can make yourself more employable, switch careers, or get promoted by your employer. If finances are an issue, job training grants can pay your tuition and fees while you learn new job skills. Sources of job training grants can come from government work programs, private agencies, as well as through your current employer.
Government student financial aid programs often provide grants to those who can demonstrate financial need. These grants can be applied to college or vocational school tuition. In addition, many schools operate their own student grant program, dispensing grants provided by private gifts and endowments. If you have a financial need and know of a college or vocational school in your area that offers instructions in your area of interest, contact the financial aid office and ask about job training grants.
When government or school-funded job training grants are not a possibility, you may still be entitled to free or reduced-cost job training through other public or private benefits or social service agencies. In some countries, including the United States, the unemployed can apply for job training grants through unemployment or work centers to retrain for a new career or expand existing skills. If you have a disability and receive disability benefits, you may likewise qualify for job retraining through a program that can let you keep your benefits during training and attempting to transition back to work. Individuals who are coping with homelessness, substance abuse, or domestic violence may likewise qualify for job training grants through social service agencies that work with these populations.
Your employer may also be willing to fund further job training. In some places, employers who pay for education and training can receive a tax deduction for the cost of paying for job training. In addition to the tax benefits, your employer can benefit from your newly acquired skills and knowledge. If you are interested in finding out whether your employer offers job training grants, ask your supervisor or contact your employer's human resources department for details. Some employers not only provide job training opportunities, but may also pay full or partial higher education tuition, so ask about your office's policy before paying for career training or education on your own.
