Not everybody likes school. We were thrown into a system without knowing why and then told we had to turn up to classes that we didn’t care about so that we could get largely meaningless grades. But, we did learn a lot of important information that gave us a platform for the rest of our lives. So for that reason, school was probably worth it.

As an adult, heading back into education can seem like a step backwards, but given the correct situation, it can be a genuinely positive move for anyone. Going back to school can elevate you. It can also raise your chances of getting and keeping the job that you fancy. Here are four reasons to consider going back to school:

1. Learning Enables More Learning

For starters, human beings naturally get into routines. We find a particular comfort zone with pretty much everything we do. When we idle too much, we want to carry on doing so. It’s only when we really push ourselves to change that we actually change. Likewise, if we make ourselves more productive and keep our brains active, it pushes us to do more. Success becomes a habit. 

This applies to our learning. When we take in information, we become comfortable in doing so and want to continue it–it becomes a habit. You have no trouble in finding motivation. If money is your passion, you can take classes in accounting. You may then get home and look up myob courses online. This kind of behavior will only benefit you going forward. 

2. It is Attractive To Employers

Taking yourself away from something that you don’t want to do and following a path that you’re genuinely interested in is an attractive trait. It shows that you’re willing to go after what you want in life. So if you’re hoping to find a job in your chosen field, then going back to school will definitely help. 

You are in control of your career. When you take the initiative to educate yourself, employers see you as motivated and confident. 

3. Qualifications Do Matter

You often hear stories about how you don’t need the best grades in the world to achieve greatness. While it depends on your career field whether or not your grades really matter, qualifications always make a difference, and you should pursue the right ones for the job you want.

Qualifications are also an intangible superpower that surrounds you. They represent your skills and show how competent you are. They’re more than just a document. 

4. Boost Your Own Confidence  

When we complete things, we feel a sense of satisfaction at a job well done. That, in turn, builds our confidence. Confidence is a necessary trait to have if you want to do great things in this world, and constantly winning will enable just that.

So, while going back to school may seem like a waste of time, if you are looking to change careers or strengthen your job prospects, going back to school can certainly help you.

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4 Reasons You Should Go back to School Right Now - #career #careeradvice

Please welcome guest blogger Joy Miller to Perfectly Employed! Joy Miller is the founder of MyDegreeGuide.com and specializes in matching students with accredited universities offering online degrees at an accelerated pace.

If you wake up every day wishing that you’d chosen a different career path, it may be time for your life to head in a new direction. Don’t let the fact that you’re over 40 dissuade you from switching careers. 

Although a mid-life job change presents challenges, advance planning and preparation can help you navigate the shift.

1. Take a Career Test

The first step to getting out of a career that you don’t want is to figure out what you do want to do. 

Career aptitude tests can be quite informative and may provide job ideas that you wouldn’t have thought of on your own.

Related: Career Fitter Career and Personality Test Review

Give one of these online assessments a try:

To get the best results, you may have to be honest with yourself about some of your strengths and weaknesses.

2. Explore the Occupations on Your List

Of course, just because a digital quiz suggests a particular career path for you, that doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily the best fit for you. Online searches and library reading can help you research several options.

Consider talking to people who are already employed in those fields. You may even be able to shadow some workers to get a feel for what a day on the job is like.

3. Leverage Your Past Work Experience

Beginning a new career after age 40 can feel like you’re starting from scratch. But the truth of the matter is that you already have a good deal of work experience under your belt.

Do your best to capitalize on the strengths that you’ve already developed. Make a list of your strengths and the areas in which you excel. Brainstorm ways that you could put each strength to work in a different setting.

4. Gather Job Information

Once you’ve settled on a field that interests you, it’s time to consider specific roles. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website is a great source for gathering information about different types of work. You can look up information about a job’s earning potential, expected growth, required education and general responsibilities. 

As you consider salary amounts, keep in mind that you might be starting out at the low end of the pay scale. However, once you invest time and effort into your new career, you’ll eventually start moving toward the other end of the range.

5. Adapt Your Resume for Each Job

Finally, remember that each job that you apply for will be a bit different. So, your resume should shift a bit, too.

Do you have a college degree? What aspects of your education transfer to the new position to which you are applying? Try to find areas of crossover that you can highlight for potential employers.

Next, think about the strengths that you wrote down on your earlier list. Pick out the ones that best apply to each job’s responsibilities. Then, you can be sure to highlight those skills and abilities on that particular version of your resume.

Moving Forward

Changing jobs partway through your working years can be nerve-wracking. However, when you approach your job search with the right attitude, you may end up finding a career that keeps you satisfied all the way to retirement.

