Whether you are looking for that first real job out of college or you are thinking about changing careers after all these years, what role will your education play in all of this?
For many people looking to improve their career situations, education plays a major role when all is said and done.
That said how do you know what type of education is best for your career aspirations?
Although it may seem like a simple choice to choose this or that line of degrees, keep in mind that educations and careers are almost always influx. As a result, what you get today in terms of an education may not suit you even a few years down the road.
Meantime, while some careers (medical, accounting etc.) will always be there to fill jobs due to the needs of the public, others have come and gone over the years.
So, how can you educate yourself on the top career choices for the next few years, not to mention secure your educational needs?
Researching Your Options is Critical
In order to best serve both your education and career requirements, keep a couple of pointers in mind:
- Jobs – First and foremost, it is all but impossible to survive in today’s economic climate without a good job. Yes, many people do get by one way or the other, but it can prove quite difficult. There is a good chance you know (maybe even yourself) a number of people working not only a full-time job, but holding down a part-time job or two on the side. In most cases, those individuals are doing it not out of choice, but instead out of necessity. Whether it is increasing rents or mortgages, increasing health insurance costs, the ever-increasing expenses for gas and utilities etc. the list could go on and on. While you may love the career you are currently in, does it calmly pay all your bills at the end of the day? If not, the time for a better job (notably in terms of salary) may be a necessity come 2017. Do your research to see which careers offer the most, that is in terms of money, healthcare benefits etc. In doing so, you will be better educated as to where you career aspirations may be headed;
- Schooling – If the need for more schooling is necessary either right out of high school or down the road for a career change or career growth, where do you start? While it may seem rather easy to choose from a list of schools, many people will tell just the opposite. The preferred approach to take in selecting the best school for your career is typically lots of research. Whether you go on to work in the educational field itself with young students or hundreds of other professions, researching your options is critical. Unlike several decades ago prior to the Internet, most of that research was done via magazines and brochures, radio and television advertisements, and even word-of-mouth. In today’s digital age, most students out of high school or those looking to advance their educational requirements are using the worldwide web. By doing so, they can visit countless educational institutions, learning much of what there is to know about them. From the curriculum to the average student-teacher ratio, you can learn lots of valuable information by visiting respective college and university websites etc.
Being an Educated Employee
As important as your education certainly is, it is also critical that you are educated in terms of your career options, especially as they pertain to 2017.
Once again, the Internet can prove to be a great resource tool for any and all such information.
Seeing which careers seem primed for now and down the road will help you in your decisions, both on education and jobs.
When you are an educated individual, both with degree in-hand and with what’s going on around you, your ability to grow and support yourself will reach new heights.
About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business and education topics on the web.