Category: Your Career (Page 35 of 62)

Is the Master’s the New Bachelor’s?

August 18, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Some may argue that getting a college degree isn’t worth it, but unfortunately for them, the statistics don’t lie. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over an adults working life, bachelor’s degree holders can expect to earn an average of $2.1 million; master’s degree holders can expect to earn an average $2.5 million; doctorate degree holders can expect to average $3.4 million, and professional degree holders average around $4.4 million. So, what can the average high school graduate expect to make during his working life? $1.2 million–if they’re lucky. The bottom line is, for the majority of professional jobs, a high school diploma just won’t cut it, and according to a recent NYT article, in many cases, a bachelor’s degree might not be enough either.

More employer’s than ever before now expect more education for positions that, years ago, may have required a bachelor’s degree only. As a result, the master’s degree is now the fastest growing degree in the U.S.

The number of [graduate degrees] awarded, about 657,000 in 2009, has more than doubled since the 1980s, and the rate of increase has quickened substantially in the last couple of years, says Debra W. Stewart, president of the Council of Graduate Schools. Nearly 2 in 25 people age 25 and over have a master’s, about the same proportion that had a bachelor’s or higher in 1960.
“Several years ago it became very clear to us that master’s education was moving very rapidly to become the entry degree in many professions,” Dr. Stewart says.
Colleges are turning out more graduates than the market can bear, and a master’s is essential for job seekers to stand out — that, or a diploma from an elite undergraduate college, says Richard K. Vedder, professor of economics at Ohio University and director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

So, what does this mean for today’s high school graduates? It’s going to take careful thought and solid research to make the best decision for your future! First, choose your career field carefully, meaning think about what you’re good at, realistically, and where the career field is headed. Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics to review projections, salaries, and requirements. Next, talk with a career counselor to find out what type of degree and experience are required for the career field you have chosen to supplement or reinforce what you have learned from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, contact several companies you might be interested in working for and inquire about their specific requirements. This should help you make an informed decision about which direction you should take.

Your Career, Your Education

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Top Reasons Workers Want Out, Even in a Bad Economy

August 16, 2011 / Michelle Burton

During a time when people are fighting hard to keep their jobs, you’d have to be crazy to actually quit yours, right? Wrong! There are still some people out there that would rather dip into their life savings, or worse—move back home, than continue working at a job that makes them miserable. Why? Because the way they see it, the long-term consequences of staying will probably be worse than spending the next 6-12 months searching for a better position.

So, what are the top reasons work has become so unbearable for some? According to a recent Forbes.com article, the most common reasons people are miserable at work are balance, money, skills, respect, meaning, and struggle.

Balance: It’s impossible to balance work and outside/family life
Money: The money isn’t enough to sustain them or their families
Skills: The skills and talents required for their work aren’t are a good fit
Respect: They feel chronically undervalued or mistreated
Meaning: They experience little positive meaning or purpose in their work
Struggle: It’s simply too hard to keep going with it

Before setting out to make a change, the article suggest that you do three things:

Dedicate yourself to what you want— A fulfilling, satisfying life is not going to just fall in your lap. You have to claim it, and commit to getting it with concentrated, continual effort. You have to work it.
Refine your focus— Do you know exactly which talents and skills are easy and natural for you to use, that give your work a sense of purpose? Do you know what type of work would represent an ideal fit? Are you in touch with your core values, standards of integrity and life goals?
Find the courage to make change—if you don’t take concrete action that is different in content and process from what you’ve done before, your life and career will not change.

For more information about jobs and career visit Forbes Careers at http://www.forbes.com/careers/.

Your Business, Your Career, Your Workplace

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Is the Economy Making Workers Healthier?

August 11, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Could the economy really be making workers healthier? According to a CareerBuilder survey, you bet it is! The survey says:

47 percent of workers report they have been packing a lunch more often to eat healthier or help save money. When it comes to smoking habits, 44 percent of workers who smoke said they are more likely to quit smoking given today’s economic conditions. In addition, one-in-five said that they have decreased the number of times they smoke during the workday (21 percent) or actually quit altogether (20 percent).

Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder, states that “Economic stress over the last year has caused some workers to reflect on their habits, and many of them have turned to healthier routines. In addition to helping cut personal costs, employees who limit their smoking and lunching out habits are taking better care of their overall health. This type of ‘better-for-you’ behavior can be encouraged by companies who implement wellness programs, healthy living challenges or smoking cessation support.”

The survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive© on behalf of CareerBuilder.com among 4,498 U.S. workers, age 18 and over, employed full-time—not self-employed, and non-government.

Your Business, Your Career, Your Team, Your Workplace

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Companies Choose Hoarding Cash Over Hiring

August 8, 2011 / Michelle Burton

There are many reasons companies aren’t hiring. They don’t have to because they can hire one person to do the work of several employees, the have more than enough employees—overseas, and some companies are just plain scared. This is the case with many companies that enjoy a substantial increase in profits from year to year, but instead of hiring, they choose to hold onto the profits. Some profitable companies have even gone a step further by laying off workers, even though they have the means to pay them.

According to a recent MSNBC.com report:

Business owners are a gun-shy bunch these days. When asked why they aren’t hiring, you’ll often hear the word “uncertainties.” Those range from not knowing whether taxes might increase at some point to worries about how health care reform could add to employee costs in the future.
Running a business is always going to be fraught with uncertainties, but these days business owners are feeling especially on edge about taking any sort of risk with hiring.

So what will it take for these companies to start hiring again? Michael Alter, President and CEO of SurePayroll, and Roosevelt University Professor Samuel Rosenberg spoke with Tribune reporter Kristin Samuelson about what needs to happen in order to coax profitable companies into loosening the belt. Alter says that to increase hiring, companies have to increase growth and slow their productivity gains, while Rosenberg feels that the market would have to grow to such an extent that the companies can’t meet the demand for their products.

Both agree that the road to recovery will be long and difficult. Alter mentions that because consumer spending drives growth, and you can’t spend if you’re not employed, it’s going to be very hard for the U.S. to come back. Rosenberg mentions that it will take a very, very long time for unemployment levels to drop to a more reasonable level, and this is impossible to predict.

Your Business, Your Career, Your Workplace

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Too Much Experience, Now What?

August 6, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Every fresh college graduate has experienced rejection based on lack of experience, but eventually most graduates obtain enough experience to move past an entry level position and into a position with more responsibility and higher pay. Having experience is usually a good thing, but lately having too much experience has become an obstacle that thousands of seasoned job seekers face every day. The reasons for this vary. For starters, according to a recent Tribune Media Services report, the talent pool is overflowing, thanks to mass lay-offs of people with 15 to 20 years of experience. This means older professionals with lots of experience, which brings a higher price tag, are now competing with younger professionals with some or enough experience, which means a lower price tag.

The potential price tag of someone with too much experience isn’t the only reason employers might take a pass. Many employers also believe that someone with so much experience might move on as soon as a better opportunity presents itself or they might get bored. Fortunately, there are ways to position your qualifications, says Maribeth Kuzmeski, author of “And the Clients Went Wild: How Savvy Business Professionals in Win All the Business They Want,” and it doesn’t involve downplaying them.

Job applicants should never downplay accomplishments. It’s better to position your qualifications as assets—which they are—rather than drawbacks. Job applicants should tailor their resumes to reflect skills and achievements, not a laundry list of former employers and job titles.

Steve Langerud, director of professional opportunities at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. adds that “presenting job titles and years of experience provides just enough information for an employer’s imagination to run wild, and not in the favor of the job seeker.”

Kuzmeski points out that job seekers should spell out other important benefits of their experience, such as the life experience that makes them more capable of handling difficult client situations or coworker conflicts. They should also be the first to bring up the topic of being overqualified. This is especially the case if an interviewer seems hesitant or keeps bringing up past experience, Kuzmeski says.

If this is the case, just ask what the concerns might be. By asking, you’re again showing that you are proud of your achievements and you care and want to hear what the employer thinks. It’s actually a great way to build on the relationship.

Your Career, Your Education, Your Workplace

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