How to Get Ahead at Work by Going Back to School

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done.

Develop career goals that reflect your strengths.

People do better in jobs and industries that suit their personalities and interests as well as their abilities. To find out which jobs you are particularly well-suited for, consider your past successes and favorite work assignments. Then use assessment tools such as Myers-Briggs to get an objective view of your particular strengths.

I recommend: careerplanning.about.com, which offers advice on self-assessment as well as descriptions of dozens of careers plus pertinent articles. For a further explanation of personality types go to www.geocities.com/lifexplore/mbcareer.htm.

Research what kind and level of education is required in your field.

If you'd like to enhance your career opportunities with your present company talk to your supervisor about how additional education could enhance your prospects for promotion. Or, if you'd rather move on to another company or perhaps a different industry altogether, ask recruiters in the field what their clients are looking for in a candidate.

I recommend: the site of US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics www.bls.gov/emp/ which defines educational requirements and anticipated growth of various professions in numerous industries.

Explore your best educational options.

Many communities have colleges that offer evening classes for students with full time jobs but more and more professionals are taking advantage of online or long distance education. Not only can online students attend class wherever and whenever is most convenient to them, the courses are usually accelerated, making it possible to complete degrees in a shorter period of time.

I recommend: www.edu-resources.org to consider all kinds of educational resources by degree, type, and geographical location. In addition, www.degrees247.com gives students a good overview of the wide range of degree programs available online plus a number of informational articles on career development.

Check the accreditation of the school and the background of its faculty.

Accreditation shows that a school has met certain standards. Make sure that your school has earned accreditation from an agency recognized by the US department of Education.

I recommend: The Council for Higher Education Accreditation's site www.chea.org/search/default.asp. It will let you see exactly which agencies have accredited the schools you're interested in. You should also find this article on the subject very helpful - www.womentocollege.com/college/accreditation.asp.

Investigate Financial Aid

Financial Aid is available to those who qualify. Ask your employer about tuition reimbursement to see if your company is willing to pay all or part of your tuition. If you have to handle tuition costs on your own, use the Internet to find out about available scholarships and grants as well as federal aid.

I recommend: www.FinAid.org – to learn more about your financial options such as scholarships and loans. The site also gives you advice on how to file federal forms to maximize your options for federal aid.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

Go online and learn as much as possible about each school you're considering
Ask your employer how they view degrees from the schools on your list
Weigh the advantages and requirements of several schools to find the best one for yo
Estimate school expenses and determine ahead how you'll meet them
Talk to your family about reserving time to study and arranging for a special area at home designated for your schoolwork

Best Sites to Learn More

www.quintcareers.com
Gives advice on various career development including pursuing graduate degrees and switching careers.

www.womentocollege.com
The working woman's guide to education – geared to address the special challenges women face when juggling career, family and school.

www.scholarships.com
Outstanding resource to help you find financial aid.

www.careerjournal.com
Excellent archive of articles on career development including advice on getting financial assistance with tuition from employers, changing careers, the value of online educational degrees, etc.

Articles of Special Interest

What is an MBA Worth in Today's Market?
www.womentocollege.com/career/mba_worth.asp

Hit a Career Plateau? Four Tips for Moving Up
www.careerjournal.com/myc/climbing/20050621-loeb.html

Online Education 101: What to Know Before You Enroll
www.careerjournal.com/myc/school/20051019-keates.html

When to Go to Grad School and How to Tackle the Costs
www.careerjournal.com/myc/school/20050824-keates.html

How to Pay for Graduate School
www.careerjournal.com/myc/school/20020903-cullen.html

Will Distance Learning Aid A Stalled Executive Career?
www.careerjournal.com/myc/school/20011113-mende.html