by Lila Daniels, FindtheRightSchool.com
Losing your job can be earth shattering -- especially when you've put years into your job. If you've just been laid off, you have exactly one week to mope around your house in your pajamas and eat ice cream for breakfast. Then, once that's out of your system, get it together and make a plan.
Heading back to school is a good option during a recession. Here are four reasons why:
* It's a chance to enhance your skill set or totally retool your career.
* It's a great resume bridge when hiring is down and finding another job is difficult at best.
* It's a way to buoy your self-esteem, which just took a pink-slip-sized beating.
* It's a pathway to new connections and networking opportunities -- priceless commodities during your job search.
The federal government is encouraging continuing education through grants and loans. Online education is making it more convenient and, yes, more affordable than ever. Here are a few programs that can get you back on track in two years or less.
Paralegal Certification
Paralegals have long been an integral part of the legal system. Working on behalf of law firms, government, and corporations, they perform many of the same functions as lawyers -- doing legal research, drafting legal briefs or contracts, and preparing tax returns. There are a few exceptions. Paralegals can't offer legal advice or argue a case in court. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for a paralegal is $44,990. The top 10 percent earn $71,480.
If you already have your bachelor's degree, you can earn a paralegal certification program in 18 months to two years. Many programs include internships -- an excellent way to get experience in a law firm and begin to make connections for your future job search. Some programs provide job counseling for their graduates -- another excellent perk.
Dental Hygienist Training
There is more to this gig than a cleaning. Dental hygienists help people stay healthy by providing preventive care, teaching about good oral health, and looking out for gum disease. BLS reports median salaries in 2007 were $64,740. But that's not all there is to love. Many dental hygienists find flexible scheduling to be a real upside of this career.
The most common path to becoming a hygienist is through a two-year training program where you'll earn your associate's degree or certification. Once you're done, job prospects should be excellent.
Veterinary Technician Degree
Cats and careers have more than one life. Animal lovers might find their second (or third or fourth) career life working as a veterinary technician. Vet techs provide medical care for large and small animals, livestock and pets, and even wildlife. In 2007, median salaries were $27,970, while the top 10 percent earned $40,550. Perhaps the best part is the stability of this profession. BLS says that even during an economic recession, layoffs are less likely for vet techs than for others because the need for animal care doesn't go away.
In two years, you can earn your associate's degree in veterinary technology. And while some clinical work is essential, there are opportunities to take courses online.
Master's of Business Administration
How can you turn your layoff into your golden opportunity? Breaking into management can take years. A master's degree can speed up your path to the corner office. MBA programs come in all sizes -- online, traditional, and one- or two-year programs.
It's important to understand that the days of six-figure signing bonuses for MBAs are probably on hold for the time being. But, if you can live with the potential of a significant pay raise, it's a path to consider. Look at some median management salaries from BLS:
* Marketing Managers = $104,400
* Sales Managers = $94,910
* Financial Managers = $95,310
* Chief Executives = over $150,000
Fast-Track Teacher Certification
Have you often thought of becoming a teacher? For some years now, a major teaching shortage has made it easier for people already working in another profession to fulfill their chalkboard dreams. Teaching certification programs can be as short as nine weeks -- one semester or summer. Others last as long as two years. There is one catch. To get in on the fast track, you must have your bachelor's degree.
Median salaries for teachers range from $45,120 for kindergarten to $50,090 for secondary school vocational teachers. Many teachers also take on jobs during the summer break to supplement their salaries.
Hey, job loss can happen to the best of us. The most important thing to remember is not to take it personally. It's not you -- it's just a crummy economy. Now, get back to work.
Lila Daniels is a freelance writer living in Vermont.
Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career Opportunity
Losing your job can be earth shattering -- especially when you've put years into your job. If you've just been laid off, you have exactly one week to mope around your house in your pajamas and eat ice cream for breakfast. Then, once that's out of your system, get it together and make a plan.
Heading back to school is a good option during a recession. Here are four reasons why:
* It's a chance to enhance your skill set or totally retool your career.
* It's a great resume bridge when hiring is down and finding another job is difficult at best.
* It's a way to buoy your self-esteem, which just took a pink-slip-sized beating.
* It's a pathway to new connections and networking opportunities -- priceless commodities during your job search.
The federal government is encouraging continuing education through grants and loans. Online education is making it more convenient and, yes, more affordable than ever. Here are a few programs that can get you back on track in two years or less.
Paralegal Certification
Paralegals have long been an integral part of the legal system. Working on behalf of law firms, government, and corporations, they perform many of the same functions as lawyers -- doing legal research, drafting legal briefs or contracts, and preparing tax returns. There are a few exceptions. Paralegals can't offer legal advice or argue a case in court. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for a paralegal is $44,990. The top 10 percent earn $71,480.
If you already have your bachelor's degree, you can earn a paralegal certification program in 18 months to two years. Many programs include internships -- an excellent way to get experience in a law firm and begin to make connections for your future job search. Some programs provide job counseling for their graduates -- another excellent perk.
Dental Hygienist Training
There is more to this gig than a cleaning. Dental hygienists help people stay healthy by providing preventive care, teaching about good oral health, and looking out for gum disease. BLS reports median salaries in 2007 were $64,740. But that's not all there is to love. Many dental hygienists find flexible scheduling to be a real upside of this career.
The most common path to becoming a hygienist is through a two-year training program where you'll earn your associate's degree or certification. Once you're done, job prospects should be excellent.
Veterinary Technician Degree
Cats and careers have more than one life. Animal lovers might find their second (or third or fourth) career life working as a veterinary technician. Vet techs provide medical care for large and small animals, livestock and pets, and even wildlife. In 2007, median salaries were $27,970, while the top 10 percent earned $40,550. Perhaps the best part is the stability of this profession. BLS says that even during an economic recession, layoffs are less likely for vet techs than for others because the need for animal care doesn't go away.
In two years, you can earn your associate's degree in veterinary technology. And while some clinical work is essential, there are opportunities to take courses online.
Master's of Business Administration
How can you turn your layoff into your golden opportunity? Breaking into management can take years. A master's degree can speed up your path to the corner office. MBA programs come in all sizes -- online, traditional, and one- or two-year programs.
It's important to understand that the days of six-figure signing bonuses for MBAs are probably on hold for the time being. But, if you can live with the potential of a significant pay raise, it's a path to consider. Look at some median management salaries from BLS:
* Marketing Managers = $104,400
* Sales Managers = $94,910
* Financial Managers = $95,310
* Chief Executives = over $150,000
Fast-Track Teacher Certification
Have you often thought of becoming a teacher? For some years now, a major teaching shortage has made it easier for people already working in another profession to fulfill their chalkboard dreams. Teaching certification programs can be as short as nine weeks -- one semester or summer. Others last as long as two years. There is one catch. To get in on the fast track, you must have your bachelor's degree.
Median salaries for teachers range from $45,120 for kindergarten to $50,090 for secondary school vocational teachers. Many teachers also take on jobs during the summer break to supplement their salaries.
Hey, job loss can happen to the best of us. The most important thing to remember is not to take it personally. It's not you -- it's just a crummy economy. Now, get back to work.
Lila Daniels is a freelance writer living in Vermont.
Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career Opportunity
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