Do you have a job that is like a dead end, where there are few, if any, opportunities for promotion?
If this is your case, there are still opportunities to make a career transition to pursue the job you’ve always wanted. To make a career change, you might have to obtain more education. Whether you enjoy learning or want a higher paying job, continuing education can be pursued at anytime during one’s working life.
In fact, continuing education can open up previously closed doors or lead to better job opportunities. Continuing education usually refers to college courses or other vocational training obtained by older adults or working professionals.
This has been verified by research, which finds that students in continuing education programs are usually older adults or working professionals.
Rising Numbers
According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, demand for continuing education for adults aged 35 or older should grow by 7 percent until 2016.
Economic conditions are one of the main reasons driving demand for continuing education, and many people enroll in continuing education programs during recessions. Likewise, during recessions, many workers seek to improve skills to remain hired or find new job opportunities.
The following benefits can be derived from obtaining more education:
– Those with jobs who obtain graduate degrees improve promotion opportunities and can qualify for higher wages. It is often required to complete specialized training to quality for certain jobs, such as management or administration positions.
– Obtaining additional education can also increase one’s marketability in the job market.
– Continuing education is the way to develop new skills or knowledge necessary for a career transition.
– Continuing education is a great way to learn about subjects of personal interest. Courses taken do not necessarily have to be related to an individual’s job.
– Obtaining more education can improve one’s image in family or social circles.
– Obtaining additional education or completing a college program can enhance self-image and have positive effects on other aspects of a person’s life.
– Some people enroll in college because they love learning, while some do so to qualify for certain jobs. However, many people feel unable to re-enroll in college since they must keep their full-time jobs. Working professionals wanting to keep their jobs but obtain more education can enroll in online continuing education programs.
People can return to school at any age. In fact, many older adults and working professionals are taking advantage of the opportunities provided by returning to college or earning additional degrees.