Back to School? Beware of the Education Trap!
1-Minute Summary
In a career crisis, many people immediately think of going back to school for another degree. For many people, this is a bad move. It can consume thousands of dollars, countless hours of your time, and tons of energy. At the end, many are left with little to show for it. Others achieve their goals, only to find they can't stand where they wound up. Do your homework before you start school. You may find you can do without it. If it is a requirement of a new career direction, be sure the direction is right for you. If it is, find the right school, courses, and teachers, instead of haphazardly taking courses. NOTE: There's still time to register Bold Moves Career Workshop, Sat. October 24 9:00 -12:00 noon
in Evanston Streetwise Guide to Job Interviewing, Mon., October 26 1:00 - 4:00 in Wilmette See box on right for more information
Time for More School? Beware of the Education Trap
(Full Article)
More education can be a step backwards
Everyone’s praising education these days. We do too--up to a point. But don’t confuse the connection between education and career. Education isn’t necessarily a sure-fire way to jumpstart stalled careers. Going back to school can actually be a step backward. How? Remember, school is a means to an end, not the end itself. Enrolling in school without clear goals can be an expensive waste of time and money. You may get a warm safe feeling. You may feel, "I need to really know my stuff first." You may also be fooling yourself. Certainly, you need extended education in fields such as law, medicine, or the ministry. But many people are better off skipping further education and just getting to work. Many schools would love to take your money, but before you enroll, learn from the experience of these people. Debbie's expensive MBA
Debbie's career was going nowhere fast, so she enrolled in an MBA program. After many months of study and thousands of dollars in tuition, she has her degree, but still doesn’t know what she wants. Her career is still stuck because she had no goals, didn't know what she wanted to learn or what she wanted to offer employers. Worse, many employers now see her as overqualified. We often see people whose advanced degrees didn't get them the job they wanted. Chuck’s disillusionment
Others do get their “dream job,” but soon find it isn’t what they'd expected. Like many law students, Chuck envisioned glamorous litigation, but instead, is stuck endlessly poring over minute details of dreadfully dull corporate contracts. Frank skips school
In some professions, on the job training is superior to school. Frank was going to fork over tuition for cooking school to become a chef. We advised him to interview several successful working chef's first. They all said he didn't need school, but advised him to get a job and learn from a skilled chef. He got paid to learn rather than paying someone to teach him. Lisa Does it right
If you do need more education, develop a good plan. Lisa decided to pursue a second career in health care administration. Before enrolling in school, she interviewed a number of people in the field, and confirmed that this career choice and the MBA program were right for her. She also got good advice on the right school, courses, and instructors, and developed a (revisable) five-year plan. She also found an employer willing to pay her tuition, saving herself a pile of cash. Do your homework first!
It might sound backwards, but do your homework before going to school. Decide what you want to do with the rest of your life first, then talk to people successfully doing it in the real world. The answers they give you are the best--and often the only--higher education you'll ever need.
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Career Action Plan -- 1-Session Cure for a stalled Career
Is your job search stuck and is your career stalled? Is it time to take a risk, a giant step, to move forward and end the pain? You may be surprised; the problem may not be what you think. If you are confused, stuck, or stalled in your career our 90-minute Career Action Plan meeting gets to the root of any career issue and gives a plan to solve it. Call 847-673-0339.
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All 6 Best-in-Class Workshops are Described Below
Workshop #1: BOLD MOVES
(In-person workshop--also known as Gutsy Careers)
—An Extraordinary Workshop About Taking Control of Your Career—and Your Life
(Limited Enrollment) Believe it or Not! We all have beliefs about ourselves, our strengths and limitations, our jobs, and the world. They are running your life—for better or worse. This powerful group experience exposes beliefs that limit us from being fully satisfied in our careers—and elsewhere. Find out how you hold yourself back, and how to move forward—now! Limited enrollment. Small fee to cover overhead only will be requested. For More Info and to Register Workshop #2: More Done, More Fun: Getting Control of Your Life
2 hour Webinar (phone + computer presentation) FREE At This Time!
An executive-level training in time management, prioritizing, and getting more out of life. Useful in job search: More Done...More Fun..Your Hired! Advance registration required For More Info and to Register Workshop #3: Salary Negotiations A One Hour Webinar —FREE!
Nobody ever taught you how to cash in on all your education and hard work. Over the last few years, you may have lost tens of thousands of dollars—all because you didn’t negotiate well. This seminar is for those ready to stop to being underpaid. For More Info and to Register Workshop #4 The Streetwise Guide to Job Interviewing
Learn the secrets that are known only to a few, about how to turn awkward and uncomfortable interrogations into productive conversations. Get across your agenda, demonstrate why you are a good fit for the job, keep from taking jobs that are a bad fit, protect any weak spots you may have, and learn to negotiate well so that you and the employer both experience a win-win. For More Info and to Register Workshop #5: Death to Boring Resumes “At last! Someone is speaking my language!” That's what your resume will proclaim. Pity the poor employer who has to read through a whole stack of boring resumes. The poor soul downs a whole pot of coffee, desperately trying to stay awake. Is there no one worth talking to? Make that person you. The boss reaches for the phone to schedule an interview with...YOU! Steve Frederick of Frederick Career Services will share what got the boss excited—and how you too can create resumes that get noticed. Bonus: a properly- crafted resume helps you control and win the interview. For More Info and to Register Workshop #6: E-Search & Networking Stop losing time on the computer! This is a 90-minute training in how to go beyond just the big two (Monster/CareerBuilder) and find e-places that are specific to your background -- AND how to network: Are you a member of LinkedIn, e-cademy, TheLadders, Viadeo, etc.? ...but you've never maximized the visibility and connections available to you? Here's a practical guide to make "Linked In" become "Cashed In." For More Info and to Register
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Thanks for the Referrals
Many thanks to Larry Freson, Denny McClure, John Geis, and others who have referred their friend, family, and colleagues.
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Career Graduation
Steve and Jack are experienced advisors who help to stimulate your creativity in order to enhance your career direction. They guided me in revitalizing my current situation to make the future more motivating and lucrative. They let me steer the course, but made sure that I stayed on track to accomplish my goals and open up to new career angles.
Perry Mirocha
Professional Organizer EDITIOR'S NOTE: One thing that Perry is putting back into his life is his great talent for bringing organization and beauty to home and office space. Perry says that by transforming your space, you can transform your mind and your life. Here's Perry's contact information:
312-213-9228 E-mail: perry5104@sbcglobal.net.
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