What about going back to school to improve job prospects?

Wes Bucey

Prophet of Profit
Note: this post is extracted from a deleted thread and placed here because it might have benefit for folks worrying about getting more or better credentials in terms of education or training to help them in the job market.

We'd like to hear your positive or negative experiences in either on-site or "distance learning" courses you may have taken to help you get a leg up in the job market.


A newbie wrote: Where can I get accredited distance learning for [insert field of your choice here]?

Wow! An opportunity to help someone learn "problem solving!"

When we counsel folks about job hunting, job changing, job promotion, etc., we usually ask them to create and complete a grid or table listing their likes, dislikes, skills, experience, credentials, etc. and compare those in some meaningful way with what would be attractive or not attractive to potential employers. Depending on personal circumstances, the grid can be extended to include multiple industries or multiple employers in a single industry. The lists can be rearranged according to priorities of the individual or industry. Once a grid is as complete as possible, the individual conducts a gap analysis between his wants, don't wants, abilities, etc. and the requirements of the various industries or companies.

If there is sufficient desire, the individual can enroll in training or other education to fill the gaps.

Finding that training is not particularly hard. First look up institutions or other organizations which provide such training, narrow the list to those which are accredited to the Standards required by the company or industry the individual has selected. Sometimes the answer to this can be as simple as a google search or a fast phone call to the HR department of any company in the chosen industry; sometimes more elaborate research is required.

Once the list of training organizations is determined, examine each rigorously for items such as
  • satisfied graduates
  • praise from organizations which hire graduates
  • placement services for graduates
  • credentials of teaching staff
  • cost
  • etc.
Then make a decision. One thing you should NOT do is let someone make the decision for you!

Knowledge is power! However, it is power only if you truly get it and assimilate it. You don't get knowledge or power by osmosis! This means you must commit to and complete the course once started.

I recall forty years ago, the advice columnist, Ann Landers, had someone write to her,
"I'm forty years old. If I go back to school part-time to get a degree so I can get the job really want, it will take me ten years and I'll be fifty years old!"
Ann's response,
"How old will you be in ten years if you DON'T go and still can't get the job you want?
 
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Steve Prevette

Deming Disciple
Leader
Super Moderator
A few thoughts, taking into account that I taught evening courses for City University (of Bellevue WA) at its Richland WA campus until they shut it down two years ago for lack of students.

In my own jobhunt (15 years ago), the Masters degree that I held was alleged to be worth an extra $5,000 salary. The US Government puts a fairly high premium on degrees. I don't find much of a push for a phd, so I haven't been pursuing that.

I found a lot of good students at City U who were trying to learn more about being a manager and running a business. Many were getting some level of financial support from their employers (something to consider). The vast majority were quite motivated, and I believe that their degree would help them on their current job, or on a job search.

I'd also suggest to folks to go back to school to teach. Coming from engineering and statistics degrees, I ended up learning quite a bit about business at City U. And the practice in instruction has helped. My employer is selling my services to another company here in Richland to give some training on random sampling, OC curves, ISO tables, etc. The managers I met with to discuss the bid to do the course stated they were a bit "scared because we can actually understand what you are talking about".
 

Caster

An Early Cover
Trusted Information Resource
...I'd also suggest to folks to go back to school to teach. Coming from engineering and statistics degrees, I ended up learning quite a bit about business at City U. And the practice in instruction has helped. ....

I would love to move from automotive to teaching. I like doing it, and people tell me I am good at it. Any ideas how to get it done?

University seems out, since I don't have a PhD. I would enjoy doing one, but am too old and debt burdened to go the starving post doc route now.

I can have the night school class in Quality at our local community college "after the current guys dies or retires and we get through the 5 others". Competition is fierce!

I am toying with contracting with one or more of the consulting firms...but fear the loss of steady income.

Any insights would be appreciated!
 

Wes Bucey

Prophet of Profit
I would love to move from automotive to teaching. I like doing it, and people tell me I am good at it. Any ideas how to get it done?

University seems out, since I don't have a PhD. I would enjoy doing one, but am too old and debt burdened to go the starving post doc route now.

