Tips on Changing Careers - Establishing a Workable Career Plan
7 Steps to Help You Change Careers and Establish a Workable Career Plan
If you are thinking of a career change or if you are trying to lay out a tangible career plan for yourself, there are several important things to consider.
Step One: Self Assessment
Self-Assessment is an important first step in considering where you are currently and discovering what direction you would like to go in the future. Some questions you might ask yourself include:
What are my interests and aptitudes?
What are my strengths and weaknesses?
What are my major personality traits?
Do I have areas of interest outside my current field?
Step Two: Consider Career Assessment Testing
Have you ever considered taking a Career Assessment Test? There are many of these tests available on the Internet that can be easily accessed and completed free of charge. This can be a great starting point to help you discover areas of interest that you might not have considered before.
Step Three: Set Goals and Objectives
It is also important to discover your goals and objectives for the future. Not only do you need to think about where you are in your current career, but also where you want to go, and how, when, and where you would like to advance in the future. In considering your own goals and objectives, some possible questions to consider are these:
Where am I in my current career?
What are the possibilities for advancement?
Do I want to remain in the field I am currently in, or would I really like to pursue something of greater interest?
Is there something else I've always really wanted to do?
If I remain in the same area, what steps will I need to take for advancement?
Are there credentials or certifications that would be helpful?
Do I need to upgrade my degree to a higher level?
Do I need to earn a degree in a completely different field?
Step Four: Make a List of Possibilities
Making a list of all the possibilities that you are interested in considering is another helpful exercise. Start by listing all the jobs you might be interested in pursuing. If you have no qualifications in your areas of interest, think about what your options are for obtaining them. Can you attend classes locally or would online learning be a better choice for you? Many times your current family and work responsibilities weigh heavily on the choice for the convenience of online learning.
Step Five: Research Your Favorite Careers
After you have a list of possible interesting careers, choose your favorites and begin researching them. There is, of course, a wealth of knowledge on the Internet, but another great avenue is to talk to people who currently work in the field in which you are interested. You can also consider making an appointment with a career counselor at a local college or community college for assistance. Your local library is always an option -- peruse the library's collection of career guide books. Researching should give you a better perspective and understanding of the careers that interest you and what steps you will need to take in order to pursue a new career.
Step Six: Narrow Your Choices
Once the research phase is complete, you must narrow your choices down and consider the pros and cons of each one. This will help you to make specific choices that you can begin to pursue.
Step Seven: Determine Educational Requirements
Once you make the choice, it is time to begin seriously considering the education options available to you. Begin by discovering what type of major is associated with the field and consider whether a minor would be beneficial in any way. Many careers do not require a degree; you can get into certain fields with certificates or diplomas. Once you establish yourself in the area of interest, you can continue to upgrade your credentials with certifications and even earn a degree online while you continue your work.
Advantages of Learning Through Audio Books
Books on tapes, audio books, and other audio learning devices are fast gaining popularity in the education field. In using audio book learning systems for the purpose of education, parents, teachers, and educators are relieved that its benefits are numerous. The increasing success of starting and struggling readers is often credited to using audio books as part of their learning process. Aside from this, there are other advantages in using audio materials not only in schools, but also in homes and other places.
In education, it is generally cheaper to provide a single set of books on tape, audio books, and other audio learning materials for the class to share. Money is saved because individual books are not needed. Plus, the teacher will be able to do more with his or her time while the class listens to audio lessons. Researches also show that a large percentage- 85%- of our learning and knowledge actually comes from listening. Another plus factor for using audio books is the improvement of the students' listening and comprehension skills. They are compelled to listen attentively since they cannot follow what is being played on tape with a book. In addition, studies have proved that reading beginners see printed words as disconnected symbols. Through the aid of audio learning, the rhythm of the speech and its patterns are made distinct, thereby making the printed material flowing and easily absorbed. What's more, early readers can learn the pronunciation of words through listening to books on tapes. This minimizes the risk of losing interest in reading. Difficulty in pronouncing words and the pressure of pronouncing words correctly are two of the most common reason why people lose interest in reading. Also, even if the reader does not understand the definite meaning of words or of what they're hearing, they will have an idea about its meaning depending on how it is said on tape.
The importance of books on tape, audio books, and audio learning devices are not confined to the classroom. Homeschoolers often use audio books during their classes at home. Advantages for using audio books include the development of interest for literature. It is common knowledge that children loved to be read to. Audio books and learning are a great way to expose them to literatures other than the traditional fairy tales. The danger of them being bored is very minimal as professional actors usually narrates and portrays the characters. Interesting sound effects are also added for additional enjoyment. Plus, children at an early age will learn to associate literature with a fun activity. For adults, books on tape, audio books, and audio learning devices are great ways to learn a foreign language. It is proven that learning a new language is easier if you hear it often. Also, the need to enroll in a language course is not necessary unless it is a certification that you want.
Reasons for using books on tapes, audio books, and audio learning devices are many; but still, education is the greatest. These reasons should and hopefully will provide readers with ideas on how important, and fun, audio learning is when used for education. A hoped-for and expected effect of books on tape and audio books are that children and students read at home with willingness and interest.
For more valuable information on audio books and books on tapes, please visit http://www.books-on-tape.net
How Can Online Education Help in Professional Development?
In today's world, the career market has become extremely competitive. Because of this high degree of competitiveness, it is vital that you find as many advantages as possible to get ahead in the job field. Because employers have so many potential candidates to choose from, they can be very picky in the candidate that they select for the job. Before you are even interviewed for a position, most employers require that you submit a resume for evaluation. In order to even be offered an interview, you must submit a resume which stands out from the rest of the resumes the employer is reviewing. There is one thing that almost all employers say that they look for on a resume, and that is the candidate's educational background.
After reading this fact, you may be asking yourself "But isn't my work experience more important?" The answer is actually yes and no. If you have work experience, an employer will definitely take note of this. However, if work experience but no strong educational background, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. Most likely, when applying for a job, there will be other candidates with work experience. If these candidates also have a strong educational background, then they will most likely be chosen for the position over you.
Many individuals presented with this information may be upset with it at first. If you did not receive a college education because you had to jump directly into the workforce or for other reasons, you may feel that you are destined to be at a disadvantage for the rest of your career. Once you have entered the workforce, it is extremely hard, if not impossible, to ever find the time to return to college in order to earn an accredited degrees. However, online education has changed the way that you can pursue a program of study. Online education allows business professionals to balance their job or career with the pursuit of a degree. An online education is extremely flexible, and allows you to work on your own schedule. Because of this, it is much easier to earn an online degree while working instead of trying to earn a traditional degree.
Once you have completed your online education, you will receive a degree which will level the playing field for you. In addition to the work experience that you have gained over the years, you will have the educational background that you previously lacked. By earning an online degree, you will become a more well-rounded applicant for any future position that you wish to obtain.
In addition to becoming more appealing in the eyes of employers, there are additional benefits that an online degree provides. By taking the time to complete a program of online education, you will improve your professional knowledge of your field. This will greatly benefit you in any future projects that you undertake. The new knowledge that you gained will be noticed by your colleagues. This will help you become very respected in your professional field.
As you can see, there are so many benefits that an online education provides in relation to professional development. One of the biggest advantages that an online education can provide is improving your resume in the eyes of potential employers. An online degree is a great addition to the work experience that you have already gathered. Additionally, obtaining an online degrees will provide you with additional knowledge in your professional field. Your newfound knowledge will not go unnoticed by your peers, and before you know it, you may be getting an unexpected (but well-deserved) raise or promotion.