Fact or Fiction? A Master's Degree Is the Key to Career Success
In the midst of this crazy economythere has been a lot of talk about the merits of a master's degree.Some claim it is an absolute requirement for professionals who are committed to advance – going so far as to call a master's the "new bachelor's degree."Others consider a master’s degree little more than a very expensive wall decoration.
So, when does getting a master’s degree make sense? If you are a career professional who needs to develop a different skill set in order to break into a new industry, or if you would like to advance to a higher position in your current field, a master’s degreemay be just the ticket. However, for some careers, a master's is considered essential – even for “quick studies.”
Getting a master’s degree online can be a great way to do it – especially from a financial and time management standpoint. Online universities enable you to study on your own schedule, and costs overall are generally lower too. To research education programs that can best suit you visit College Grad’s website.
Some master's degrees, such as an MBA look great on any professional resume. Business school is a smart idea for a variety of careers because it can heighten your earning potential and impress potential employers. And, for business professionals, the benefits of earning a master’s degree are really substantial. Solid work experience and the education gained from getting an MBA is a powerful combination – one that can take you to the top of the ladder.
If you are in the technology or computer fields, a master’s degree can also meanhigher salaries and career advancement. Most technology master’s programs focus on blending management skills with technical proficiency.Information Technology (IT), Technology Management, Management Information Systems (MIS), and Information Security are just a few areas in which you could specialize.
In addition to the business and computer technology fields, there are many other interesting professions where a master's degree is not only valued, but can be a real benefit.Think about the advantages and disadvantages of furthering your education and do what will ultimately lead you to career success. In some cases, an advanced degree will help you reach your professional goals and full earning potential. But, remember – depending on the career you choose – that precious piece of paper is not always necessary to get ahead. Good luck!
Just think of it. Employers are probably receiving hundreds, if not thousands, of job applicationsfar more than what they used to get. Many employers use a college degreeas a means to make the first cut. If you’re a college grad, you already have a distinct advantage over other job seekers. However, you will still need to do your homework in order toset yourself apartfrom the rest. Here are some tips that can help improve your chances of landing a jobduring a recession.
Network. Network. Network - Whether you like it or not, if you are seeking a real job right now, you have totalk to people. And, more importantly, you have to listen to what they have to say. Take advantage of eventsthat are sponsored by clubs, associations, or groups on campus or around town.Seek out professionalsin the career that interests you and solicit their advice. You never know – they may be able to connect you to someone in your field who is hiring.
Swallow hard and work for free – You probably don’t have a spouse, kids or a mortgage just yet. Those big expenses often don’t allow job seekers to explore all their options. So, open yourself up to possibly moving in with your folksor friends and taking an unpaid position, as long as it is in an industry that truly interests you.Unpaid internshipssometimes turn into paid positions or lead to other opportunities. But most importantly, you will gain valuable experience in the field that interests you.
Embrace the Internet (if you haven’t already) - Search the Internet to find companies in your field that may be hiring. You can also use social networking sites likeFacebook and LinkedInto find people you may know who work at businesses that interest you. Also, identify acquaintances who may know someone who works at a company in your field and ask for an introduction. You should also research companies to prepare for interviews. And when you have an interview, spend some time on the company’s website researching the people you will meet and the company itself.
Write some blogs & read some too – A great way to brush up on an industry or possible careers is to read blogs. If you regularly read blogs and comment on them, you can begin to develop relationships with people in the industry that interests you. Believe it or not, bloggers often offer tremendous amounts of information and expertise that can help you gain a better understanding of their field. You should also start your ownblog about the career you hope to work in after graduation. Use it to post research or events. Add a link to articles or information and offer a personal commentary. And, be sure to include a link to your blog on your resume. It is a good way for employers to learn more about you before an interview.
Take a good look around - Some industries continue to hire even during a recession. Consider alternative careers. Watch employment trendsand think about other areas where your talents could be used. There is more than one way to put your skills to work.
Most importantly,be persistent. That job is out there, you just have tofind it.Good luck!