I can have the night school class in Quality at our local community college "after the current guys dies or retires and we get through the 5 others". Competition is fierce!

I am toying with contracting with one or more of the consulting firms...but fear the loss of steady income.

Any insights would be appreciated!

Why not determine answers to these questions:
  1. what course topic you would be best suited to teach?
  2. who would be the most likely students to take the course?
  3. what organization (school or training organization) has those likely students?
  4. what criteria that organization has for teachers/instructors?
Conduct a gap analysis of your talent, experience, credentials against those criteria and determine if you need to garner additional credentials. If not, apply for a position. If yes, determine where, when, and how much it will cost to get those credentials.

Conduct a risk analysis to determine if the benefits will outweigh the costs (dollars, emotions, social connections, etc.)

Above all else, remember Ann Landers' reply to the one who wrote about being old:
"How old will you be in ten years if you DON'T go and still can't get the job you want?:
 
T

Tupham - 2008

I finished high school at year 10 and only picked up tertiary studies when I was about 38 years old, completing an Associate Diploma in Training & Development which got me a better job and higher salary. Two years ago, aged 57, I decided to extend my bookkeeping skills into accountancy and am still working on that, with a view to moving out of general administration and into strategic planning and financial management.

My accountancy studies are one evening a week on-campus and one evening a week distance learning with tutors willing and able to help - a great combination for fitting around a full time workload.

I agree with Steve - adult learners are highly motivated. You're never to old to go back to school and it's never too late to change direction.
 
G

Geoff Withnell

>A newbie wrote: Where can I get accredited distance learning for [insert field of your choice here]?

The best answer to the question above is probably to be found at:
www.degree.net

This site is run by John Bear's group, which has been THE authority on non-traditional education about as long as there has been non-traditional education.

Geoff Withnell
 
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D

David Hartman

I'm 55 years young and 3 years ago I received the scare of my life, in that I was laid-off and had to begin searching for a job once again. At that time I had a high school education and over 20 years of experience as a quality systems auditor and engineer and thought that I would be able to gain employment within a few months at the latest. Eleven months later, I finally found a local employer that was "willing to take a chance on me", as I did not hold the degree that he really desired for the Quality Mananger's position he had open.

As a result of this "scared straight" experience I have spent the past 3 years attending an accelerated adult program through Indiana Weslyan University's LEAP program. I graduated last December with my Associates in Business Science, and began my quest for my Bachelors in Business Management in January of this year (should graduate in December of 2009).

I am loving the experience. It is work, even though they tell you it is "only 4 hours, 1 night a week", but what they don't tell you is the many hours that you will need to spend doing research, writing papers, and participating in project team meetings. But all in all, I should have done this so many years earlier, as I really am enjoying the experience. In fact at this point in time I am planning on continuing on for my Masters in Management (Lord willing and the creek don't rise) ;)
 

Manix

Get Involved!!!
Trusted Information Resource
I am 27 and I did my BSc when I was "supposed" to. I am now currently studying an MSc in Strategic Quality Management which will last 2 years via distance learning, as I work full time in parallel. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to do both under grad and post grad studies and the reasons I have done both has been to improve my job prospects.

I have to say that whilst the piece of paper has been useful, it is the actual life lessons that I learned while at university that have provided me with the most value added! That's right a "life" lesson. I learnt specific things at Bachelor level, but have forgotten most of them but it is the "Ability" to Learn that is what I took away from my under grad degree. I know how to find things out, absorb information and return to it in the future.

My MSc is specific to my job and is teaching me things I want to know. The relevance, I think, makes it much more exciting and applicable. Plus I feel now I am older, I am much more committed and motivated, plus the consequences of failure are probably a bit more severe! My company is funding my studies and the penalties for failure will hit my pocket!! :mg:

I recommend anyone who has the opportunity, time, commitment and ability to further their knowledge, do it, there's nothing more fulfilling than that moment after you have submitted a 3000 word essay, not to mention the feeling you get when you get a good mark. However, the exams!! Not looking forward to them!!! It has been a while since I did an exam.
 
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