Professional qualifications form the backbone of the progression structure in many industries. From accounting and loss adjusting to engineering and pet bereavement counselling, they support people in honing their skills, climbing the ladder, and opening the door to management and leadership.
…But for someone with dyslexia, this can be daunting: is it really a case of going back to school, juggling learning and working, or staying in an entry-level position forever?
Let’s take a look at working and studying with dyslexia. ⬇️
· More often than not, learning = reading. A huge uptick in the amount of expected reading can be daunting for someone dyslexic, and send stress levels skyward.
· School learning support rarely makes the transition into work, which means having to re-source it, often under Reasonable Adjustments.
· When work and study both feel difficult and draining, the idea of doing the two at once can be anxiety-inducing.
· HR, managers and teammates are often in the loop. So it may feel embarrassing, knowing that colleagues will be able to see if they’re struggling.
· And all of these might also induce the pressure to disclose dyslexia, too.
Breathe. Not having a professional qualification doesn’t mean you’re going to stay in your current role forever. Progression is based on many factors, and it’s rare that there’s a role that requires one certain qualification.
And it varies, but a few hours study a week might be all your qualification takes. If that still feels like too much, however, some people choose to reduce their hours or even quit entirely as they study (if they can afford to).
It’s also a good idea to talk to your employer or career coach about how vital this qualification is for your goals. If your destination role focuses more on experience or people skills, it might not be worth your bandwidth— meaning you can do it later, consider a microcredential, or even skip altogether.
Some sectors have dozens of qualifications, and you need to make sure you’re studying what’s right for you. Chat to careers advisers, and people already in the field: learning whilst working takes energy, so focus yours.
2. Ask for Reasonable Adjustments
Under UK law, employers must make Reasonable Adjustments to ensure that workers with disclosed disabilities are not substantially disadvantaged as they work. Having the right work support is often a huge step on the road to having the right learning and testing support too, so chat to management and HR about your needs.
3. Ensure your equitable access to qualifications
If other people on your team have been invited to undertake a qualification and you haven’t, or even if your request to talk about qualifications seems to keep getting denied, it’s time to investigate and ask why that is. If you’re disclosed and your employer actively seems to be gating your access to qualifications and training, that may be a contravention of the Equality Act (2010).
4. Ask for study leave
Worried about the balancing act? You may have the right to ask for time off work for training and study. To qualify, you have to…
✔️ be classed as an employee
✔️ have worked for your employer for 26+ weeks
✔️ be undertaking training that supports you to do your job better
✔️ work at a company that employs 250+ people.
5. Discuss support with course providers
Whether your qualification is awarded by a large exam provider or an independent body, most will have an access arrangements framework. Don’t be afraid to ask— having a reading pen or extra time might be all it takes to ease the strain and put you on track for a confident exam experience.
What’s your take on professional qualifications— a bandwidth drain, or something you’ve found super useful, and worth the extra work as you’ve built your career?