Category Archives: Career Colleges

Going to a career college can represent a significant investment of both time and money. If your goal is to get trained for a rewarding career, then it’s definitely worth it. But how do you know you’re training for a career field that is growing and will have opportunities in the future?

America’s accredited career and technical schools have the same concerns as you. They know that their success is measured by how many of their graduates are able to find good jobs in areas where there is growth and opportunity. A high job placement rate means that the college is succeeding in its mission. But if their graduates aren’t getting jobs, then the reputation of the college will suffer. When schools train students to succeed in growing career fields, everyone wins.

How do career schools decide what programs to offer? Mostly by studying trends and statistics. The best source for employment statistics is the U.S. government. The Labor Department has a division called the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS publishes vast amounts of employment information and data on its website. It’s free and available to anyone.

In the publication “Occupational Outlook Handbook” the BLS tracks and evaluates hundreds of occupations such as medical assistant, truck driver, carpenter, accountant, cosmetologist, motorcycle repair, law enforcement, graphic design, and many more. A description is provided for each job, along with information about training and advancement opportunities.

There’s also a section called “Job Outlook.” This section gives the BLS projection of the job’s future potential. That’s what career colleges want to know.

Growing Careers

For example, here’s what the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 Edition predicts for dental assisting:

“Employment is expected to grow 36 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the 2008-18 projection period.”

This is a very positive expectation. It means that despite difficult economic times in which the unemployment rate is unacceptably high, the field of dental assisting is expected to continue to create new jobs. Career colleges use this type of information to help them plan their curricula. Many career schools offer programs in dental assisting because they are confident that their graduates will be able to find opportunities in that field.

Career Fields That Are Declining

Let’s look at another example-file clerks. File clerks classify, store, retrieve, and update office information. In many small offices, they often have additional responsibilities, such as performing word processing, entering data, sorting mail, and operating copying or fax machines.

Does training to be a file clerk sound like a good idea? Here’s what the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 Edition has to say about opportunities for file clerks:

“Employment is expected to decline rapidly. Employment is expected to decline due to productivity gains from office automation and the consolidation of clerical jobs.”

The job outlook for file clerks is terrible! Career colleges recognize this. Chances are the career college or technical training school that interests you will not offer a program in file clerking. If they trained students to be file clerks, their graduates would enter a job marketplace with few opportunities.

Finding the Career College for You

Career schools are not employment agencies, and cannot guarantee you a job. But when you choose a program at a reputable career college, you can be assured that the school has done its research and is offering educational programs that reflect the current job marketplace. And that’s good to know!

So how do you choose a career college? The best way is to start online. You can read the Occupational Outlook Handbook online at http://www.bls.gov/oco/. See which careers are expected to keep growing. Then go to a reputable college directory website such as Education-For-Careers. You’ll find a search engine that allows you to specify your search terms and get information about schools that are appropriate for you. A good college directory website will have information about online programs (also called distance learning), financial aid, job placement services, and much more.

Choose four or five schools that offer what you are looking for. Compare programs and then contact them. You can apply to as many schools as you want. Once you are accepted, apply for financial aid. When you have all the information you need, then make your choice. One thing is for sure-no matter what accredited career school you choose, it’s very likely that the school has researched which careers are growing and has crafted its curriculum to meet the demands of employers.

Why go to a career college? To get your dream job, of course! Whether you focus on health care, creative arts, criminal justice, or any other career area, when you complete your program you’ll be looking forward to putting your skills to use in a rewarding new career.

But becoming qualified is the first step in your journey. To get that dream job, you have to know the secrets of successful job hunting. You need to know how to find job opportunities, how to apply, and what to do when you land that all-important interview.

Fortunately, most accredited career colleges and technical schools know that getting the training you need is only the first step. Many schools have dedicated career services offices that help graduates find jobs. These offices may be called by many different names, such as job placement or career planning, but the goal is to help you find that perfect job.

Here are some valuable tips:

1. When you are looking for a career school, check out the career services office. Make sure the college or career school has a dedicated career advisor who will take the time to work with you personally.

2. When you enroll, get to know the career services staff. Start planning your new career before graduation.

3. Many career services offices offer seminars or classes where they provide information about how to conduct a job search. Take advantage of their experience!

4. Some college career counselors offer mock job interviews. These give you the opportunity to practice and hone your interview skills.

5. Make certain your resume is clear and accurate. Don’t load it down with fancy decoration or needless commentary about how terrific you are. Let your accomplishments speak for themselves.

6. The career services office may also have access to local job listings. The key is to be realistic! Make sure that your qualifications match what the employer is looking for.

7. Professional appearance is important. When you go for an interview, remember that the employer is hiring someone who will be working as a member of the team, and who will be representing the business or office. Dress appropriately.

8. Do your research. If you apply to an administrative assistant position at a local business, take the time to find out more about what the company does.

9. If at first you don’t succeed, keep trying! Sometimes hiring decisions are made because of personality, or for reasons that may seem hard to figure out. Don’t worry. A positive attitude is the most important thing you can bring to a job interview.

10. What’s the best way to make sure that the school you want to attend has a dedicated career services department? You need to get free information. When you first start your college search, go online to a reputable college directory. You can enter the search terms that fit your situation, such as “associate degree” and your home town or ZIP code. The directory will show you a variety of choices. Check them out and compare programs, financial aid opportunities, career services, and schedules. Then with one click you can get free information from the schools you’ve chosen. If the schools offer job placement services, then make your choices and apply.

