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How can I ask my employer to reimburse my tuition?

Show you’re willing to put in the effort to advance yourself, and you could end up with money for school

9/28/09

“Regardless of the economy, additional training can lead to important win-win results for both you and your company. Even if your education funding proposal is rejected, your employer will still take note of your interest in advancing yourself, and that can pay off down the line, if not right away,” says Katy Piotrowski, author of The Career Coward’s Guide to Career Advancement.

To considerately and effectively approach employers about their financial support for your continued education, Piotrowski recommends the following strategies:

1. Lead with your employer’s interests. Ask, “In what areas would you like to see the team develop their expertise this year?” Listen carefully about the skills he or she is looking to add to the team’s toolbox. Then, as you evaluate training programs, aim to incorporate your employer’s needs into courses that will also help you achieve your personal career training goals.
   
   
2. Provide hard data about how your improved education will result in increased productivity and opportunities. Acquiring just one new technique can result in thousands of dollars in savings or additional revenue for the company. Contact the class or program instructors for ideas about how your training may ultimately benefit your employer’s profitability, and incorporate this info into your proposal.
   
   
3. Guarantee a good grade. Many businesses won’t cover an employee’s education costs unless they receive a “B” grade or higher. Offer a similar guarantee to your employer to prove that you’re serious about success in the classroom.
   
   
4. Promise to stick around for a set period of time. One primary objection employers have to paying for education is that team members may leave shortly after earning their degrees. Discuss plans for remaining a key player for the long term, to help both yourself and the company achieve win-win results.
   
   
5. Offer to split the cost. Times are tight. If you encounter objections about a weak bottom line, suggest that you split the cost 50-50. Some educational subsidy is better than none at all—especially if you improve yourself in the process.

The Career Coward’s Guide to Career Advancement is available at all major bookstores and from the publisher (www.jist.com or (800) 648-JIST).

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