In the last post I talked about my career path and how it had not included a college degree – something that I had chosen to do as I was much more interested in working than I was in going to school. I immediately pursued a career in nonprofit and had remained there ever since, working my way up, gaining experience and respect in the industry, and loving every minute of my role in helping people in a variety of ways.
When I realized, however, that I would not be considered for a role in nonprofit management because I had not gotten my college degree I decided that I needed to make sure that I was more competitive in the marketplace if I was going to be able to earn more money. I loved my job and wanted to continue in the field but I had reached an earnings ceiling which made it difficult to keep pace with my family’s financial needs.
Going back to school was not a difficult decision at this time in my life but I was more concerned with the logistics of balancing school and work. I couldn’t afford to take a leave of absence but some of the class schedules for the nearby university included daytime lectures. That was when I found an online nonprofit management program – something that would allow me to continue working while still completing my degree during my off hours. All I needed was a computer and an Internet connection and I was able to get right to work.
Online learning is nothing new and I have seen a whole host of online programs including an online MBA, Masters in Education, and even an online IT degree program. The online nonprofit management program was the perfect scenario from my situation and has allowed me to take the next steps in my career.
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When I first began working in nonprofit I was young – just out of high school – with not the slightest desire to go to college. I was ready to work and I knew that my heart was – and had always been – in helping people. My first job paid next to nothing but I was really happy working for an organization that helped raise money for cancer and that helped allocate those funds appropriately. I was energetic, enthusiastic, and willing to do what it took to make my way in the world without a college degree.
For quite some time this worked well for me. I steadily worked my way up the nonprofit ladder by proving my prowess in everything from fundraising to event coordination and patient services. During this time I moved between several organizations and always managed to find my niche. When I reached a particular age, however, I began to realize that I had essentially hit the ceiling in terms of my earning potential and while I was still as passionate as ever about helping people I had a financial obligation to my family as well. Quickly thereafter a job in nonprofit management opened up and while I certainly had enough experience to handle the job I did not have a college degree – something that the organization was requesting of all applicants.
It became obvious that if I was going to continue on to the upper ranks of management I had to get the education that would support my experience and so I decided to enroll in a nonprofit management degree program. Initially I had been concerned that I would have to take a leave of absence to complete my education but then I found online learning programs that offered everything from an online IT degree to a Masters in Education. I had found a way to do it all. More in the next post…
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I work for a really great company that offers steadfast support to its employees including competitive pay, comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, retirement savings, and even the option to put away money for our children’s college education. They even offer tuition reimbursement – something that I noted when I initially accepted my job but that I had not yet pursued.
I came to this company having left college early because of mounting financial concerns and the need to start working immediately. Half way to my business degree, I had simply decided to continue with my education at a better time and I set out to find a job that would allow me to pay my growing bills. I really got lucky when I found this position because the company appreciated my skills and passed over the fact that I had not yet received my college degree. They instead told me that if I continued with them I could pursue my classes with the help of their tuition reimbursement program.
This year the time had finally come to take them up on their offer because the economy has made me nervous and I want that degree to help make me as marketable as possible. While tuition reimbursement is a great program the difficulty comes with finding a program that will work with your schedule. I was already working full time and beyond; the thought of somehow wedging a full course load into the mix was daunting to say the least.
A friend, however, suggested that I consider an online business degree program that would allow me to continue with my normal work schedule and then attend to my school work at night and on the weekends. The online business degree program offered the perfect solution and has let me finish what I started and still maintain my schedule.
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In the last post I talked about my best laid plans to leave college with my undergraduate degree and immediately enter a graduate program to earn my MBA. I had just gotten married in June following graduation and my new husband would be entering the same graduate program with me. We both had part time jobs and lived in student housing. It was going to be busy but it would also be fun. Our plans, however, did not all come together the way we thought. We found out I was pregnant just two months after our wedding and following that some complications with the pregnancy required me to be on complete bed rest. I would not have the opportunity to go to class or even continue working. I was completely restricted to my bed and I was enormously anxious about how I would fare in this capacity. I wanted my baby to be healthy but I was worried that I would fall apart in the meantime.
