No matter the type of job you are doing, improving your skills and getting trained is the best way to remain attractive on the labor market. It can enable you to compete for more valuable jobs as well.
When working for a company, the training issue is partially answered since your employer is legally compelled to train you: the compulsory training sessions have to be proposed and enforced by your firm in order to abide by the law. This is a good way to make progress and develop your flexibility. You can also take advantage of the training plan implemented every year by your employer to ask for a particular training : language, office automation, communications, negotiations…Make your choice. Your company will then prioritize and decide, depending on the dedicated budget, if your training wishes can become reality.
If you are self-employed, you have the right to get trained as well, but the financial question has to be taken into account. You can decide to set up a budget for training, or finance the training with your own money provided you managed to save enough funds for it. In certain cases, you can release a few systems (like CPF in France) to allow you to get trained at an affordable price.
In France, the CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation, or Personal Account of Training) is a national plan of action which enable you to benefit from a training based on the rights you acquired. You acquire rights when working: 500 euros per working year for a maximum of 5000 euros. You keep your rights even though you lose your job or choose another employer. Your company can also put some money on your CPF depending on your situation.
Once you know what training you want and how you will finance it, then go for it! The stronger your qualifications are, the more chances you get to develop an attractive and enriching professional profile for potential employers. It is a perfect way to take care of new missions too, and highlight your polyvalence.
Guillaume Mahot