Blog Post: Not Just Any School Will Do

I've mentioned several times that a down economy is good opportunity to look at gaps you may have in your education or training. Specifically, obtaining a degree is critical to being competitive in most career fields. Chances are, I'm not telling you anything you don't know. Additionally, many of you reading this are insecure about your computer skills or some other critical skill set for your profession.

Although this a good opportunity to address those gaps, make sure you are deliberate about which schools you attend. Some do not give you the bang for your buck, from an employer's point of view. Employers have begun limiting which schools and institutions they will reimburse their employees for. If they will not reimburse an employee for got to a particular school, they are certainly not seeking out candidates with degrees or credentials from those same schools. Know which schools are respected for your profession. Some guidelines:

Check with the Professional Association

The professional association for your chosen profession will not only maintain a list of recommended (and accredited) institutions, but they may also provide the trainings you are looking for. Typically, professional associations are well respected for their training programs.

Check with Employers

Use your network to find out which institutions are preferred by employers. Members of your network should freely tell you which schools or organizations their organization respects. See what the trend is from those you ask. Never rely on just one company's opinion. Remember, your goal is to appeal to the broadest audience possible.

For a Degree Program, Check the Accreditation Online

Look at the accreditation of the school you are interested in. There are always (ALWAYS) organizations that will accredit virtually any school. Schools and programs accredited by 1 or 2 organizations are suspect. ASU, for example, has over 140 accreditations. The key is which organizations are accrediting the school you are interested in. Some accrediting bodies have very poor reputations. You can learn this by asking the school, visiting their web site, and comparing one school with another (with regard to who is accrediting them). Typically, not only is the school accredited, but the specific program is accredited as well.

If researching the schools online becomes confusing, always rely on your network. Employer are generally pretty picky about which schools they respect, especially with the current abundance of schools. If your network is telling you generally the same information about particular schools, I'd seriously consider that feedback.

As always, for help with more job hunting tips, resume writing, or interviewing, attend one of our seminars (http://www.careerdevelopmentaz.com/seminar.html). 3 hours of focused, individualized help!

Good luck in your search!