Fund your upskilling and career goals in 2023 using your Credit Card

As you progress in your career, you will often come across opportunities to upskill that can help you take up new projects or attain a higher position in your organisation. Naturally, in today's fast-changing world, it is important to stay relevant, no matter what industry you are in. 

Organisations, too, love hiring candidates willing to upskill themselves because it keeps the company competitive. If you are worried about financing your education, use your credit card and make it happen. Here's how you can use your credit card to upskill and achieve all your goals in 2023. 

Step 1: Set your goals
 

The first step to upskill is identifying the area you want to learn about and set your short-term and long-term goals. 

How do you plan to achieve your career goals? Do you have a certain career path you wish to take? Is there a task or project you want to complete that needs these skills? Try to answer these questions and note down your goals. This will ensure that you move in the right direction. 

· Perhaps you could have a long-term goal of being a manager. Knowing different languages might help you with it if your company has hires keeping diversity in mind or knowing about various roles can help you manage a project better

· Now, start looking for available resources and speak to people who have recently pursued short-term courses relevant to your industry. Research and gain insights about the best ways to educate yourself

· Compare all the available options and see how they can help to develop your skills

· Focus on the long-term goal but take one small step at a time. The journey will become easier as you break down the goals into small ones

· If you want to complete a certificate course, take a short-term course now and then look for a degree or diploma 

Compare all payment options, including credit cards, and how they can help you fund your goals 

Step 2: Create a learning timeline 
 

In the next step, you must get into further details and be very specific about the learning path.

· Identify the knowledge gaps and find out what is stopping you from achieving your goals. You could look at job postings of the position you are aiming for and check the skills the recruiters need

· Identify a learning path to upskill. If it seems too overwhelming, break it down into smaller steps 

· Take on one goal at a time. Based on your goals, break down the learning plan

· Plan out a learning calendar and have a timeline on what you will learn and when

· Lay out a plan on how you will make time for learning. Based on the available time, you can start with just one skill

· Consider the time for your job, leisure, and social commitments. When creating a plan, be realistic and stick to your timeline 

· Create a monthly calendar and allocate time each day to your course – maybe an hour during workdays and more hours on weekends

· Change your learning path as and when you progress 

· If the course requires projects or submissions, set aside time and work on it consistently to gain practical exposure while giving enough time for your current job 

· If you are wondering how to fund your education, use your credit card and make use of flexible EMI payments while you embark on your course

Step 3: Fund your dreams 
 

Now that you have identified your goals and created a timeline for achieving them, you need to start looking at how you can fund your education. 

· You can upskill by choosing from degree programs, diplomas, or short-term courses specific to a certain skill set

· Consider the cost, time, and duration of the course 

· Have a clear idea of your finances when committing to a course, and consider your monthly expenses when you set aside a budget for upskilling

If you are looking at a short-term course, you can use your credit card to fund it and repay it in monthly instalments. IDFC FIRST Bank is a great choice when you are looking at funding your dreams. The bank offers credit cards with instant approval and reward points that can be redeemed easily online or at physical stores. 

If you are wondering how to use a credit card for learning or upskilling, choose the course you wish to enrol in, register for it, and use your credit card to make a payment. With an IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card, you can redeem your reward points to avail discounts while paying for courses online.

You enjoy flexible repayment terms on the card and get rewards and cashback on the amount you spend. That's not all; you also get discounts from more than 300 merchants on your credit card.

Step 4: Become a 'student' 
 

Taking the courageous step of upskilling requires commitment and a student's mindset. Managers and junior-level executives alike can strive to meet their ambitions by keeping an open mind in pursuit of learning new information or skills that will help them along the path towards success.

· Become a student in every possible way – ask questions; be open to unlearning old skills and learning new ones. This is one of the best ways to upskill

· Interact with fellow students to make the most of this learning opportunity 

· Be flexible with the learning timeline. Using calendars can help greatly

· Make notes and set aside time to study every day

· Discipline and a mindset change will go a long way to help you upskill and achieve your goals

In conclusion
 

Once you have an upskill plan, you must stay focused and always be on the lookout for opportunities. Take up work more responsibly and continue applying the new workplace skills. Every time you upskill, you will make significant progress in your career and see yourself inching closer to your long-term professional goals. 

Disclaimer

The contents of this article/infographic/picture/video are meant solely for information purposes. The contents are generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances. The information is subject to updation, completion, revision, verification and amendment and the same may change materially. The information is not intended for distribution or use by any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or would subject IDFC FIRST Bank or its affiliates to any licensing or registration requirements. IDFC FIRST Bank shall not be responsible for any direct/indirect loss or liability incurred by the reader for taking any financial decisions based on the contents and information mentioned. Please consult your financial advisor before making any financial decision.