Why Now is the Best Time to Go Back to School
The first quarter of the business year is usually the slowest since people are coming back from holiday vacation. That makes right now the perfect time for new hires to get trained for a new role.
If you start training now, you can finish shorter programs before the end of the year to get hired for 2020. Plan ahead to work efficiently and hard to ensure you graduate on time with the skills you need to apply for your ideal job.
Questions to ask yourself before you start looking at a certification:
- What do I want to accomplish?
- Does your current company offer tuition reimbursement?
- Will you be supported if you go back to school?
- How will you financially prepare to go back?
If you can answer these questions clearly and feel comfortable with where it will potentially put you in the future, start researching programs and certifications that interest you.
What Do You Want to Do?
If you’re opting for going back to school online in particular, an online certification program can help you get the education you need in a shorter time frame than a degree.
Some certificate programs like physical therapy aide or IT security can be done in 18 weeks or less. The most important part of considering going back to school online is finding a program that you’ll truly enjoy. Think about what you like doing in your spare time and what jobs you’ve held in the past that didn’t feel like “work.”
When you select a program that aligns with your interests, it makes studying less tedious and your training overall more enjoyable.
Do Your Research and Set Your Goals
As you plan out your 2020 career goals, it might be easier to plan out short and long-term goals. By doing so, you make the process seem less daunting and more manageable.
Take the next five days to create your game plan. Here’s how to prepare for going back to school online:
Day 1: Write down your interests, desires, and dream career – Research a few short-term online certification programs that fall in line with those. After some basic research, pick your top 5 choices.
Day 2: Narrow down your top three choices – It will make it feel easier to tackle. Start researching some online certification programs related to those field choices. Pick just two schools that are accredited and have a good reputation.
Day 3: Chat with an educational consultant – Request program-specific information through an educational advisor. They will be able to guide you to the program that best suits your needs.
Day 4: Research jobs related to the program – To make sure you have the soft skills and personality for the field, do a little more digging into the type of work you might land once you’ve completed your program. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook is a great place to start.
Day 5: Apply to your program – The sooner you apply, the sooner you can get your acceptance letter. Some programs have strict deadlines, so once you know which program you want to apply for, make sure you ask your advisor if there are any deadlines.
It may seem fast-moving, but online certifications do take a shorter amount of time than a typical degree. You’ll only train for weeks instead of years to get the skills needed to land a new career in 2020. Ambitious, motivated individuals who like a good challenge, now is the perfect time to take your career in a new direction.
What questions do you have about going back to school online? Reach out to an education consultant today to get your questions answered!