Taking a cut in pay in order to remain employed may feel completely unfair, if not downright wrong. But in this nutty economy, you’d be wise to make every effort to have an income – any income. Sometimes, taking less money may be your only alternative. Think about it. Just how important is money to you at this stage in your career? Some might say money is everything. But is it really?
The critical question to ask yourself is which is more important to you right now, working or money? If you have a sure thing – a guaranteed position that is offering you less money than you were making – would you go for it?
As you’ve no doubt heard time and time again, it is easier to get a job when you have a job. If your bills are piling up and you’re beginning to avoid phone calls, you may want to think about taking a position, even if it pays less, in order to seize other job opportunities when they present themselves.
Given the number of people who are currently unemployed, you should expect to find serious competition for jobs at every level of management. As ridiculous as it sounds, even people working at drive-thrus have to worry about their jobs right now, especially if they continually offer poor service. These days, employees who are unwilling to take proper care of customers are finding themselves out of work. Why? Because in this economy, there are plenty of people who will take good care of customers AND work for less.
There’s no shame in accepting a job because you need the money. Lots of people these days are taking jobs that don’t really interest them simply because they need the income. So, if you’re in need of money, try to get a job doing something! After all, work is work. Consider your options, fill out those applications, and get to work! Good Luck!
While my graduation date looms over my head [6 months and 1 day-- not that I'm counting], I am definitely worried about what my future career path will entail. Will it even be a career path, or more of a string of part-time jobs until I get settled into something deeper? Will I be happy working within the field I've studied for the past four years, or will I find that it just isn't for me?
Either way, I am certain that I will have to tailor my traits to whichever job I find myself in. As more of my friends are graduating and going on job searches, they have found that they are not necessarily finding work within their intended fields. They are happy, however, to take what they can get and earn a paycheck in order to live.
The recession is something that we are all having to deal with and I think we should be happy to work, if allowed the privilege to do so. While we may not have our dream jobs during this difficult time, we should be thankful to be employed and continue working toward a better, brighter future.
Should I Change my Career Plans Because of the Recession?
So, you are not doing exactly what you intended after graduating from college? Welcome to the club. Perhaps you have plans to pursue a different career or go to graduate school, but with the recession in full swing, should you put your plans on the back burner for a while?
First, you should consider your finances. If you want to pursue a new career all together, or just a different position within the same industry in which you are currently working, hunker down. It may take a while given the current environment. Be sure you can pay your bills before making any moves – and having a little extra cushion in your bank account is a good idea too.
If you are thinking about graduate school, well, where there’s a will there’s a way. To lessen the financial burden, begin to research financial aid packages and scholarships. You may even want to consider part-time graduate programs that will allow you to continue working. But, if you are not entirely sure what you really want to be when you grow up, don’t pursue grad school until you’ve made up your mind.
In this tough job market, it may be unwise to give up a decent job. Of course, if being a bartender is sucking the life out of you, then you should probably make a change, even if it means working at the internet café down the street. However, if you are securely employed in a position that you can tolerate, make the best of it, learn as much as you can, and network with your colleagues to build your connections.
Whether you choose to keep your current position for the short-term or not, continue researching the industry in which you’d like to work. Subscribe to professional journals, read relevant blogs, attend networking events and professional association meetings. And, ask everyone you know to introduce you to professionals within that industry who could provide you with some career guidance. Every connection you make now will help you be better positioned to make a good career move when the economy rebounds.
In the meantime, maybe you’ll get lucky and find your dream job, or a way out of a career sinkhole, or maybe win the lottery… But if there was ever a time look before leaping, it's now. Good luck!
Heads Up Gen Y: Part-Time Work & Volunteering Can Help You Find a Job!
There's been a lot of talk around Gen Y and the workforce lately. With jobs scarce, college graduates need to make the most of their available options.
Lindsay Pollack, bestselling author, speaker and consultant specializing in Generation Y career and workplace issues, recently sat down with Career TV to talk about how part-time work experience and volunteering can help Gen Y's land a job in this competitive market.
