Formal Education Or Practical Training: Which Is The Best Option For You?

To choose between the education and training, it is important that you understand that these terms are very very different. People often confuse education with training but, here’s the catch: Education is to have the knowledge of things theoretically, and training encourages the practical execution of the understanding on a subject.

Through education, you can absorb the awareness and knowledge about a particular thing or subject or field. But, when it comes to applying the knowledge in the practical world and developing a skill out of it, then it won’t be quite possible in the absence of training.

For example: When you are taught about how to act or behave in a professional environment in a behavioral science class, then you simply learn about these things theoretically and write them in your exams. On the other hand when you get into the professional world, then you have to actually practice them. That’s where training comes in!

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Decide Your Motive

Now that you know the difference between the two it is essential that you understand your motives too. Ask yourself this question- ‘What is it that I want to accomplish in the end?’ If it is to gain knowledge and have a certificate of a particular subject, then you should go for education. Although, if you want to practice your knowledge and develop a set of skills in a field then, training is the answer.

Ideally, you should pursue the knowledge first and then go into the training part. Until and unless you are not aware of the basics of a certain sector, you won’t have any groundwork to rely upon when you enter the field. Simply put, there will be no foundation for you to build the building (if your basics are not clear, and that can cause issues in the training phase).

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Education Over Training

By choosing knowledge first you will get completely aware about the field and can then decide whether you want to move forward in that particular area or not. This, however, doesn’t mean that you need to have absolute expertise and number of degrees to go for the training in a sector. Even a diploma or correspondence will do.

In the case where you are not sure, it's better that you opt for education. The reason is simple and smart. By selecting education, you will have a better understanding of the subject area and at the end of the course, there are high chances for you to know the next step.

If you choose training instead, then you might regret later that you opted for the wrong thing and quit. But by that time you realize that you would already have given a lot of your time, energy and attention to something that you didn’t even want!

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Training Over Education

As soon you enter into training you do not deal with books and theory. You enter the practical world of how things are done. Everything that you’ve learned in an educational institute might/might not come into practice. But one thing is for sure that you will realize that there are things that books cannot teach you. These things are what you will learn only in the practical environment where things are happening.

As thrilling as it sounds but the training phase is usually tougher, more exciting and much more challenging than the education. It is way beyond the classrooms or learning. It involves not just your theoretical knowledge but also your confidence in yourself. It reinforces your emotional, physical and mental state of mind. More simply put, training basically turns amateurs into professionals. 

So, the cards are out. Now you decide what you want to choose- knowledge or skills? Do share your opinion on this with us in the comment section below!