Choosing Education

How to get ahead at work by going back to school

By UnivGroup

In today’s face-paced global economy continuing education is often essential in order to keep pace with changes in an employer’s technology, strategy, and best practices. Savvy professionals in every industry know that the best career paths are usually self-directed and include pursuing additional academic credentials while actually working in the field. Following such a route enables them to:
-    deepen their industry knowledge without sacrificing income
-    get the skills needed to compete successfully today
-    prepare for future industry developments and challenges
-    expand professional networks, job contacts, and opportunities

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Develop career goals that reflect your strengths. People do better in jobs and industries that suit their personalities and interests as well as their abilities. To find out which jobs you are particularly well-suited for, consider your past successes and favorite work assignments. Then use assessment tools such as Myers-Briggs to get an objective view of your particular strengths.
Try: careerplanning.about.com, which offers advice on self-assessment as well as descriptions of dozens of careers plus pertinent articles. For a further explanation of personality types go to www.geocities.com/lifexplore/mbcareer.htm.

Research what kind and level of education is required in your field.

If you’d like to enhance your career opportunities with your present company talk to your supervisor about how additional education could enhance your prospects for promotion. Or, if you’d rather move on to another company or perhaps a different industry altogether, ask recruiters in the field what their clients are looking for in a candidate
Try: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics www.bls.gov/emp/ which defines educational requirements and anticipated growth of various professions in numerous industries.

Explore your best educational options.

Many communities have colleges that offer evening classes for students with full time jobs but more and more professionals are taking advantage of online or long distance education. Not only can online students attend class wherever and whenever is most convenient to them, the courses are usually accelerated, making it possible to complete degrees in a shorter period of time.
Try: www.edu-resources.org to consider all kinds of educational resources by degree, type, and geographical location. In addition, www.degrees247.com gives students a good overview of the wide range of degree programs available online plus a number of informational articles on career development.

Check the accreditation of the school and the background

Accreditation shows that a school has met certain standards. Make sure that your school has earned accreditation from an agency recognized by the US department of Education.
Try: The Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s site www.chea.org/search/default.asp . It will let you see exactly which agencies have accredited the schools you’re interested in. You should also find this article on the subject very helpful - www.womentocollege.com/college/accreditation.asp

Investigate financial aid

Financial Aid is available to those who qualify. Ask your employer about tuition reimbursement to see if your company is willing to pay all or part of your tuition. If you have to handle tuition costs on your own, use the Internet to find out about available scholarships and grants as well as federal aid.
Try: www.FinAid.org – to learn more about your financial options such as scholarships and loans. The site also gives you advice on how to file federal forms to maximize your options for federal aid.