What If the Boss Catches You Going to School?

You've started a great new program that will result in an advanced degree in your field. But you're concerned about your boss and what he will say when he discovers that you're in school. Don't worry!

One of the biggest concerns of professionals who are trying to earn their degree while working a full-time job is that the boss will eventually find out. Many worry that the boss won't be so understanding. This is a legitimate concern for many student professionals. But the truth of the matter is that the boss could be, and should be, impressed by this level of commitment of his employee.

If the boss catches you with a nose in the books, make sure that it's not on the company time. This will give any boss a bad impression of your efforts and might get you a pink slip to boot. Study and complete your academic obligations on your own time.

But if your boss catches wind of your intentions through the grapevine, explain to him that you are going back to school in order to earn an advanced degree and increase your value to the company. Your boss will respect this decision and keep an eye on your for bigger and better things. He might even give you increased responsibilities within the organization if he perceives your efforts will benefit him in the future. Doing the double duty of earning your degree while satisfying your professional responsibilities will speak volumes for you as a person.

Don't Be Afraid to Get More Training

In the dog eat dog world of your profession, there's no better way to improve your position than to get your advanced degree. And it's not the daunting task that you may think that it is. You can do it!

There are several great reasons why you should go back to school and earn an advanced degree. Not only will it improve you on a personal level, but it will give you an impressive set of credentials that you can use to earn a promotion or seek a better job altogether. But the key to reaching your goals is to believe that you can do it.

Benefits to Advanced Training

Become an Expert. An advanced degree in your field will make you an expert in whatever discipline you choose. There are several programs that will give you an edge in your profession that employers are desperately looking for from employees.
Pad Your Bank Account. Of course, the ultimate reason that anyone gets an advanced degree is to increase their level of pay. Earning a masters degree, for example, will make you eligible for a raise that is dependant on reaching that next level of professional and academic experience.

Finding Your Motivation

Study What You Love. The best way to gear yourself up for the task of earning an advanced degree is to find a college program that teaches you the ins and outs of the field you are most passionate about.

Study What You Know. If you have a respectable level of experience in a particular field, you will find that earning an advanced degree in that field will be much easier.

The truth of the matter is that the only thing that is keeping you from earning an advanced degree and all of the accolades that come with it is you. Once you break past that initial apprehension, the sky is the limit.

Which Comes First: Quit My Job or Get a Better Degree?

Perhaps you are sitting at your desk entertaining the thought of going back to school. But the question remains. Should you quit your job first or should you send in that program application.

There's no doubt that increasing your level of education is a good move to make for your career. But it might not be such a good idea to quit your job before you do. In fact, there's a good chance that you can have your cake and eat it, too. Here are both sides of the coin before you make your decision.

Quitting Your Job: The Risk Factors

Out in the Lurch. Quitting your job might free up more time to concentrate on your studies but it will leave you without a steady salary to pay your bills.
Breaking Your Stride. Another consideration to keep in mind is that quitting your job will break any career momentum that you may have built up.

The Best of Both Worlds

Income and Education. If you can somehow manage to juggle the two, earning an advanced degree while working will improve your potential as well as keep your income coming in.

Online Answers. An online program is a great way to manage both aspects of your life. An online program will allow you to earn your degree at your own pace without compromising your personal or professional responsibilities.

There is no denying that going to school and working full time will be a difficult task to realize. But nobody said that improving your position would be easy. If you play your cards right, you can earn that advanced degree while you are working and ready yourself for that next career step.

I Lost My Job Because I Didn't Have a College Degree

Maybe you got hired right out of high school by a big company, and kept getting promoted. You thought about going back to school, but demands of the job and family made it easy to put off getting that degree. However, now you’ve been forced to deal with a new situation. Perhaps your company was acquired by another company. Perhaps all the employees were reevaluated, and those in managerial positions without a college degree were let go.

Earning an Online Degree
As depressing as it might seem at first, this is finally the right time to get that degree you always thought about. If you have to take a "maintenance" job just to make ends meet, consider getting a degree from an accredited online institution at the same time. You can study when it's convenient for you. Accredited online institutions across the country offer Associate, Bachelor and Master degrees in many subjects that suit your interests and abilities..

It might take a bit longer to earn that degree, with your busy schedule, plus job and family demands. Don't worry about the time it takes; just enjoy the opportunity to study subjects you've always wanted to know more about. And think about the end result. When you finally start interviewing for a new, career-track job, you’ll have something you didn't have in your old job - a new degree and more respect for yourself and your ability to get ahead.

Getting a New Career after Being Fired

So you've been fired from you job. You're in good company; thousands of Americans get fired each year, from both big and small companies. It may hurt your professional dignity, but it's not the end of the world. As the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens. Being fired means you're ready for a new job, which, in most cases, can be a better job.

Online Education for a New Career
Unfortunately, the bills don’t stop coming even though the paychecks have. So it may be necessary to get a new job to pay those bills. This new job may not be a career job, however. Getting a new job to further your career may mean that you have to arm yourself with additional education. An online education may be the best way to go, in terms of your lifestyle and schedule. You can study during the hours you're not working, rather than worry about class schedules. If you're a night owl, you can take exams at night, or early in the morning, if that suits you. The end result will be a new degree and the chance for a new and better career.

The point is, with stiff competition in the workplace and with many applicants vying for the same position, the one getting hired may be the applicant with both the experience and education to fit the bill. With that newly earned online education, that new hire could be you.

New Job after Resigning Job

Once you've quit your job, your professional life is an empty canvas once again. If you haven't already found a new job, this is the time to search for the ideal job or go back to school to get that degree you've always wanted.

Knowing you wrote professional resignation letters can ease any guilt you might feel about leaving your boss or company in the lurch. Don’t worry about that - even the President of the United States can only stay in office for eight years. No one is indispensible.

Online Education
If you've decided to return to school, it's not necessary to attend campus if it doesn't fit in with your schedule. If you've taken a "maintenance job" just to make ends meet, an online education may fit in perfectly with your needs. You can study and do coursework during the hours that best suit you, not the school, and you'll end up with a new degree.

This time off from a career-track job should also offer you time to think about your next job and what you really want. Talk to friends, former colleagues, and anyone else you can about what they like and don't like about their jobs. Their advice can help you decide what you want in your next job. With your improved education, good advice, and a clear vision of what you want in terms of a better career, chances are, you'll find it.