Posts Tagged ‘Post Secondary Education’

The Importance of Post-Secondary Education in Furthering Your Career

April 28th, 2010



For a great number of reasons, having a post-secondary education is vital to furthering your career– no matter your field or profession. In today’s business world, your options for career advancement can be limited –or sometimes eliminated– by not having a post-secondary education. Many types of careers actually require post-secondary education as a prerequisite for entry to that particular field. Even in those occupations where post-secondary education is not a mandatory prerequisite, it is certainly viewed in a favorable light by employers.

When employers go through the process of screening job applicants, they look to find candidates who have the skills and knowledge to effectively perform the essential functions of the job that is available. However, employers also want to select candidates who are likely to have long-term success within the company, giving them reason to remain with the company for a long period of time. In other words, employers try to reduce the potential for turnover by hiring highly qualified candidates who not only have a genuine interest in the job for which they are applying, but also an ability to grow and expand to new and higher positions.

When you have completed a post-secondary education in your chosen field, you demonstrate to employers that (a) you have formal training that has prepared you with at least entry-level skills related to that occupation and (b) you are committed to pursuing a long-term career in that particular field. The fact that you started and completed a post-secondary education program gives employers confidence in both your qualifications and your commitment. Because of this, the completion of post-secondary education in the field is often the deciding factor in the hiring process.

Even if you were able to gain employment in the field of your choice without any post-secondary education, it is certainly in your best interest to pursue continuing education if your want to advance your career. By pursuing advanced education related to your career field, you will acquire skills that help you perform better in your job. Additionally, your actions will demonstrate to your employer your continued commitment to your chosen profession.

Having a post-secondary education can also benefit you financially. Without a post-secondary education, there are a number of jobs for which you will not even be eligible for consideration. For many positions, the starting salary differs depending on the level of education that you have completed. Many times, pay raises and promotions are also tied to completion of post-secondary education programs. Therefore, while you might be able to gain entry to a particular occupation without a post-secondary education, you can’t move up –or make more money– until you complete additional studies.

By: Amy Nutt

High School Education Completion – Broadening Opportunities

March 5th, 2010



Many entry-level jobs require completion of a high school education. A high school diploma is also in many cases necessary in order to advance to higher positions as well as to advance in occupational training and post-secondary education. Modern culture is highly information-based and those who have not acquired the information granted through completing high school courses may be left far behind.

Those who do not have high school diplomas and are interested in exploring options for completing high school education would do well to look very closely into the academic standards and accreditations of the home schooling and other such programs that they are considering. Spending the time and money on programs that in the end do not result in recognized accreditation is far from worthwhile.

There are programs that enable students to earn a regionally accredited high school diploma, which is the most recognized form of high school education completion. These home schooling programs can be distinguished from the many home schooling programs that do not offer regional accreditation. There are also programs that have top academic standards that well prepare students for the competitive work force and for further educational endeavors.

Accredited high school diploma courses are designed by public-school instructors who are state-certified. It is highly reputable and among the top schools in fully-accredited (regionally, trans-regionally, nationally and internationally) home-study. It is also one of the most affordable regionally accredited distance education high school programs in America. Classes do not need physical attendance but can be taken online, from the convenience of home and at a pace that works best for each student.

For additional information about the superior home schooling high school education programs offered by Continental Academy and to fill out a brochure request, visit http://www.continentalacademy.com.

By: Karen Kirby

Do Employers View Private College Education As Equivalent To Community College Education?

February 23rd, 2010



Choosing where to go for post secondary education has gotten harder in the last few years. Even though there are more choices and options available, there are also more people going to college and entering the workforce. Future graduates have always had to think about a college’s location, price, curriculum and reputation, and nowadays they also have to think about what their school will look like on their resume.

A lot of students have the bad habit of changing their minds about what career they would like to have, and unfortunately, this comes with changing majors. Some changes are small, but there are students that completely change direction and have to alter their course load, and this would be more difficult at a private college. Private colleges are much more expensive, and it would cost a student an awful lot of money to change his or her mind!

These days, a student has to make extra sure that they know exactly what they want to do for a living before they decide what kind of school to go to. This way, they will know which school will look the best on their resume. Whether or not an employer will care about which type of college an applicant lists on their resume all depends what career choice someone makes. Some employers barely look at the education part of a resume, caring more about skill and experience, while others scrutinize the education section.

If you are looking to make a career out of a job that is more skill based, it would probably be a better idea to choose a good community college. These types of colleges tend to offer much more hands on experience and learning than private colleges. Employers will be more likely to hire a student right out of college if they have had this type of learning. If your goal is to make a career out of a job that is more knowledge based, a private college may be a good choice. These fields can be more competitive, and employers are more likely to look at the education part of your resume.

There is a middle ground between the two career types discussed above, and for this broad span of career choices, students need not worry about which school to choose. These employers will probably mostly care about the fact that you have the education and experience for the job and will not be concerned about whether you went to a community college or a private college.

If you fall into that “middle ground”, you can feel free to make your choice based on what the school offers you, as opposed to choosing between community and private. If you have the money to spend, a private college might be a good choice, and if a community college has just what you are looking for, then it would be just as good a choice for you.

By: Amy Nutt