Work-based learning (part I) – move up the job ladder with these top 9 tips

This is the first of two articles on work-based learning. You can read the second article in this series by visiting Work-based learning (part II) – top seven tips to get the most out of your employees.

With the job market as competitive as it currently is, employees and jobseekers need to give themselves every edge they can and work-based learning can be the answer. Workplace learning differs from normal training or certifications because it involves completing a higher education course whilst spending most of your time in a work environment. Following the usual pattern this will mean working regular hours in a workplace and additionally attending training courses during evenings and afternoons. This article will look at the potential benefits of work-based learning and how you can take advantage of all the opportunities it offers to help you improve your employment skills.

Improving employability skills through workplace learning

Work-based learning is an excellent way to develop your employability skills, offering the chance to experience multiple learning styles with a mix of classroom and practical learning. This combination of certification and real-world experience makes work-based learning one of the best ways to improve your employment skills and help you move up the business ladder. From your own perspective it's a great way to apply what you're learning on your course in context and this is probably the best way to imbed new skills and information. From an employer's perspective it makes you a more attractive proposition, displaying a desire to further your education and an ambition to stay in work during that time.

Top tips for employees to benefit from work-based learning

1. Learn from senior staff: take advantage of working with experienced professionals by absorbing the information provided by managers and senior staff. One the main benefits of learning in a workplace rather than a classroom is actually doing the job you're learning about. Managers will have lots of experience and wisdom to offer and those involved in adult learning on the job should take advantage of this.
2. Take advantage of opportunities: approach your work with a proactive stance and actively seek out opportunities to try new things and learn new skills. Work-based learning is about developing your employability skills and the best way to achieve this is by getting involved wherever possible. New talents can be gained through a variety of learning styles so you should keep your ears and eyes open for any chances to learn something new and make it clear to your manager how keen you are to develop your skills.
3. Be committed: when opportunities arise, be sure to grasp them wholeheartedly and perform them with sense of purpose to the best of your ability. It's important you're always keen to work and open to doing new things. If this means a little more work or a little extra time in the office, all the better. By actively seeking to build on your employment skills you can mark yourself out as an important asset and improve your overall performance level.
4. Ask questions and get answers: approach all your work with a sense of inquisitiveness and be sure to ask questions about things you don't understand. You're in the middle of a learning process so it's essential you're willing to ask questions if you want to improve your employability skills. Managers and colleagues will be happy to help you learn so it's important to ask when you don't know something. Not only will this ensure you get the most from what you're doing but also marks you out as eager to learn and determined to do the job well.
5. Contribute ideas and offer input: if you've got an idea, or just something to add to the team, make sure you offer input when the opportunity arises. Just because you're learning, it doesn't mean you don't have anything to contribute. One of the great advantages of workplace learning is it doesn't foster a normal educational relationship. If managers wanted to have students they'd have become teachers. While you're learning you're also a colleague and an important part of being an effective worker is contributing to the team. 
6. Be willing to perform ad hoc tasks: don't be reluctant to try tasks you may not have done before and be prepared to participate where you least expect it. Getting involved means being open to things you might not have planned for. If your manager or a colleague asks you to do some work you've not done before, be open to the challenge. Workplace learning is all about adopting different learning styles to those used in a classroom and being hands-on with new challenges is key to that.
7. Communicate and collaborate: be sure to maintain a dialogue with both colleagues and management. Communication is a key part of adult learning and this means a back and forth between yourself, your team and your manager. It can be easy to fall into patterns in the workplace and if you're not getting what you need from your workplace learning experience it's important to bring this up with someone
8. Learn more about the business: take the time to properly learn what the business does and how different departments run their day-to-day processes. Being successful in a workplace is more than just working on what's in front of you. Understanding how the business works will help you develop your employability skills because you're able to offer business-specific suggestions. This interest in more than just the work at hand will reflect well on you and help you develop.
9. Be punctual, presentable and well mannered: present yourself in a respectable way and make sure to arrive for work, meetings and other appointments promptly. It almost goes without saying, but creating the right impression is an important part of an effective work-based learning programme. Colleagues are giving up their time to help you learn so it's important to show respect by being on time and presentable. This will make them more willing to work with you, helping you improve your performance.

By following these tips you can ensure you get the most from your work-based learning programme. And the value of that to you, both in terms of experience and the improvement of your employability skills, can really make the difference as you look to move up the corporate ladder. The important thing to remember is that workplace learning is just that – a form of learning – and no matter which learning styles you adopt it's always the case that you only get as much out of it them as you put in.

This is the first of two articles on work-based learning. The second article discusses how employers can get most out of their employees by introducing work-based learning programmes in their company.