Stay in School…No Really, Stay in School

College student thinking about what course to take. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

The collegiate degree is the new high school diploma. What does that mean? That means that employers who used to be happy with a simple high school diploma are now requiring candidates—even those for low paid entry level positions—to have a college degree. This means that college isn’t really optional anymore.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that you don’t still have a lot of wiggle room when choosing your field of study. Most employers, with the exceptions of a few highly specialized industries like medicine, engineering and teaching, do not really care what kind of degree you have, as long as you have one. So why not consider one of the following degree programs? Continue Reading

Choosing Your Path: Why an MBA is the Way to Go

3D figure with an MBA. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Some claim that an MBA is not absolutely necessary for you to embark on a career in business; so then what is the point of getting one? There are several obvious benefits to an online Masters in Business Administration Specialization and a few not-so-obvious ones as well. Among the obvious benefits are that it equips you with skills in management and a well-rounded knowledge-base to prepare you for a broad range of tasks and responsibilities. Continue Reading

6 of 10 Top Paying Majors in Engineering

Marilyn Mackes of NACE

Technical majors—particularly those in engineering—dominated the list of top-paying majors in 2012, according to a new report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

NACE’s January 2013 Salary Survey found that six engineering majors were among the 10 highest-paid at the bachelor’s-degree level.  Continue Reading

VIDEO: The future of careers, personal branding and workplace trends that are shaping our futures

Dan Schawbel speaks to the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs about the future of careers, personal branding and workplace trends that are shaping our futures. Continue Reading

5 Programs You Should Know Before You Get that Diploma

Young businesswoman assisting co-worker with computer program. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Learning the ins and outs of a specific major may be the main reason most students enroll in college, but, used wisely, your time spent at college can do more than train you for a single career path. Getting a job in the field of your choice may be ideal, but any additional skills you learn along the way will help you land a job right out of school until you can find work in your dream industry. While it won’t guarantee you’ll have a job waiting on the other side of graduation, having a background in a few computer programs can greatly enhance your résumé, making you more attractive to potential employers. Continue Reading

18 Fields Likely to Produce Most Jobs in 2013

Matt Ferguson, CEO of Careerbuilder

A newly released study by Economic Modeling Specialists (EMSI) provides some interesting insights into the fields likely to produce the most new jobs in 2013.

“Where the U.S. will produce the most jobs in 2013 is likely to follow growth patterns of the last few years,” said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder. “It’s no surprise that technology and engineering occupations comprise six of the top ten positions on our list, but workers should also see more opportunities in production-related fields, marketing, healthcare and financial services. The competition for educated, specialized labor has intensified as market demands increase in both the manufacturing and services sectors.”

Occupations requiring bachelor degrees that have produced the most jobs post-recession include the following: Continue Reading

Certificate Programs At Community Colleges Offer Employment Opportunities

Tom Snyder, President of Ivy Tech

If you are a recent college graduate and haven’t found a job, perhaps it’s time to think about going back to school and getting trained in a field that is actually hiring.

The best way to do so may be with a specialized certificate programs now offered by all community colleges. Continue Reading

B-School Applicants Decline: Damn Shame or About Time?

By Mark Mehler and Gerry Crispin of CareerXroads

The B-school numbers are in and they aren’t pretty according to this recent WSJ article by Melissa Korn. 69% of the F/T, two-year MBA degree programs in the US experienced significant declines in 2012 while 79-80% of the schools in Asia (Pacific Rim and Central Asia respectively) experienced gains. Globally the drop-off is 22% after a decline of 10% last year.

While some of this can be attributed to a return to normalcy after significant gains by B-schools during the financial crisis, you also have to wonder about the continuing value of the product exiting the many hundreds of schools granting these degrees. Continue Reading

Public Health Graduate Programs: More than Just Nursing

When you think of public health, what immediately comes to mind? Groups of traveling nurses vaccinating small children against devastating diseases, or scientists in laboratories looking at virus outbreaks, trying to figure out ways to quell the spread of disease and the best treatments? Or maybe it’s the campaigns you see in the media, designed to get people to stop smoking, start exercising or engage in a certain behavior, such as breastfeeding or hand-washing?

If you came up with any of these, you’re certainly correct, but public health is so much more than direct patient care and research. And if you’re considering an online master’s in public health, you might be surprised to discover that you have dozens of career options after graduation – and some might surprise you. Continue Reading

7 Benefits of Getting an MBA

Is it really worth your time and your money to get a Master of Business Administration? MBAs are one of the most revered postgraduate degrees on the planet. But the sky-rocketing cost of tuition, along with well-publicized success stories of young entrepreneurs who do not hold MBAs, has inspired a great deal of debate regarding the value of an MBA. Taking into account the time and financial commitment getting an MBA requires, as well as the unpredictability of the 21st century job market, there are still several solid benefits to having an MBA. Here are seven to consider. Continue Reading