The document discusses options for mid-career professionals to continue their education while maintaining work-life balance. It lists 27 potential options ranging from returning to school to taking online courses to volunteering. The solutions provided summarize 3 key options: 1) Go back to school by taking advantage of tuition reimbursement programs, 2) Reduce work hours while maintaining pay to allow more time for school or other pursuits, and 3) Implement a mandatory 2-year break from work that could be used to continue education, travel, or spend time with family.

1. The Problem
How can mid-career professionals
continue their education to stay
relevant and competitive while
maintaining work-life balance?

2. Go back to
school for
undergraduate
degree
Go back to
school for
graduate
degree
Take advantage of
employer’s tuition
reimbursement plan
Complete a
certificate
program
Take free online courses
offered by universities
Take courses
offered by
employer’s
training
department
Complete an
online degree
program
Enroll in a local university and
take classes face-to-face
Read online resources
Purchase a
Groupon for
reduced-
price online
courses
Watch live and recorded
free webinars

3. Volunteer your
talents at local
non-profits
Travel
the
world
Attend industry
conferences
Lead a team
of volunteers
Work with a career coach
Create YouTube
videos to
showcase
material that you
created
Take a
sabbatical
Start a new hobby
Earn an industry
designation
Join a local
professional
group
Work abroad

4. Mentor less
experienced
employees Switch jobs
to learn
something
new
Implement mandatory 2-
year break in work
Job shadow to
learn about
other areas
Go back in time to complete
all studies before starting
work
Require
universities and
employer to cover
full cost of mid-
career education
Seek 360-
degree
feedback
Switch employers to have
different opportunities
Reduce the required
hours in the workweek
and maintain pay
Work with
high-school
students
interested
in your field
Talk to peers for
suggestions

5. The Solutions
1. Go back to school!
2. Reduce hours in work week!
3. Implement mandatory 2-year break!

6. Go back to school!
Take advantage of the employer’s tuition reimbursement program (if any) and
enroll in a degree-seeking program. This seems like the most expected answer
to the problem statement. Workers can research school options and plan a
course load that allows them to maintain the desired work-life balance.

7. Reduce hours in work week while maintaining pay!
If we change the definition of work week without changing pay, the impact on work-
life balance would be significant. The work week could consist of 4 days on, 3 days
off, or we could invert the ratio of weekday to weekend workdays. So instead of
work 5 with 2 off, we could work 2 with 5 off. This would support those going back to
school and give more time to spend with their families or on schoolwork.

8. Implement a mandatory 2-year break in work!
This break would be afforded to mid-career professionals. It
could be used however they see fit. Some may use the time
off to continue their education while others may travel or
spend the time with their kids.