Back to School for a Career Change
Q. I hate my job as a computer consultant. I am ready for a career change. The aptitude tests say I should be a recreation specialist. I like the idea but I dread returning to school for a new degree.
A. Before you invest in a degree, try out the new career. A test drive will tell you more than any pencil-and-paper test. Find two or three people who are doing what you want to do and ask to spend a day or a week with them.
If you like what you see, visit a few schools or universities that offer degrees in your area of interest. Ask for names of people who have graduated one, three and five years ago.
Ask the alumni, "Did this degree help you get your job? Advance in your job?
"Would you have done better with a degree from another school? Or would you have done as well with a degree from a lower-ranked school?"
Don't stop until you have talked to six graduates -- maybe more.
Talk to students, not faculty. Professors must support their own programs, even when they want to say, "You can do better elsewhere," or, "This program is a waste of your time and money."
And these days, anyone with a title like "Admissions Director" or "Enrollment Management" may be trying to make a sale, not offer objective guidance.
Investigate several options.
You may find an equally satisfying career that offers on-the-job training. You may find an educational program that takes less time or comes with a stipend.
No degree program offers a magic bullet.
Ultimately you may win the job and career success by your power networking as well as you social, interpersonal and technical skills. There are many paths to career fulfillment, not just one.
I offer one-to-one consultations on career strategy.
From Back to School: A midlife career guide
About The Author
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.
"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com
Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
 Google News Updated : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:25:52 GMT US Oil, Gas Producers, Pipelines Brace for Gustav (Update1) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Margot Habiby Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP Plc plan to finish shutting oil and gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and Enbridge Energy Partners LP will close pipelines as Hurricane Gustav gains strength and moves ... More volatility seen with hurricane, payrolls Airlines bounce as oil gives up early gains Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:21:02 GMT Obama campaign buoyed by convention - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - He sees an unusually strong jump in support after the carefully choreographed event in Denver. By Peter Nicholas, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer DENVER -- Amy Pearl is the sort of Democrat who made the Barack Obama campaign nervous. Look out, Palin The Hillary factor . . . Hillary supporters aren't bitter; they're concerned Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:00:48 GMT Comcast to Place a Cap on Internet Downloads - New York Times
New York Times - By BRIAN STELTER Comcast, one of the country’s largest Internet providers, said this week that it would place limits on customers’ broadband usage. Comcast's Answer to ... Critics Question Comcast Broadband Caps Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:08:14 GMT Hurricane Gustav Strengthens, Accelerates, Heads for Cuba, Gulf - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Patrick Donahue and Robin Stringer Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Gustav strengthened and picked up speed as it headed toward western Cuba and the US Gulf Coast cities ravaged by Katrina and Rita in 2005, after lashing the Cayman Islands with ... Video: Gustav Follows Katrina's Path Some leave Gulf Coast ahead of likely evacuations Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:40:06 GMT Experts: Silver lining for ‘viable’ Mitt Romney - Boston Herald Boston Herald - By Edward Mason Mitt Romney - once a top contender to be John McCain’s running mate - may have suffered a bruised ego when he was passed over for the little known Gov. It's not Pawlenty, it's Palin Pawlenty, after the pick, another day at fair Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:13:29 GMT S. Ossetia to be absorbed into Russia - United Press International
United Press International - TSKHINVALI, Georgia, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- South Ossetia says it will become part of Russia and host Russian military bases under a new agreement. Video: UN does have double standards Kremlin announces that South Ossetia will Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:01:52 GMT Sign of the times - BBC News
BBC News - As Russia and the West warn of a new Cold War after the Georgian conflict, the BBC's Humphrey Hawksley in Moscow tries to imagine what it would look like. European Union to Hold Urgent Meeting on Russia last straw" for Russia Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:10:28 GMT Increased Website Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... One of the trickier questions an interviewer might put to... Read More There's a certain courage required to hear your gut. To... Read More In this day and age it can become increasingly difficult... Read More These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of... Read More It is hard to be a stay at home mom.... Read More There are millions of people working extremely hard every day... Read More Most people spend approximately 25% to over 67% of their... Read More A problem most freelance translators are facing with is how... Read More Have you ever tried to contact a past employer only... Read More In the limited time an interviewer has with you, their... Read More A resume may not be who you are, but to... Read More 'Fear of rejection' is the major reason why individuals looking... Read More In a day of background checks, pre-employment drug screening and... Read More So that you can decide just how critical your job... Read More In her book "Are You A Corporate Refugee", Ruth Luban... Read More You've been through an employer's interview process successfully and have... Read More Salary and Benefits NegotiationOne of the most difficult aspects of... Read More Are you a career changer? Or, are you satisfied with... Read More The interview is the "beauty contest" part of the job... Read More Why Do You Want This Job? Is it because any... Read More Warning: Lying on your resume could cost you your job... Read More Making Your Future Work Better For YouIt's the commonest concern... Read More It's okay to take your job seriously, to be a... Read More Have you gotten tons of career advice, solicited and unsolicited?... Read More Here is a last year resident checklist not to forget:LICENSING:Licensing... Read More
Adsense
websites
Answering The What Are Your Weaknesses? Interview Question
Career Development - When Its Time for a Change
Interview Tips - Ten Top Dos & Donts for Winning Interviews
Job Interviews: Succeeding with Panel Interviews
Stay At Home Moms No Longer Struggling To Make Ends Meet
Hospital Staff at Great Risk of Attack and Injury Whilst at Work
Find Passion for Your Work
How To Receive Payment as a Freelance Translator?