I came across a great article on Wallet Pop that offers career tips & strategies for those unfortunate college grads (like myself) that have yet to land a job. Blogger, Farnoosh Torabi, offers some 'no-frill' alternatives to grad school:
Be an intern
Volunteer
Move home with the folks
Go abroad
Keep your online profile updated
Enjoy the time off!
To supplement this list, Career Coach, Lee E. Miller says to look for jobs in growth fields that are "not as affected by the recession" for example: education, health care, "green" technology, government and accounting.
Another viable option is to work with a recruiter through a staffing or "temp" agency. Not only can a recruiter help you to get placed in a temp position but that temp job could potentially result in a permanent, full time position. Better yet, staffing companies like Spherion do not charge employees for using the service and all of the fees are paid by the hiring client company. College Recruiter provided some great insight on what entry level workers should know when working with a recruiter.
Break out the tissues. This post contains sensitive material.
Today someone got laid off. Or, in politically correct speak, their “position was eliminated.” Perhaps they knew it was coming. Perhaps not. But the worst of it is this: they had just embarked on a new career and had a bright, exciting future in front of them. Could this be you?
This is how it works. First you’ll hear rumors of layoffs. The rumors result in office-wide shock and paranoia. Your colleagues begin to console each other. A co-worker assures you that you “deserve to stay” because you are smarter, more skilled, more attractive and generally all-around cooler. You’re glad that all your hard work went noticed by your superiors, but worry that those who mandated the layoff at the national level don’t know you — you are just a name that fills a position — and the newest person on the team. What’s more, according to the rumor mill, the positions being eliminated may solely be decided by how recently people were hired.
So there you have it. You went through four years of college and graduated. You land the job, are praised for a job “well done” and then all the sudden, your high expectations are dashed and you are no longer employable.
Getting laid-off is a humbling experience, especially if you’ve never experienced real financial hardship or big disappointment. But there's plenty of time to fix things and get back on track. Look at the situation as an opportunity. Consider an unpaid internship or temp work while you search for another job. Think about moving to a place where there are more career opportunities in your field. What about graduate school? Perhaps this is best time for you to get that advanced degree.
But, while you spend hours looking for jobs, be sure to make time for yourself too. Hit the gym five times a week. Use your free time to blog more. Rent multiple seasons of your favorite TV melodrama.
A youthful outlook helps too. That great next job might not emerge next week or even next month, But, remember, time is on your side -- so take a deep breath. You’ll likely be working for decades!
It’s sad but true: job security is an oxymoron. The workplace is simply not as crowded as it used to be. But, if you are fortunate enough to have a job, especially one that you enjoy, now’s the time to keep yourself from becoming a statistic and take hold of your career.
First of all, this is no time to be invisible. If they don’t notice you, you’ll be one of the first people to receive a pink slip. Instead, adjust that attitude to fit the seriousness of the times, and safeguard your position. How?
Perform! Being a valuable contributor to an organization has never been more critical. Be a good employee. Be a team player. Be a top-producer.
Stay tuned in. Skip that $4 latte in favor of the office coffee klatch. Eat at your desk instead a grabbing a sandwich at the local café. Move your lunchtime workout to after work instead. The more you’re around the office the better plugged in you’ll be.
Talk up your contributions. Make sure you're adding value by going above and beyond your basic job responsibilities. Then make sure your boss knows it -- without being obnoxious. Document what you do, and how successful you are at it.
No whining. If your workload increases, deal with it. If you have to come in early, stay late or work a weekend, suck it up. This is not the time to be thinking about work-life balance. Remember, happy campers are less likely to get laid off than chronic complainers.
Never stop networking. The day you’re let go is not the day to start calling old colleagues and asking former bosses out to lunch. You should be doing that right now. How quickly you land a new job after a layoff often depends on how consistently you've networked.
In this economy, preparation is just as important for those who still have jobs as it is for those seeking them. So, stay focused on what you’re doing, but have an exit strategy in your back pocket. Good luck!
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