In a world where the number of college graduates has risen exponentially over the last few years, keeping ahead of the competition can seem like an impossible task. But coupled with rising inflation, can you afford not to be investing in your future? And, depending on which route you take, it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you fear. Here are some ideas for staying one step ahead.
University
Going to college might be part and parcel for you, you may have already been, and you proudly hold your degree. Yet with degrees becoming more and more common, you need to step it up to beat the competition. A degree will give you a serious edge over those who don’t have one. Having a master’s degree will put you ahead of a bachelor’s degree – and it goes on, through a PhD and then becoming a Professor. But that route isn’t for everyone.
What you can do, if you don’t want to climb the degree ladder, is to take extra classes, or attend lectures in subjects that will help you in your chosen career. Most Universities offer lectures which are open to the interested public – so, get in contact with your local college and see what’s being offered.
Studying at University can be expensive, a lot of students take out loans to see them through – so it is a big life commitment. You could consider studying part-time so that you are able to work full-time around your studies.
Skill Specific Classes
You may decide that, rather than committing to years of study, you just need some particular skills to achieve the career you want. These skills can be anything from computer skills to craft skills; a set of VBA training classes, or a day of hospitality training.
Be careful of which classes you sign up for – the price you pay might be anywhere from $50 to $500. But regardless of price, make sure that the teacher is a trained authority on the subject, and that you get something out of it, like a qualification or certificate that proves that you have undergone this training.
Optimize
Some other ways to stay ahead of the competition is to optimize your approach. Your resume is likely to be the first thing that a potential employer sees, so make sure it is the best of the best. These days most large companies use a program which sifts through all applications and grabs the important parts. This does mean that any ill-structured resumes are going to get disregarded before they even hit the boss’ desk. You can do it yourself, or you can pay for an expert to do it for you. Again, do your research and find the most reputable place before paying anything.
You should also optimize yourself – become interview savvy. This can be completely free; you just need to familiarize yourself with probable interview questions, prepare yourself and be confident in your abilities.
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