Career Education Options For Working Adults
by: Max Stein
Ask yourself this question: “Do I like what I do for a living?” If
you answered “no”, what are you doing about it? Maybe you have
a “good” job, but it’s not very rewarding to you personally.
Maybe you have job with good pay, but bad hours or worse – a job with
good hours, but bad pay. Perhaps you’ve just done your job for too many
years, or are excited to work in some of the new careers that just weren’t
available when you finished school.
Whatever the reason is for you wanting to switch careers, there are some practical
considerations to take into account.
How long will it take?
How will I find the time to do it?
How much will it cost?
This article will answer these questions and point you towards a more fulfilling
career.
How long will it take to train for a new career?
The answer to this depends on what you want to train for. But, the majority
of well paying careers that are currently seeking workers, take two years or
less to train for. For example, becoming a machinist takes about 10 months.
Training to become an X-ray technician can be done in a year. There are other
training options that can get you a new job in only six months!
Your experience can also count. For example,
if you work with computers on your job now, you won’t have to take word processing and spreadsheet
classes if you want to be a medical coder. If you tinker with computers in
your spare time while you’re working a retail management position, you’ll
be ahead of the class when you train to become a help desk technician. Also,
if you like working on projects around your house more than your job in an
office, you’ll be more likely to obtain employment as an HVAC tech or
electrician.
How will I find the time to go to school?
If you decide you want to train for a new career, there are many educational
options. Traditional universities and colleges are one option, but tend not
to offer a lot of flexibility in their class times. Community colleges are
a better option since they have flexible classes, but due to limited resources,
some of the most in demand training programs like nursing and dental hygiene
have several year waiting lists in many markets across the U.S.
The educational option many working adults choose is a career college. Career
colleges offer flexible scheduling and have the proper resources to greatly
reduce waiting lists, if they have any at all. The biggest drawback is they
cost more to attend. Consider a career college to be like a private community
college. However, the flexible scheduling and the shorter time to graduation
compensate for the higher initial cost of a career college.
How much will career training cost?
This is probably the most difficult question.
If you’re like most working
adults, you don’t have an eight month emergency reserve fund stashed
away but, you do have credit card bills, a car payment, possibly children and
that nagging monthly rent/mortgage payment. Chances are you’re not in
a position to quit your existing job. Due to flexible class schedules you’ll
still be able to work and keep that income. Student loans or grants are a possibility
to pay for tuition. Also, check if your company has a tuition reimbursement
plan. Even though you’re thinking about leaving your job, your company
may have a need for the career you’re interested in training in.
The bottom line is if you don’t feel satisfied with your current job,
you don’t have to stay with it for the rest of your working years. There
are a number of great careers available that pay well and require less than
two years of training time. |
