Posted December 1st, 2015
By Anonymous (not verified)
For many adults, career goals and aspirations have a tendency to span across a wide variety of industries. How many times have you heard "I don't use my degree for what I'm doing now?" If you're like us: countless. That's not saying a degree isn't worth the time, sacrifice and hard work. It’s simply saying that limiting yourself to only the scope of that degree program may be holding you back more than you thought.
Have you ever thought to yourself "I'd like to try a new skill" or "I'd like to pursue this industry" but then listed the reasons why you couldn't? Did time, energy, and expenses make it onto that list? For many, going back to school full-time isn't an option. Swapping a briefcase for a backpack or trading story time for study time is nearly impossible for a lot of adults.
There is one area of higher education that is often left unexplored however - continuing education.
Continuing education is often misconstrued as a requirement for professionals, medical doctors or therapists. However, continuing education is an entirely untapped world of higher education that provides all adults, young and old, opportunities to pursue new careers, develop personal hobbies and build their resume. Continuing education courses can lead to national certifications, aid in a career change, and even assist in starting or building a business. Continuing education courses can also be completed online, so the class comes to you instead of the other way around.
For example, if you're a professional in the hospitality industry and have thought planning events and weddings might be something you are interested in, an online continuing education course in wedding and event planning could provide you with the necessary skills without having to take time away from your current job.
For stay-at-home parents who are a little fearful of not having the skills to enter the workforce after the children become more independent, continuing education can assist with keeping resumes current EVEN with long gaps between employment. Showing future employers you have maintained your current skill level or added new skills to your resume makes you an attractive candidate for future job opportunities.
Continuing education courses are also much more pocketbook friendly than a second or third college degree. While education is always worth the cost, a continuing education course allows you to learn a new skill or develop a personal hobby without the burden of an expensive student loan repayment plan. The next time you're considering a new career goal or contemplating learning a new skill, consider a continuing education course - you'll be glad you did!
Modified from: http://www.milcareered.com/blog/continuing-education-low-cost-career-game-changers#sthash.RorHKJ14.dpuf
