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Worried About Losing Your Job? Get Job Security and Expand Your Skill Set

They say there are lies, damn lies and statistics, But....

j0442197 Given the current state of our economy, there has never been a better time to build your skill set and knowledge base. Furthering your education by pursuing an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree or a certificate program can make your current job more secure and prepare you for the future. There has never been a better time to go back to school, and getting your degree or advanced degree will improve your chances of keeping your job or getting a better job. The scheduling flexibility most online schools offer also means that you can get your degree while you work so that you don’t lose valuable work experience or income.

Going back to school can broaden your skills in your chosen field, and can be as simple as getting a certificate. Or, if you’ve been away from school a long time, you can upgrade your Associate’s to a Bachelor’s, your Bachelor’s to a Master’s or a Master’s to a Doctoral Degree. If you are interested in changing careers, but don’t have the required experience or education, you can make yourself a qualified candidate by getting an online degree in your chosen field. With the advancement of technology in online education, many traditional not-for-profit schools have joined for-profit schools in offering online degrees.

You may see results faster than you think. Often adult learners find that their managers are able to immediately notice the benefits of their increased knowledge at their workplace through new ideas and improved productivity. In addition, many advanced degrees take no more than a year to a few years to complete. If you are currently employed and hope to stay at your company, your employer may offer tuition reimbursement to help you along the way. There are also numerous scholarships, grants and financial aid, including $5,350 in Pell Grants annually and $2,500 in tuition tax credits annually to those that qualify. I’d suggest you follow 3 Simple Steps to help you pay for College Education: 1) Use Free Money First. Students should fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the US Department of Education's website to access need-based grants and apply for scholarships at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. 2) Explore Federal Loans. Federal loans offer low, fixed interest rates and flexible repayment options. 3) Fill Any Gap With Private Loans. Private Student Loans may be available to cover the rest of their education costs.

So the question is, if there are so many reasons why you will benefit from advancing your education, why wouldn’t you do so? It’s clear that making this important investment in yourself will pay dividends through job security and, in the end, a larger paycheck and a brighter future for you.

Online Education's Future

At a Technomy conference in California, Bill Gates predicted that higher education will change substantially over the course of the next five years. Using the internet, students will have access the best lectures from the best universities. These students would not attend a traditional brick and mortar school, but take different courses (and possibly lectures) delivered as an online education degree. Furthermore, Mr. Gates believes that a traditional university is too expensive and too hard to gain admission. Also noteworthy, is his belief that the current university textbooks are too large. His message was clear, an online education was the future and the only way for universities to gain control and expand is to embrace technology.

Recession Proof Yourself with an Online Degree

an Online Education can give you a competitive advantage in a Rough Economy

With the turbulent economy and dismal job market, pursing an online degree does not seem wise. However, there has never been a better time to earn a degree from an accredited online university. Do not let the recession stop you from reaching your maximum earning potential and getting the job you have always dreamed of.

The following is a list of reasons why online degree are still worth earning even during these hard economic times:

Cost. Online schools charge less per credit hour than most private colleges and institutions.
Increased earning potential. Additional degrees increase earnings. In a study released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, men with bachelor’s degrees on average make on average $1,209 a week while median weekly wages for high school graduates was $714. The ninetieth percentile of men with advanced degrees earned $3,434 a week. Higher degrees generally mean higher wages.
Valuable experience with technology. Technology is continuing to play a bigger role in almost all industries. Earning an online degree will give you experience in using technology; you will gain knowledge in emailing, videochatting, posting on messageboards, using the internet to do group work, and using a variety of programs such as Excel.
Ensure job security. An extra degree will provide you with additional skills and knowledge. Filling in gaps of knowledge will not only make you an invaluable employee, but will help you compete with newcomers in the field.
Flexibility. An online degree allows you to stay at your job and be on top of your obligations. Rather than planning your life around your education, you can plan your education around your life.

Top Ten Online Degree Programs

The most popular online degrees are programs that are versatile in today’s job market and the jobs that are experiencing the most growth over the next decade. A major in these areas can almost guarantee a job after graduation. For example, the most popular online degree is business administration. A degree in business administration can lead to jobs as a financial analyst, a marketing manager or an investment banker depending on if it’s a bachelor or masters degree.

