Career Planning

Social culture is certainly an interesting phenomenon. Planning is ingrained into some aspects of our lives and completely shunned in others. Holidays, for example, are often meticulously planned because we want to ensure that we make the most of our time away. Weddings are another example of painstakingly thorough planning. Diets, babies, sporting endeavors and education are more examples of goals and events that are have culturally accepted planning phases.

What is it about these activities and events that lead us to invest so much time into their planning? When we consider that the risk or impact of failing to meet our objective is unacceptable we mitigate the risk by planning ahead. Nobody wants to waste valuable holiday time, nor do they want their weddings to be incomplete or disorganized. We generally recognize that some events will not naturally come to order and their success is dependent on planning. Career Planning, on the other hand, is often overlooked.

A common misconception about career planning is that the concept is about working hard in order to press for a promotion. But career planning is about working smart. It is about making the right decisions and focusing energy in order to maximize time and effort. In the workplace and during our education, we make decisions on a daily basis and these decisions shape our image as a professional.

Let's deviate from careers in order to press this point. Which racehorse would you bet on?

Racehorse #1. Recently started racing - formally privately owned and lived in a paddock.

Racehorse #2. Has two years of racing experience and trains twice a week.

Racehorse #3. Has five years of racing experience and trains five times a week.

Racehorse #4. Has five years of racing experience, he trains five times a week and was bred from champion racers. He was raised by experienced champion trainers and began training as a foal.

In answer to our question, racehorse #4 seems the obvious choice. It appears that this racehorse has dedicated his life to the one career and that gives us good odds that he is better at his job than the others.

When your career is scrutinized by a potential employer the 'odds' that you are better at this job than the others are calculated on the same rationale. Choices that you made years before stand as confirmation of your long standing interests. Your level of skill and expertise in one field is proportional to the quality and quantity of time that you have previously invested in that field. The great Albert Einstein said "It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer".

Career planning is about making choices that build on your skill set. Just like Albert Einstein - focusing your energy on just a few fields will drive you towards your career goals.

Earning Respect From Your Students

One of the best ways to teach a class is to earn the respect of your students. In the past, teachers were generally treated with more respect than today. For example, in most schools when a teacher entered the classroom, the children would stand up as a mark of respect. The teacher was known as. Mr. or Mrs. So-and-So, and their first name was always a closely guarded secret of world proportions.

Today, the classroom atmosphere is very different. Instead of the more distant but respectful relationship described above, the trend is towards a more friendly, intimate classroom atmosphere. Teacher is no longer a rather severe figure, but someone cool, hip, and sometimes even trendy.

But where is respect in the equation? And has this new approach been successful? Looking at the growing rates of classroom violence, the need in some inner city schools for closed circuit TV to make sure that the kids haven't brought drugs and flick-knives to school along with their peanut butter sandwiches and pencil boxes, the answer is probably "no." The kids who go to the kind of schools where they still stand up for teacher and even occasionally still call him "sir" are most likely to come out with a better education and with less incidents of classroom violence.

While the distant, more respectful relationship with the teacher may not be as much fun as sitting with "Mr. Cool," creating a respectful atmosphere builds boundaries. Boundaries are necessary for discipline, and despite the more laissez faire attitude in today's world there's no getting past the fact that discipline is a very important part of both parenting and education.

An Online College Makes Business Degrees Easier to Achieve

The current competitive job market makes it essential for applicants to enhance their skills. That may mean adding a degree or certificate to put you ahead of the competition. A business degree can open up opportunities in almost every industry. Choosing to get on line degrees is one of the fastest ways to climb the career ladder and online college is making it easier. You don't have to quit your job to go to school or take classes at times that interfere with your life. You study at your own convenience.

If you enjoy crunching numbers, negotiating, or writing, a business degree may fit your interests. Or if you are not sure what career you want to pursue, business is a good option. Every employer needs people trained in organization, planning and management. Business majors can go on to careers in accounting, advertising, insurance and even real estate.

In the last few years, more students, as many as 20%, have added business classes to their curriculum. The reason? Students are realizing they are more marketable to potential employers if they have some business background. According to Career Builder, a popular job website, the number of accountants hired in the next six years is expected to increase by 18%. Accounting is a popular field for people with business degrees.

All levels of business degrees from an associate's degree to a doctorate in business can be earned online. Bachelors degrees are the standard college degree. A bachelors usually involves four years of study. However, some online degree programs allow students to earn their bachelors in less than four years. An MBA, or Master's of Business Administration, is the most popular business degree. Students must already have a bachelors degree to earn an MBA, but it does not have to be in business.

Many online degree programs have earned widespread acceptance with employers. Most companies are more concerned about a school's reputation than whether it's a brick and mortar facility. To make sure you are enrolling in a respected online college, check the school's accreditation. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation approves distance learning programs, as well as traditional colleges.

Why choose an online college instead of attending college on campus? If the convenience doesn't convince you, the comparable quality might. Many online colleges offer the same curriculum as their campus-based counterparts. However, you don't have to report to class. That means you can choose a nationally ranked business school even if it's on the other side of the country. Online programs are often cheaper than traditional college courses, but financial aid is still available for online learning. If you are already working, your employer may be willing to reimburse you for the cost of an online business education.

A study by the Sloan Consortium reveals the number of students taking college courses online has more than doubled in the last five years. About one quarter of all students are enrolled in at least one online course. That's nearly four million students learning online.

Getting online degrees qualifies you for more careers and once you're working they make you more eligible for advancement. Many job seekers are finding an online business degree is the way to go. Business degrees are so flexible, the recipient can fit into most career fields. Online college makes achieving a college degree easier than ever. You can research the best business schools, apply and attend one all over the Internet.