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Business management is hard to define but generally covers a range of activities and responsibilities related to running an organization. Since it covers so many fundamentals and principles of how to run a business, it can be a fantastic course to embark on and study. So in this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the benefits of studying business management and how it can help you with your entrepreneurial goals.

1. Learn how to manage people

Business management studies can give you an edge when it comes to managing people. Teamwork is essential in any business environment which is why you absolutely need to learn how to manage people.

2. Understand industry trends

Industry trends come and go but understanding how to identify and take advantage of them can be a huge help to your future entrepreneurial ventures.

3. Introduction to how businesses work

Businesses can be unpredictable and difficult to manage if you have no experience. By studying business management, you can examine case studies that will help you form your own strategies to help you manage your business in the future.

4. Know the Pitfalls

It’s also important to understand what pitfalls to look out for so that you can avoid them in the future. It’s never a bad idea to prepare ahead of time for issues that could completely ruin your business.

Below, we’ve included a brief infographic that talks about some of the advantages of studying online to learn more about businesses.


Infographic by Northeastern University

 

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While soft skills like problem solving and time management can help you get a job, it’s often the hard skills that really capture the attention of employers. These are more practical skills rather than personal traits and as a result they are more quantifiable. Many can even be backed up with certification. Such skills don’t always have to be complex and may be fairly easy to obtain. In fact, you may possess several of these skills already. Here are just a few examples.

1. Driving

Driving can be a valuable skill when applying for jobs. In fact, it’s believed 30% of all jobs out there require some form of driving ability. Even if you’re applying for a job that doesn’t require you to drive, it could still be a useful bonus when commuting—rather than being limited locally or having to take public transport, you may be able to consider areas you wouldn’t otherwise consider. It’s worth getting your license for, even if you have no desire to drive in your free time.

2. Digital Skills

‘Digital skills’ is a bit of a blanket term for any skills involving a computer and could include something as basic as being able to use Microsoft Word to something as complex as being able to code in Java. Many digital skills can be self-taught, but you may find it beneficial to get some form of certification to prove your knowledge such as taking the 300-115 Cisco test. With almost all jobs now incorporating digital technology, digital skills have never been more valuable – most job adverts now look for some form of digital skill.

3. Foreign languages

There’s great demand for those that speak a second language. Because this skill is so sought after and yet so rare, such jobs that require a second language are often very well paid. This could include being a translator or a teacher. As with digital skills, having a qualification such as a Spanish DELE certificate could help to provide proof of your knowledge. Some people may already speak a foreign language due to their cultural background.

4. First aid

By law, any company with employees needs a trained first aider on site. If you’ve already got first aid training, you could be a valuable asset to the team by helping to tick this box. You’re best off pursuing an official qualification such as a Red Cross first aid certificate to give proof of this skill. There’s no need to get complex medical training unless you wish to work in the medical sector, so don’t feel that you have to go all out.

5. Electrics

Everything from cars to kids’ toys now contain electrics. The amount of electrical engineers and technicians needed to build and maintain our electrical world has increased dramatically and many related jobs may look upon this skill favorably. Obtaining an electrical license is no easy feat, but it can lead on to great opportunities.

6. Writing

Most people can write, but not everyone can write well. The move to a digital world has only increased the demand for professional writing – some jobs are reliant on an ability to write emails and web copy. When applying to a writing job, it’s worth having some form of writing qualification behind you. It’s worth noting that there are many specialisms to writing such as legal writing and medical writing, typing and traditional calligraphy.

7. Drawing

Being able to draw is also a useful skill in many careers. Many design jobs require technical drawing skills, whilst there are a number of illustrator jobs. You may be able to prove that you’re good at drawing simply by showing an employer a portfolio of your work. You can however back this up with some form of drawing qualification such as a BA drawing degree.

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Once you have chosen to pursue an MBA, your next step is to choose a specialization. You can choose from just about anything that fuels your passions for the business world. Here are some options:

1. Management

The most popular MBA specialization is management. As a business administrator, it stands to reason that you will be managing people and projects, so the management specialization makes perfect sense. Many people who enter MBA programs have no idea what they will do with their MBA once they receive it, and that’s perfectly OK. If you are undecided about your career path, yet want to pursue an MBA, the management specialization is probably right for you.

Some colleges offer specializations within the general MBA management track, such as international or global management studies. If you see yourself as a globetrotting executive, look for MBA’s that focus on international studies. MBA requirements vary from country to country, so be sure to check for MBA requirements in Canada, as well as the United States.

2. Finance

If your undergraduate degree is in accounting, Finance is the natural MBA specialization track for you. You will strengthen your finance skills and learn to manage larger financial decisions than you studied in your undergraduate degree. Bigger corporations mean more data points, so expect to spend a significant amount of time studying data analysis in this degree track. The finance specialization is best suited for those who want to work for banks or control finances in a big corporation.