The Top Ten List

Business Administration is the most popular and sought after online degree. This degree prepares you for any type of management position. Online degrees are available in business administration (BA), masters degree (MBA), or even a certificate for the most basic of business concepts and practices just to name a few.
Engineering online degrees is the second most popular degree. There are 17 main divisions of engineering, and they hold 1.2 million jobs in the United States alone. An online master degree in engineering is the most popular in the field, but online bachelors will find entry level positions.
Computer Science is an online degree that has, and will remain in demand. The digital revolution secures the need for folks with degrees in computer science. Some of the positions in computer science are: design interface, programming, and development of hardware.
Nursing and other fields in the health sector are an immensely popular with no end in sight. Generally, a nurse will attain an online bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or an online master’s degree in nursing (MSN).
Education majors who pursue a bachelor degree in education obtain entry level teaching jobs. Those interested in administration or counseling jobs should continue to earn their online masters degree in education.
Criminal Justice online majors prepare themselves for a career in upholding state and federal law. An entry level position in criminal justice can be attained through an online associate degree. Those interested in higher paying positions should seek online bachelor’s degree. Some dedicated lawyers get an undergraduate degree in criminal justice before pursing a law degree (JD).
Accounting is a great job for those individuals who like to crunch numbers. Essentially, every business needs an accountant. The top paying accounting positions are those that have received their online bachelors and masters degrees in accounting and are a certified public accountant (CPA). Some who don’t want to wait long to get into their careers can pursue an online certificate or associates in accounting.
Psychology majors study the human and animal mind and how it affects behavior. To have a practice in psychology, you must pursue at least an online master’s degree, or ideally, a Ph.D. To start your career as soon as possible you can get an online bachelors degree in psychology to obtain a job as a Psychologist’s assistant.
Graphic Design is another hot career and designers create computer based images for things such as websites, computer software programs and films. This is for highly creative people with a technical background. Most entry level positions in this field require at least a bachelor degree in graphic design, however, a certificate or associates degree will get you as an assistant to a graphic designer.
Healthcare Administration is another health related field that continues to have a very high demand for workers. More job opportunities and higher salaries are awarded to online bachelors or online masters degrees in healthcare administration.

accredited-business-degrees

Online Programs Help Career Changers

how completing your degree online can help you to switch careers

Changing careers is a major decision; one that should not be made on a mere whim or flight of fancy. Many things must be taken into consideration before making such an important choice. In some cases, completing a degree from any number of online programs helps make a career change possible. Complete the following steps to determine if switching careers is truly the right decision for you.

Analyze your current career - Compare your job responsibilities and work environment against your preferences. Doing so will help you discover what you like and dislike about your current job. You may discover that you need to switch jobs not careers. For example, if you are dissatisfied with your company’s culture, switching jobs might be the answer. Disliking occupational characters indicate a career switch may be the correct course of action. For instance, if you are a research scientist who dislikes working in a lab, then switching careers may be right for you.
Analyze your financial situation - Changing careers is costly. When switching careers, people often start at entry level jobs which may not pay as much as their current jobs. Consider all costs. A new career may require additional training; traditional educational programs may require you to work fewer hours or none at all. Unemployment insurance does not cover people training for new jobs. An online degree allows you to work while training for a new career. The flexibility of an online program allows you to fit your education into your life rather than planning your life around your education. Furthermore, online degrees cost less than many traditional programs.
Analyze yourself - What work values, aspects of a job that you find meaningful and important, are the most important to you? Work values can range from the level of autonomy to job stability. What skills do you have? Consider your current and past jobs, hobbies, and volunteer work. What skill gaps do you have? Online degrees and programs can help you fill in any skill deficits. What interests do you have? People tend to be happier in careers that match up with their interests. There are many interest inventory tests online which can help match your interests with a potential career. The Bureau of Labor also has job descriptions which can help you choose a new occupation.

Online Education Business People

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