A suggestion from a professor, however, led me in the right direction. He suggested an online MBA program that would allow me to work completely from home – from my bed – so that I could continue on with my studies and hopefully take my mind off of my situation. I enrolled immediately in an online MBA program and it was perfect for me. I would sleep when I wanted to sleep and when I was awake I could do some of my work right from my bed. It was far from the frenzied program that I would be enrolled in traditionally and it suited my purposes completely.
As it turns out there are many online degree programs available from an online IT degree to a Masters in Education. It’s all about finding what works for you at the time and going for it!
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The plan after I got my undergraduate degree in business was to immediately enter into a MBA program so that I could get my graduate degree and then move onto my career. But as much as I love to make a plan I always find that the more steadfast I am in that plan the more things change and I am forced to adapt. You see, also following graduation my husband and I got married. We had been together all through college, were both heading into the same graduate program, and were ready to take the next step. We had a beautiful wedding that June and by August I found out that I was expecting our first child. Still I was ready to begin the MBA program and while I was tired and feeling a little out of sorts I felt confident that I could juggle the pregnancy and my program – along with a part time job. Before long, however, we discovered there were some complications with the pregnancy and I was ordered on bed rest. I could not drive, could not attend school, could not work, could not do anything that could not be done from my bed. I would have to pull out of the MBA program and was feeling so scared and trapped in my own bedroom.
It was one of my professors who actually suggested an online MBA program. He said that I could do everything from my computer and without the other responsibilities that I normally had – work, household chores, etc. – it may actually allow me to focus on my work and keep my mind off of everything going on with my pregnancy.
My husband and I talked it over and thought it was the perfect solution. And so I immediately took the steps to find an online MBA program that would work for me. More to come…
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I am not what you would call the traditional student. I am 46, have been out of the job market for some time while I was home raising my children, and never received my bachelor’s degree. But my life is different now that my kids are older and I have more time to do the things that are important to my own sense of self-accomplishment. I decided that it was never too late to do what you love to do and it wasn’t too late for me to go back to school and finish what I was not able to all those years ago. And so now I am enrolled in a nonprofit management degree program and loving every minute of it!
I have to say that my biggest concern about going back to school in the traditional sense was sitting in a classroom with kids that were half my age. I just felt like it would really derail my efforts and all that I would be consumed with was how I old I was and out of place. I know that may seem silly and in the end maybe I would have really loved it but I just know that it was a huge obstacle for me to go from thinking about going back to school to actually doing it.
But then I discovered the option of online learning and everything changed for me! I knew the Internet was a powerful modern tool but I had no idea that it would allow me actually go back to school from the comfort of my own home – where I could focus on my studies and not my age!
I immediately set to work finding the program that would suit me – that would give me the option to do something that I really loved and that’s when I found the nonprofit management degree program. I had volunteered for many nonprofit organizations over the years and this would allow me to really get involved and embark upon a career that I loved.
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When it’s time to look for a new job, the most important thing you can do is make sure your resume looks great. If it doesn’t, your application might end up in a circular file faster than you can blink. If it’s time to do something to make yourself stand out above the competition, an online MBA degree can get that job done.
An online business degree can give you an edge in a variety of fields. From nonprofit management to journalism and beyond, this type of advanced degree can open doors like few others. Just as online IT degree programs and Masters in Education programs can help people gain the notice they need to land an interview, an online MBA can and does open doors.
To make sure you get the most out of a program for an online business degree, make sure to:
Carefully review schools – While this was not always the case, there are a lot of schools today that offer online degrees. Take the time to look into your options closely. Ideally, an online MBA degree should come from an established school. That school should also have all the proper accreditations to back its program offerings. You will find plenty of well-known private schools are now offering their programs online. Pick a degree program that can really work to your advantage.
Carefully review programs – An online degree program should not be designed to be easy, per se. It should, however, offer you the flexibility you need to make going back to school feasible. Good programs offer flexible hours backed up with plenty of support from teaching staff.
