How to get your employer to pay for a course

How to get your employer to pay for a course

by Dani Boyce
Graphic Design Course Graduate 🏆

We chatted with Dani Boyce, graphic designer for Tower 28 and ilovecreatives Graphic Design Course graduate.

A comprehensive guide on how to get your employer to pay for your education and advance your career. Learn from Dani Boyce, an alumni, on how she made a persuasive case to her employer to pay for the Graphic Design Course.

Q: OK, so excited for you to drop some tips for future graphic designers! But first, let’s give the people a lil context. What do you do and how did you start?

A: I am currently a graphic designer at Tower 28 Beauty (shameless plug, check us out <3) and I started designing about 5 years ago while in school. I was lucky enough to join the T28 team as a graphic design intern when the company only had 3 full-time employees. Being on a small team has been so fun because I get to design something new everyday and have a bigger impact than I would at a larger company.

Q: Seems like you were already able to secure a job, so what made you want to take the Graphic Design Course?

A: I didn’t go to school for graphic design and the longer I was at my job the more I could tell I needed just a bit more guidance. I worked without a creative-field boss for a while and I was craving mentorship. When our founder mentioned that the company would pay for classes I knew the Graphic Design Course at ilovecreatives would be such a great opportunity to give my skills a boost. So much of being a designer is teaching yourself on the job so any chance I had at learning in a class was a win!

Q: Always be learning snap snap! What’s the best advice you can give to a student or someone who wants to be a designer?

A: Involve yourself in creative community! Designing is so fulfilling when you can bounce ideas off of each other and receive feedback in a comfortable, supportive setting. Designers love designers, and whether you are in-house, at an agency, or freelance, it will always be valuable to have friends looking out for you. You may just find a lifelong mentor too!

Speaking of creatives looking out for creatives… it was a game changer to have my job pay for the Graphic Design Course. It has been so invaluable to my journey, but I couldn’t have taken it otherwise and I know a lot of others are in the same financial situation. Actualllllllly, I wrote up a quick guide on how to get your ilovecreatives course ✨paid for✨ by your job or even your school so all you have to think about is being the wonderful creative you already are.

Below✹ you will find ③ ways to get your course paid for.

➀ By Your Job

If you are already a designer looking to expand your skill sets and grow (go you!!) you could apply to get Employer Tuition Assistance for this course. Some companies offer financial support for employees pursuing further education, and, sometimes, even if the courses are not directly related to their current job. Connect with your manager or HR department to explore your options (we’ve already created a template for you to convince your employer here 😉) Feel free to use the template and make it your own–and remember, this is a great opportunity for them too!

Don’t take it from us, here is what my boss, Amy Liu, Founder of Tower 28 Beauty had to say:

“I truly believe in investing in your people, especially when there are great resources like ilovecreatives. In a small organization, there is not always the opportunity to learn from others so ilovecreatives gave our design employees a chance to network with other like-minded professionals, learn from the class, and also be inspired. There was a noticeable improvement in the quality and thoughtfulness of her work! Not only with design, but with presentation. Everyone on the team agrees!”

tldr;

👋 Reach out to your manager or HR department.

✉️ Explain the benefit of you taking this ilovecreatives course (use our sample letter!)

❗️ Tax-free for your employer!

➁ By Your School

If you are currently a student, whether you’re studying a creative field or not, your school could have funds to help you pay for this course. Some universities (and even high schools!) have reimbursement programs in place to support students pursuing additional education outside of their institution. Unfortunately, the availability and extent of funding programs can vary widely between schools. These programs are usually listed as opportunity funds, student grants, or continuing education funds. Some schools might not list these opportunities on their websites, so the best way to find them would be talking with your guidance counselor. You can also reach out to your school’s financial aid office, career services center, or alumni association.

tldr;

👋 Reach to your guidance counselor, financial aid office, or career services center.

✉️ Depending on the resource, you may have to submit an application describing the course and why it is necessary for your education.

❗️ Availability ranges between schools.

➂ Grants + Scholarships

While most grants in creative fields go towards college tuition, some scholarships work directly with you to apply your winnings to an ilovecreatives course, which could qualify as an educational non-tuition expense. In the scholarship FAQs they usually indicate whether or not they will be lenient with what the money awarded can be used for. Some organizations and foundations offer funding specifically for online courses, regardless of whether they are affiliated with a university. Look for scholarships for graphic designers, creatives, and artists on websites like bold.org and FastWeb.

Definitely look into your local resources as well. Local community scholarships are known to be more likely to work directly with you so you can apply the money where you need it–in this case, ilovecreatives–but always check if that's possible before applying. Find community organizations and professional associations in your area to see what your options are. It’s a good idea to already be involved in a creative community, in person or online. Organizations like AIGA could alert you to opportunities for grants. Keep your eyes out, sign up for newsletters, and ask around! Creatives love creatives.