3. Entrepreneurship

Starting your own business may seem like a dream come true. If it does, the Entrepreneurship MBA specialization may be just what you need. You will learn what it takes to fund a startup and make the right decisions to run your own enterprise. Who knows—you could be the next shark!

4. Marketing

With the rise of social media, the way businesses market themselves is forever changing. If analyzing market data to find the right marketing campaigns sounds thrilling, the MBA specialization in Marketing may be exactly the right course of study for you.

Marketing specializations focus on sales, promotions, and customer communications, and you can use the specialization in pretty much any sort of business after you graduate.

5. Technology

One of the fastest growing MBA specializations is IT or Technology. Corporations employ huge teams of IT professionals and rely on tech gurus to create custom products and keep the company’s software and hardware systems running. If your undergraduate degree is in computer science, IT, or some form of coding, the MBA technology specialization may feel like a natural fit for you.

New MBA specializations are created all the time, so if you don’t find one that fits your needs now, chances are you will in the near future. Consulting is a rapidly growing field, too. Since most all major universities have an MBA program, be sure to research your options carefully.

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Which MBA Specialization is Right for You?

If you are dreaming of becoming an accountant in the United Kingdom, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is probably the way to go. While you have other options, the ACCA offers a great deal of flexibility which it is hard to find in other certifications. Here are the top reasons to study ACCA in the UK:

ACCA Certification is Recognized Pretty Much Everywhere

If you love to travel, ACCA may be the right certification for you. As of 2019, ACCA has students in 179 countries. You can take what you learn in the UK and work in India, New Zealand and pretty much anywhere else. With 7,400 ACCA-approved employers, you should have no problem finding a job abroad.

ACCA has a Job Board Specifically for their Graduates

When choosing a course of study, one of the biggest factors in your decision should be how employable you will be when you graduate. ACCA is a good choice because they have a job board dedicated to matching qualified employers with ACCA-qualified accountants. Employers look specifically for ACCA graduates. You will be more likely to find an accounting job quickly with an ACCA certification.

It’s a Big Organization

ACCA has over 200,000 members, so you will have a big network of peers to help support your career goals. From finding a job to pursuing professional development, there are distinct advantages to having a large network of colleagues.

Big organizations like ACCA are also seen as leaders who inspire positive change. Since ACCA advises governments, organizations and regulators, you will be part of the people with the power to change the world of accounting and how accounting is perceived.

Get Trained on Your Own Schedule

ACCA’s training courses are designed to be taken at your own pace. Exams are held each quarter, and some can be taken on-demand. So, if you are trying to study, raise a family, and hold a job at the same time, you still have the opportunity to pursue ACCA training.

ACCA has a network of partners who lead training sessions in a variety of formats, including traditional classrooms and online environments. ACCA also has their own learning platform called ACCA-X.

It Can Lead to Bigger Degrees

If you decide to pursue higher education, Oxford Brookes University offers a BSc in Applied Accounting. For those who truly love accounting, you can pursue an MSc in Professional Accountancy at the University of London.

How to Make Your Decision

If you are stuck trying to figure out which accounting certification program to pursue, evaluate your options based on these factors:

  • Which program best fits your schedule?
  • Which program will offer you more job options upon graduation?
  • Which certification is recognized where you want to work?
  • Which program gives you the best value for your tuition investment?

You should choose the program that is best for you, but if you are looking to study and work in the UK, ACCA is definitely a good option.

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Many of our undergraduate students think they want to be accountants, but very few stick with this subject beyond their sophomore year. It is common to change majors a couple of times throughout your time in college; accounting seems to be one of those subjects that people start because they think it will make them earn plenty of money, only to later realize it simply isn’t the career field for them.

Although it is not a career for everyone, those who want to pursue accounting have many decisions to make. Some of the biggest choices you will have to make are in regards to your certifications.

CPAs in the US

In the United States, the vast amount of accounting majors seek CPA (Certified Public Accountant) licensure. The CPA licensing requirements vary by state, but most require a bachelor’s degree, a specific amount of experience and a passing score on the CPA exam.

To keep the license, CPAs are often required to complete at least 40 hours of professional development each year. It’s a big commitment, but the CPA licensure is expected by most employers and clients in the US.