Let’s face it: today’s job market is very tough. Many industries have been laying off workers and many analysts believe that some jobs are never coming back. Take Detroit: once the automobile capital of the world, in recent years the population has dwindled, businesses are boarded up, and the auto industry has shrunk to a fraction of its former self. And even if the auto industry rebounds (which in the past few months has begun to happen) it will never return to the old days of guaranteed lifetime employment on the assembly line.

Job dissatisfaction takes many forms. Chances are good that you are one of millions of Americans who are either unemployed or underemployed. If you are unemployed, you need a job. But if you are underemployed, you are probably working at a job that you don’t like just because you need the paycheck. Or perhaps you’re in your chosen field but you lack the advanced skills to get the best job that you can.

What’s the solution? Often, it’s job training. While it’s true that many job sectors are shrinking, the fact is that many other job sectors are growing. They’re hiring! But if you don’t have the right training, you won’t get hired.

But how do you know which industries are growing? Career training can be a major personal commitment of time and money. It can take a year to earn your certificate, two years for an associate degree, and four years for a bachelor’s degree. You need to decide carefully. The last thing you want to do is spend a year training to become a machine tool setter only to realize that no one is hiring machine tool setters and you have just wasted a year of your life!

Career Colleges Spot Employment Trends
Relax. America’s career colleges and tech training schools are in business to help their graduates get jobs. And if a school’s graduates don’t get jobs, the school’s reputation suffers. Career colleges and tech schools cannot afford to offer programs in job areas that aren’t hiring. They need to offer programs in industries that are growing, even during a recession.

To meet this goal, the schools constantly review their curriculums. Every year they research U.S. government reports to see which job areas are growing. It is in these growing job categories that they offer education programs. It makes sense, doesn’t it?

For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that in the current decade from 2008 to 2018, certain occupations are expected to grow faster than average. They include:

• Dental assistants
• Medical assistants
• Athletic trainers
• Skin care specialists
• Personal and home health care aides
• Physical therapist aides
• Computer software engineers
• Pharmacy technicians
• Environmental engineers
• And many more!

Career colleges and tech schools analyze these predictions carefully and develop their program offerings to prepare students for jobs in growing industries. This is why if you contact a career college, it is highly unlikely that the school will offer a program in machine tool setting. They are more likely to offer programs in health care or computer technology.

Finding the CareerCollege that’s Right for You

How do you find the career college or technical training school that’s right for you? There are so many choices, not to mention hundreds of online programs. The best way to get free information about career training and degree programs is to log onto a reputable college directory service like the one below. The directory features only accredited and quality career and tech schools. Many offer financial aid for those who qualify and job placement services for grads.

It’s easy to get free information. Simply enter your search terms (such as “health care” or your home ZIP code) and you’ll see a selection of schools that meet your criteria. Choose the schools that match what you need and contact them. They’ll send you free information about their career training and degree programs, financial aid, career services, and much more. Once you have made your comparisons and narrowed down your choices, you’re ready to contact the admissions department. In less time than you think, you could be training for a rewarding job in a growing career field.

When you’re shopping for a new sweater, you probably want to see a wide selection. You want to compare materials-wool or poly blend? You want to look at the quality and the fit. How about styling-cardigan, pullover, or turtleneck? And you want to know the store’s return policy and, if you’re ordering online, how soon the sweater can be delivered.

You are wise to shop carefully. And now that you have decided to earn your diploma or degree at a career college, doesn’t it make sense to make the same effort and shop around? After all, college education can represent a significant investment of money and time.

But the “shopping-around” process has gotten more complex. Here’s why. In the old days, many students selected a career college based on just two criteria: the program offered and the distance from home. For example, if you wanted to earn your certificate as a medical assistant, you would locate the college nearest your home or workplace that offered a medical assisting program. As long as the college and the program were professional and affordable, your search was over. Once you enrolled, you would find that most of the other students came from a radius of not more than twenty miles from school.

Online Learning Changes Everything

Today, the growth of quality online programs has vastly increased your choices. Distance learning has transformed higher education. If you want to earn your degree in one of many professional areas including legal, health care, or business, you can earn your degree from an online college or university located virtually anywhere. Many other programs, including auto mechanics and computer networking, are hybrid, meaning you can complete part of the program online and part on campus.

Comparing Colleges and Programs

So how do you choose? Here are some guidelines that will help you apply for the college that’s right for you.

To begin, go to a reputable online college directory service such as Education-for-Careers.com. Enter your search-it could be for a program area, a degree offered, or even a geographical area. In seconds you’ll see a variety of results that meet your criteria. Then, contact three or four of your top choices and receive information about these key decision areas.

1. Online or on-campus. If you prefer a traditional on-campus experience, then you’ll want to think about the campus. Is it attractive and does it offer the facilities required to give you what you need to succeed? Are there student organizations or activities that you can participate in? If it’s online, is there opportunity for personal interaction with instructors and peers?

2. Financial aid. Most accredited career schools are eligible for federal Title IV financial aid programs. Many also offer institutional scholarships or grants for students who qualify.

3. Flexibility. Does the school offer flexible class schedules? Especially if you are a working adult, you may need to attend class on weekends or in the evenings. Online programs are generally very flexible and allow you to complete your work within a designated time frame.

4. Career Services. Most people go to college for one reason: to improve their career choices. While no college can guarantee a job to any graduate, most colleges offer job placement or career development services. Make sure that the college you’re interested in offers lifetime access to career services for graduates in good standing. Other services may include student externships, job fairs, interview prep sessions, resume writing workshops, and postings of local or industry-wide job openings.

5. Program Relevance. If you intend to change jobs, look for evidence that your new career program choice has a bright future. Most career colleges are diligent about offering only programs for careers that are currently in demand, even in a recessionary economy.

By comparing several colleges, you’ll be able to make a well-informed decision that can help you to change your life for the better.