Getting yourself noticed by a prospective employer first requires a decent resume. If yours is lacking, there are things you can do. Getting an online MBA can really help make your qualifications stand out.
Popularity: 13% [?]
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The summer has – for all intents and purposes – just begun and there is plenty to look forward to in terms of spending long and lazy days with family and friends, enjoying a variety of gatherings, and even taking some much needed vacation time to get away and enjoy a change of scenery. The summer is typically associated with all things play but there is still the opportunity to use these less stressful days to incorporate some work.
In fact there are a great many people – adults who are already working and even well immersed in big careers – to use the summer months as an opportunity to go back to school. This doesn’t mean, however, that they are all rushing off to campus – chiseling down work hours so that they can make the commute to a local school. Online learning has become the norm for what they call non-traditional students; adults who are in the working world, raising a family, and are not in a position to be able to physically return to the classroom.
Luckily in this day and age they don’t need to. Through online degree programs such as the online MBA program, nonprofit management, and even an online Masters in Education, students looking to advance their education without sacrificing their career and home life are able to accomplish just that.
So this summer if you are wondering how you can use a lull in the office wisely, check out the online degree programs offered in your area of interest so that you may earn that degree you have always dreamed of getting, advance your career and/or salary, improve your job options in the marketplace, or satisfy the feelings of self accomplishment that come with doing something for yourself for a change. Online degree programs are the way to go!
Popularity: 9% [?]
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The writing on the wall couldn’t be clearer if it were in giant block letters. Your career field is drying up and it’s doing so at a breakneck pace. If it’s time to get out while the getting is good, going back to school and getting an online IT degree can put you into a career that will go the distance.
An online IT degree, just like an online MBA or a Masters in Education, will help you open the doors on a career field that isn’t going away any time soon. As more of the world and its businesses become dependent on computers, the IT field continues to grow in demand.
Getting a degree online in computers or even nonprofit management makes a great deal of sense for your situation. When you take classes on your own time via the Internet, you’ll be able to:
Pick an excellent school – As more colleges and universities get involved in online education, the field of prospective schools to choose from is widening. From online business degree programs to topnotch IT programs, you can earn a degree from a well-established school without even having to relocate for classes.
Keep your current job – Going to school online means you can pick your class times to work around your schedule. This means you can keep your current job, for as long as it lasts, and work on a brighter future, as well.
Save a little money – Taking classes online is a bit more affordable than trekking to a campus daily. You might save on such things as activity fees, as well. Plus, the relocation costs just won’t be a part of the equation.
Getting into a new career often requires training. If it’s time to make the jump to something different, an online IT degree can give you the power you need to succeed.
Popularity: 10% [?]
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The loss of a job can be hard to handle, but it doesn’t have to devastate. If it’s time to pick yourself up by the bootstraps and start anew, a different career might be in order. In this economy, going after high-demand jobs is a sound path to follow. Getting an online IT degree can help.
The IT field remains one of the hottest, but breaking into the field does demand proper training. When you go to school online to get an IT degree, a Masters in Education or even follow a nonprofit management track, you’ll discover there is life after layoffs.
Going to school online is an excellent way to build a brighter future and regain your independence at the same time. The benefits of doing so include:
Enjoying the ability to receive proper training – Some of the country’s best colleges and universities now offer a variety of programs over the Internet. From online business degree programs to IT tracks, the quality of education offered via the net today is topnotch.
The ability to remain at home – You don’t have to move to a school that offers an online MBA or IT training program. This is a major benefit for students of all ages. If you’re established in your community and want to stay, you can.
The ability to work – Even if you have to take a “pinch hit” job while you go back to school, online programs make this much easier to do. Thanks to the flexible scheduling, you can work as needed and still earn the degree you need to get ahead.
Getting laid off is not the best news in the world. It doesn’t have to be an “ending,” however. When you go back to school and get an online IT degree, you can start anew in a field that remains a hot commodity.
Popularity: 10% [?]
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