| Ask yourself this question: "Do I like what I | | | | How will I find the time to go to school? |
| do for a living?" If you answered "no", what | | | | |
| are you doing about it? Maybe you have a | | | | If you decide you want to train for a new |
| "good" job, but it's not very rewarding to | | | | career, there are many educational options. |
| you personally. Maybe you have job with good | | | | Traditional universities and colleges are one |
| pay, but bad hours or worse - a job with good | | | | option, but tend not to offer a lot of |
| hours, but bad pay. Perhaps you've just done | | | | flexibility in their class times. Community |
| your job for too many years, or are excited | | | | colleges are a better option since they have |
| to work in some of the new careers that just | | | | flexible classes, but due to limited |
| weren't available when you finished school. | | | | resources, some of the most in demand |
| | | | training programs like nursing and dental |
| Whatever the reason is for you wanting to | | | | hygiene have several year waiting lists in |
| switch careers, there are some practical | | | | many markets across the U.S. |
| considerations to take into account. | | | | |
| | | | The educational option many working adults |
| How long will it take? | | | | choose is a career college. Career colleges |
| | | | offer flexible scheduling and have the proper |
| How will I find the time to do it? | | | | resources to greatly reduce waiting lists, if |
| | | | they have any at all. The biggest drawback is |
| How much will it cost? | | | | they cost more to attend. Consider a career |
| | | | college to be like a private community |
| This article will answer these questions and | | | | college. However, the flexible scheduling and |
| point you towards a more fulfilling career. | | | | the shorter time to graduation compensate for |
| | | | the higher initial cost of a career college. |
| How long will it take to train for a new | | | | |
| career? | | | | How much will career training cost? |
| | | | |
| The answer to this depends on what you want | | | | This is probably the most difficult question. |
| to train for. But, the majority of well | | | | If you're like most working adults, you don't |
| paying careers that are currently seeking | | | | have an eight month emergency reserve fund |
| workers, take two years or less to train for. | | | | stashed away but, you do have credit card |
| For example, becoming a machinist takes about | | | | bills, a car payment, possibly children and |
| 10 months. Training to become an X-ray | | | | that nagging monthly rent/mortgage payment. |
| technician can be done in a year. There are | | | | Chances are you're not in a position to quit |
| other training options that can get you a new | | | | your existing job. Due to flexible class |
| job in only six months! | | | | schedules you'll still be able to work and |
| | | | keep that income. Student loans or grants are |
| Your experience can also count. For example, | | | | a possibility to pay for tuition. Also, check |
| if you work with computers on your job now, | | | | if your company has a tuition reimbursement |
| you won't have to take word processing and | | | | plan. Even though you're thinking about |
| spreadsheet classes if you want to be a | | | | leaving your job, your company may have a |
| medical coder. If you tinker with computers | | | | need for the career you're interested in |
| in your spare time while you're working a | | | | training in. |
| retail management position, you'll be ahead | | | | |
| of the class when you train to become a help | | | | The bottom line is if you don't feel |
| desk technician. Also, if you like working on | | | | satisfied with your current job, you don't |
| projects around your house more than your job | | | | have to stay with it for the rest of your |
| in an office, you'll be more likely to obtain | | | | working years. There are a number of great |
| employment as an HVAC tech or electrician. | | | | careers available that pay well and require |
| | | | less than two years of training time. |