How much do you invest in training for your job?

[EricatNordic]

How much effort outside of work do you all dedicate toward training yourself to be better at your job? This means both time and money.

How much of that is paid for by your company vs out of your own pocket?

I know I haven't stopped learning, but I often wonder if my skills are falling behind the rest of the professional community. Sometimes it feels like work is oversimplified to the point that I'm not ready for the few times a year I have to do something highly engineered.

-Eric

 

[Lion06]

I typically bring my steel code home or my concrete book or wood book, etc... and read at least 3-5 hours every weekend. I have also gained quite a bit of insight into many things by perusing this website (thanks to all the great posts and discussions out there on this board!!).
Anything that costs money (RAM training, membership in local SEA, NCSEA conference) is paid for by my employer.
I am starting M.S. program in the fall (largely funded by employer)

 

[aspearin1]

I purchase my own books on engineering subjects I'm interested in, and I pay for professional societies and certifications that may or may not be of interest to my company. I also try to keep up with trade magazines. There are plenty out there that are free and can keep you tied to how the outside world is doing things. But the point is not to remain sharp for your company's sake, it's to remain sharp for your sake. It's a balance of time you'd like to devote to individual learning vs. enjoying your time away from work. It's a true struggle and different for everyone.

Aaron A. Spearin
ASQ CSSBB
Engineering Six-S'$

http://www.Engineering6ss.com

"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee

 

[PSE]

For skills immediately useful to my current position, my employer has been willing to cover costs. Generally my employer brings in the instructors on site to conduct the classes and schedules us or asks if we wish to attend. Where I am now, an advanced degree would be meaningless (to my employer).

I also maintain my own memberships within professional societies and receive their publications (either print or online). I subscribe to a variety of trade magazines that gives me a cross section of the technologies I may need to deal with. It can be easy to become swamped by these so I limit the number of them and primarily skim for articles of interest.

These forums have proven to be a valuable source of information as well. There are many helpful participants. I also participate in a self-formed working group within my technical discipline where I work. We talk over current projects, new technologies, equipment needs, etc.

You may not be able to keep all your skills constantly sharp but as long as you can maintain the foundation of those skills, you can pick up what you need again.

Regards,

 

[EngJW]

Many of the companies I worked for would not or could not spend one dollar on employee development, so I've always taken the approach that learning is my responsibilty and I will learn for my benefit alone. If it helps the employer, so much the better. My one complaint is that many of the professional courses and books (like from SAE) are priced toward engineers who work for companies with deep pockets. I buy my own books if they are worthwhile; many are not very good. We have excellent libraries locally, both public and universty, so I will go in and just wander around till I find something interesting.

Another thing, continuing education does not have to be just in your field of employment. Don't ignore the arts and history or any other technologies. When you check out of this life, no one is going to care about what you did for your employer.

 

[zdas04]

If you don't do training you'll be like the guy who "doesn't have 20 years experience, he has 6 months experience 40 times". I try to do 3-4 weeks a year.

If you have access, many equipment manufacturers have excellent courses that only cost you T&E expenses.

Professional societies usually have annual conferences with exhibits (that are generally the most valuable part, and they give you stuff) and presentations. I've found these to be really useful.

Books are a passion of mine and I've always spent too much of the budget on new ones. When I worked for a large company I bought about half of the books myself (I left the other half in my office when I retired). Now I buy them all myself.

I budget $20k/year on training and new books. That might be higher than a lot of companies but I find that if I don't spend that much I don't get enough back.

David