Returning to school and advancing your career can be complex. Plenty of adult learners face multiple barriers, and they find themselves asking the same questions.

What programs will actually help advance my career? How can I pay for my program, and how can I pay off the student loans that I already have? How can I find the time to fit this in? Even workers who can participate in employer-funded education assistance programs typically don’t know how to leverage the benefits available to them.

We know that returning to school is no small feat, but with the right help, it is possible for many. As a result, EdAssist’s employee development programs include coaching services for adult learners. If you aren’t sure where to start, don’t worry: You’re not alone, and we’re here to help.

Types of coaching available through EdAssist

Since pursuing continued education can have multiple challenges, EdAssist offers three different types of coaching to provide truly expert advice customized to each student: Policy coaching, academic coaching, and finance coaching.

Policy coaching

Your employer offers education assistance, but you may not be sure exactly what those benefits entail and how to apply for them. If that’s the case, you can benefit from policy coaching.

During these sessions, you can receive assistance interpreting your benefits and learning how to use them. You can learn:

• The types of programs that qualify for coverage through your employer’s employee development program.
• The amount of tuition or training fees that will be covered each year.
• Whether you qualify for education assistance benefits.
• If there are any conditions attached like staying with the company for one year after program completion.
• How to apply for program approval through EdAssist.

Academic and career coaching

Our career and academic coaches can provide the essential information you need to succeed throughout your entire continued education journey. Our expert coaches have backgrounds in higher education and adult learning and can help with the following:

• Choose a program that aligns with your short-term and long-term career goals, industry trends, and existing employee assistance benefits.
• Select the right type of program to benefit your learning style, time to completion and career advancement goals.
• Provide recommendations and resources for continued education as an adult learner.
• Discuss recommended courseload to support a manageable workload and maximize your benefit.
• Explore options for transferrable credit, looking at prior education and experience.
• Consider different career pathways that may be possible given your current expertise.

Finance coaching

Funding the upskilling needed for career advancement— and paying off loans from the education they’ve already obtained— is a core concern for many adult learners. Our expert financial coaches to help you with the following:

• Learn how to repay existing student loans with current student loan relief programs and debt management strategies that consider your personal financial goals.
• Discover how to pay for additional education costs that your employer may not cover.
• Get information on how to apply for financial aid through FAFSA.
• Receive information on student loan assistance programs— which may include repayment or retirement match offers— available through your employer.

How to access EdAssist’s coaching

All coaching involves free, one-on-one sessions with established experts who can help you excel. They typically last around 20 minutes, but there’s no limit to the number of sessions you can book. And don’t stress: These are casual conversations, and we’re here to help. 

You can find your coaching sessions in your EdAssist portal by selecting “coaching and resources” at the top navigation bar. 

The best time to start is now 

The best time to start was always yesterday, but the second-best time is now. Many adult learners have more resources available to them than they realize, especially if their employers have partnerships with EdAssist. We can help you choose a direction, identify valuable upskilling opportunities, and select programs that will most benefit your career. 

And it doesn’t matter if you’ve been out of school for a few years or a few decades. Many adult learners are in their mid-to-late thirties and their forties, and we’ve even worked with an adult learner in their seventies. It’s never too late, and there are likely plenty of years left in your work life, so investing in your future now can offer more opportunities sooner. 

Whether you’re already underway on your journey or aren’t sure where to get started, we can help you take the next step towards career advancement.