The benefit of education at work

Invest in your future as you grow in your career.

When you think of benefits in the workplace, health, dental and paid time off might come to mind, but employers should also offer education benefits to help you invest in your future. Think back to past job interviews… Did you ever ask a prospective employer if they provide support for education or training? If the answer is yes, consider us impressed. If the answer is no, it’s possible you didn’t even know you could ask for this type of benefit. You can, and we’re going to talk about why it’s important.

For your career to keep growing, you have to keep learning, and an employer who invests in their people understands that it will pay off in the long term. At Capital One Canada, growth sits alongside important benefits like health, life and wellness, because we know how important it is to have a growth mindset.

The value of a growth mindset

A growth mindset is when employees and employers look at the bigger picture. Rather than seeing development as a waste of time (time that could be used to achieve immediate results), they see it as an investment. Upskilled employees feel more confident in their work, bring great ideas to the table, and achieve even bigger goals. A win-win.

In a fast-paced world with new technology emerging daily, it’s not enough to trust in skills picked up with a post-secondary degree. It’s important to stay curious, gain knowledge and seek new skills. Employees already know this – especially those who are early in their career – and employers are catching on. Here’s what our Chief People Officer, Susan Zettergren had to say on the topic:

“Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development were once seen as employment perks, but are now critical factors for attracting and keeping early-career talent. We know younger professionals are deliberately searching for employers who offer upskilling and educational opportunities.

At Capital One, this is something we prioritize, whether it’s ongoing training in job-specific areas or emerging technology. In fact, many of our senior leaders began their careers right here in our Early Careers Program, growing their skills and building successful careers while driving significant impact across the business.”

Learning every day

Growing your career is what you make of it, and a little is better than nothing at all. We support our employees (we call them associates) with different learning options based on their interests and availability. Associates have access to a range of courses through our internal and external learning platforms. These self-paced courses are a good opportunity to brush up on an existing skill, or explore something new, without a big time commitment.

If associates want to take a bigger step to further their education, or even change their career path, we encourage them to do so with our Education Assistance program. Associates who complete an eligible course at a recognized educational institution can receive a reimbursement of up to $5,000 every calendar year. This allowance can cover tuition, books and eligible fees.

Building great leaders

Leadership is an ongoing journey to become a better problem solver, coach others to reach their goals and to lead by example. That’s why leadership is a cornerstone of learning and development at Capital One Canada. We strive to give leaders the tools they need to empower associates.

From classes and conferences to team-building activities, our leaders have access to on-demand training to help them focus on the growth areas that matter most to them. Every year, we invite all our leaders to the People Leader Summit – a full day offsite event that features world renowned speakers, interactive workshops and development opportunities.

We know that learning doesn’t stop once an associate walks through our doors. We’ve seen associates take the next step in their career, become leaders and even change their area of expertise while working at Capital One Canada. It’s up to us – and all employers – to clear a path for employees to reach their full potential, because anything is possible with knowledge, belief and support along the way.

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