CA: Chartered Account

If you are looking to work outside the US, you will likely need a different kind of certification and/or licensure. One of the most popular certifications in places like India is “CA” or Chartered Accountancy. CA studies focus on specific fields of accountancy such as taxation, auditing and company law. Their courses require 19 “papers” as exams. Courses last 5-6 years and there are levels for common proficiency, integrated professional competence and a final. Only about 5-10% of candidates pass the rigorous standards. Chartered accountants are preferred in India because of their vast knowledge of taxation and business finance. CA courses require 3 years of apprenticeship, so CAs emerge from college with experience, making them highly employable.

ACCA: International Recognition

The Association of Chartered Accountants, or ACCA, is an internationally recognized body. ACCA curriculum is focused more on taxes and audits than corporate finance, but the certification is more widely recognized than the CA certification. If you plan to work outside of countries where CA certification is the norm, or in a field that focuses on taxes and audits, you might want to opt for ACCA accounting courses. In ACCA courses, you will complete 14 papers during a 2-3 year course of instruction. Exams are about 2-3 hours each. About 30-40% of students pass ACCA courses.

ACCA is globally accepted, but most popular in European countries since the ACCA is located in the United Kingdom. It is probably one of the most flexible certifications available.

Which Certification is Right for Me?

Your location and aspirations are the deciding factors in choosing which accounting certifications are right for you. Since most of our readers are located in the United States, the CPA certification will be the most popular choice. But, if you majored in accounting and you are looking to make your field more exciting, you might opt for ACCA. That way, you can travel to many different countries with your certifications and find a job in various locations.

Whichever certification you choose, make sure it is suitable to your own professional situation.

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Is an Online Business Management Degree Worth It? - #career #careeradvice #businessdegree

If you are looking for an online degree program, you will quickly learn that one of the most popular online degree majors is Business Management. While you have plenty of choices for your major, this one is sure to stand out to because it sounds versatile, like you could use it for pretty much anything. After all, everything is “business” in some way, right? And “management” shows leadership!

However, an online degree in business management is not for everyone. I graduated from a regionally accredited online degree program 15 years ago. Online education has changed drastically in that time. You have far more choices now than I did then. Before you decide to check for BA business management course programs, answer these questions:

What Will I Do Once I Have My Degree?

If you answered the question with, “I will apply for a promotion at my current job,” and a degree is a requirement for your promotion, go for the business management degree. It may be the quickest way to your promotion, and if you already have specific industry knowledge that you are using to build a career, the business management degree can support your career trajectory.

If you answered the question with something like, “I will start my own business,” or “I will invent something that will change the world, then go on Shark Tank and make a fortune,” then you might consider a degree that is less theoretical and more practical. Entrepreneurship is often a degree track in traditional business degrees, so look around for a degree that supports this passion.

The same is true of most career-specific goals; unless your goal is to be middle management or to enhance your prospects in an industry where you’re already an expert, a more specific degree may make more sense for you.

Have you thought about a career in management consulting? Check out this guide to becoming a management consultant.

Will a Business Management Degree Help me Start my Career?

Employers complain that business majors have theoretical knowledge, but not practical application that they can use immediately. The market is flooded with business majors–1 in 5 of all undergraduate degrees are awarded in business. To have the best chance of finding a job after college, you will need to stand out from the crowd.

You are better off selecting a major that is specific to something. If you like money, try majoring in accounting–even Kanye needs an accountant, and if you hate it, you can use your mad money skills to consult or move to a business-related industry.

If you love art, but your parents say you should “major in something practical,” look at graphic art, motion graphics, and other art degrees where the end goal is employment with a high-end corporation and not just to create art for art’s sake.

The point is, passion will get you further than a general degree. If you are passionate about a subject, you will find ways to make money with it.

What is Your Endgame?

If you look at this question and answer it with, “I don’t know, I just want a degree.” Then sure, go for the business management degree because it will fulfill this goal and give you a very general degree you can use as a stepping stone to a more specific graduate degree later, when you have more clarity about what you want to do in life.

But if you do choose that path, intern throughout your degree experience. Your degree alone will not get you a job–you need practical experience that you can bring to the table immediately. The vast majority of employers do not want to train you, so be smart and gain experience while you’re working on your degree.

What I did with My Business Management Degree

The day that my business management undergraduate degree conferred to my transcripts, I enrolled in a Master of Arts in English program. In the year it took me to finish out my major credits, I had figured out that I wanted to teach, so the natural next step was to find a subject-specific graduate degree.

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Was my BS in Business Management worth it? No, not really. I’ve since worked as a manager in a big corporation and started my own business–both places where you’d think a business management degree would be useful, but it isn’t. My practical business knowledge was gained from growing up with grandfather’s construction business.

So, for me, a business management degree was a means to an end. I have three master’s degrees (English, Creative Writing, and Instructional Design), all of which serve me more. But, my story isn’t your story. Make the right choice for your goals!

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