Five questions to ask before choosing a career-change program

Changing careers is a big decision, and the number of programs on offer can make it harder. Before you enrol anywhere, these five questions will help you compare options clearly.

1. What will I be able to do at the end?

Look past the title of the program and find the specific skills it teaches. A good program description lists outcomes you can test: "build a project budget", "run a usability test", "present a monthly performance report". Vague promises such as "become a leader" tell you very little.

Ask whether the program includes a final project. A finished piece of work gives you something to show in an interview, which is often worth more than a line on your resume.

2. How much time will it really take?

Add up the hours of class, reading and assignments, then compare them with your calendar. A twelve-week program with two evening classes and four hours of weekly study needs about eight hours a week. That is manageable for many people, but not if you are also working overtime or caring for someone.

Check what happens if you fall behind. Can you move to the next intake? Are recordings available? Flexibility matters most when life gets busy.

3. Which format suits how I learn?

Evening classes give you structure and the company of a group. Online programs give you flexibility and no commute. Hybrid programs combine both, with a few sessions on campus and the rest online.

Think about your own history. If you tend to drift without deadlines, choose a format with live sessions. If your work schedule changes every week, online study is probably safer.

4. Who is teaching, and what is their experience?

In career-focused programs, the best instructors are people who have done the work. Look at faculty biographies. Have they managed projects, built teams or run campaigns? Can they tell you what a normal week in the job looks like?

It is also fair to ask about class size. In a group of 24 you can ask questions and get feedback. In a group of 200 you usually cannot.

5. What do employers say about it?

Talk to people already working in the field you want to join. Ask which skills they look for when they hire, and whether they know the program you are considering. Ask the institute for contact details of recent graduates, and for honest figures on how many found new roles or promotions within a year.

Be wary of any provider that guarantees a job. No program can promise that, and the ones that try are usually selling something else.

Put it together

Write the five questions at the top of a page and score each program you are considering from one to five. Do not just add up the numbers. Look at where a program scores low and ask whether that weakness is one you can live with.

Finally, speak to someone. Every reputable institute will give you time to talk through your plans before you apply. At Crestview, our admissions team can walk through the programs with you and tell you honestly if another option would suit you better.