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After getting out of high school or getting tired of working
dead end jobs, some people come to a point when they decide
to start a career. Unsure of what to do, they decide to
go to school and earn a degree. Problem is that most do
not perform proper career planning...
The struggle that most people are eventually are faced
with, is choosing what degree/degrees to pursue. With
the plethora of choices, and the number of career options
available, many people make decisions based on potential
salary.
If you can say without a doubt that money is what you
want no matter what, then this method will work. However,
if you are the type of person whose happiness is more
than a pay check, take the time to research your career
options and the best way to persue them.
There are many factors that come into play in the decision
making process of degree and career selection. Most of
these factors are not technical. Instead they are personal
things that you need to consider before you start on your
quest. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself
when planning to start your career:
What do I want to do with my degree?
Avoid the mistake that many people make by selecting
a career based on their degrees. You should know what
you want to do before you start you higher education.
Research your career options and find out what degrees
will help you the most in advancing in your career field.
One way of finding out what you want to do, is to research
different jobs and make a list of the jobs that you would
consider working. Get the description of these jobs and
make a note of the ones you favor the most. The final
step is asking someone about their jobs.
Contact the human resources department at a well known
organization and let them know you are not looking for
work, but instead information on a specific career path
you are considering. Ask them about the types of jobs
you are interested in.
This might sound a bit wild but you will be surprised.
Most well known organizations want to be known for helping
their communities. This technique can be helpful in another
way as well, if you succeed in making contact and getting
the information you need, it might open the door for future
employment opportunities.
How flexible am I with my career goals?
Many people who get degrees often find themselves working
in a field that is not at all related to their college
degree. This is not necessarily bad thing.
Keep in mind that most employers don't use your degree
to determine your knowledge in specific area, but instead
as a gauge of what you are able to accomplish. You might
have your mind set on being the director of marketing
for a major corporation one day, but end up working in
human resources.
If you are not the type of person that can adjust to
changes well, you should definitely try to finding a career
that is not pronged to change. Technical careers are less
inclined to change unlike business careers that might
have you switching departments and roles often.
How much time do I have to work on my degree
program?
It is important to consider your time. Many people under
estimate the time necessary to complete a degree program.
They sometimes have struggle to find a solution for their
time problems in the middle of their programs.
Plan your life around your degree program. Unless you
have the privilege of going to school fulltime and not
have to worry about living expenses, your degree program
is going to have to blend seamlessly with your everyday
life. Prepare for future scheduling conflicts, consider
your current employment situation, and make the necessary
preparations to prevent burnout.
Each individual knows basically what they are capable
of. If you need 8 hours of sleep, don't think you will
get by on 5 hours because of sheer determination. If you
need a full time income, make sure your job is aware of
your situation. It is sometimes a good idea to find an
internship program that is in the area of your studies.
These programs tend to be more lenient with your school
schedule.
If you are pressed for time, new options are available
that allows you get a college degree online. These distance
learning programs are designed with the fast pace individual
in mind. Even with these programs it is still recommended
that you plan you education schedule carefully.
What makes me happy?
This is the most important question you should answer
before starting your new career. You should set goals
for yourself that will make you happy. Most people get
degrees to get a job because, "that is what people
do."
Nobody wants to hate what they do it makes it much harder
to do it. Plan your career around your happiness and pick
up a copy of the hilarious movie "Office Space"
- great message ;)
Click here for brief overview of online
degree programs
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