Continuing Education Maine

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Planning a Career Change?
Go BACK TO SCHOOL this fall!
Candi Deschamps – elearners.com

People change careers several times in their lives. As we grow, learn, move, and make family choices, careers are shifted. As back to school season kicks off, education is a focal point of conversations at dinner tables across the nation.

According the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics “education pays!” (Visit http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/ for more information on recent government statistics about labor and education.) Going back to school is often a critical step to changing careers, and it can be achieved in a variety of ways, including online.

During the research phase of a career change, take the time to investigate, look inward, and move forward with knowledge.

Some questions to ask of yourself:

What do I enjoy doing?

What challenges me personally and professionally?

What do I face in my current career that I’d like to change?

How much money would I like to earn?

How would a career change affect my family?

What are my long-term goals?

What additional education would be required?

What can I afford? What can I NOT afford?

After taking the time to evaluate and take a personal “snapshot,” it is important to tap into resources that exist to help people just like you. The Internet is chock full of information and can be a great help when researching new careers, educational choices, salary ranges, trends and much more. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics recently announced a list of careers and their projected growth through 2014. Their Top 10 “Above Average Wages and High Projected Growth Occupations” include:

1. Postsecondary teachers
2. General and operations managers
3. Elementary school teachers, except special education
4. Accountants and auditors
5. Computer software engineers, applications
6. Computer systems analysts
7. Secondary school teachers, except vocational and special education
8. Computer software engineers, systems software
9. Physicians and surgeons
10. Network systems and data communications analyst

It is noted in the research, however, that these occupations typically require at least a bachelor’s degree. So what next? Get to class! Researching schools can be daunting, but DOES NOT have to be! Consider resources such as eLearners.com, a leading resource for connecting learners with education. The site serves many purposes for individuals looking at school and careers, from defining the right degree program to finding a school and learning about managing school debt.

Visit www.elearners.com and http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/ for more information.


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