Benefits of Maintaining a Career Portfolio
Interview Questions: How To Stump The Interviewer
Reviving Your Resume
Networking Mistakes and How You Can Avoid Them
Career Advice: Are Resumes Obsolete As A Primary Job Search Tool?
Importance Of Your Job Search
Tips For Surviving As A Corporate Refugee
Negotiate Better Job Offers with This Twelve-Point Checklist
How to Negotiate The Best Salary and Benefit Packages
Crafting A Stellar Career Summary For Your Resume
10 Tips to Help You Ace the Interview and Get the Job
Why Do You Want This Job?
Should You Lie On Your Resume?
Where Do I Go From Here?
Get a Life Why Dont Ya?!
Getting Past Fear
Last Year Physician Resident Checklist
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
The Surefire Way To Getting A Pay Raise
If you are working for someone else, it is important... Read More
Three Ways to Transition to a New Career
As a Certified Personnel Consultant working for Find Great People... Read More
The 10 Biggest Career Change Mistakes - And How to Avoid Them
Career change is no walk in the park.If it was... Read More
The Top Ten Strategies of A Great Interview
You've just received a call to interview with your dream... Read More
Should You Make A Career Decision Based Upon A Career Quiz?
Q. I'm about to graduate High School and I don't... Read More
Serious Business Networking
As they always say "It's not what you know, it's... Read More
What To Do When A Co-Worker Turns Nasty
A friend of mine laments that work would be great... Read More
Job Interviews: Identifying & Using Your Most Important Asset
When you're looking to get hired or get promoted, what... Read More
Genes and Work Ethic
If you have good genes, you are blessed. If they... Read More
You Are Not Entitled to a Job!
Résumé TipsSome basics about job hunting...First of all, nobody owes... Read More
Resume Tune Up
Employers have fears, uncertainty and DOUBT (the FUD factor) over... Read More
Don?t Discount the Temporary Position Interview
If you think, 'it's just an interview for a temp... Read More
Cover Letter Magic: 4 Ways To ASK For The Job Interview - And Get It!
Just how important it is to ASK for the job... Read More
Top 10 Tips for Career Advancement
Here's a list of the top 10 tips you can... Read More
Get a Raise: How To Ask Your Boss For More Money
How many people do you know who think they deserve... Read More
Great Salary Negotiation Tips
11 Commandments For Smart Negotiating1 - BE PREPARED. The... Read More
How To Stay Calm in Tryng Times
That's not you? Great! Bad habits are hard to break... Read More
Do More than Expected to Get Ahead
One of the best things you can do to increase... Read More
Reviving Your Resume
A resume may not be who you are, but to... Read More
Preparing For An Interview
When preparing for an interview, you need to know your... Read More
Successful Job Search: Knocking Out The Competition
Most of the time, competition stimulates us, gets our juices... Read More
Creating a Winning Resume
Preparing your resume can often seem like a daunting task.... Read More
Yes, Ive Had Gaps In My Employment History--What To Do About It?
Yes, I've Had Gaps In My Employment History--What Can I... Read More
How to Write a Resume That Stands Out From The Crowd
Today's job market is competitive. Many companies receive hundreds of... Read More
Becoming A Home Inspector: What the Home Inspection Schools Dont Want You To Know
Chances are if you're reading this you've thought about becoming... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |