7 Questions That Will Save You a BUNDLE on an Education

7 Questions You Should Research Before Pursuing an Education

1. What is my local job market?
When seeking education, most of us are not looking to relocate and move, we are looking to change-up our current circumstances. Learn about the job market you are in. Who are the large employers? What are the prevalent employment opportunities? Is there a hiring need? All of these answers will help guide you in successfully pursuing a degree for a market that can be utilized.

2. What is the job placement rate of this degree?
Goes with the theme of question number one; make sure you are seeking a degree that links to work opportunities. If a program has a 10% graduate job placement rate, maybe that's not the best one to pursue. Or, there may be a strong option that you had looked over that should be re-considered.

3. What is the expected earnings of an individual with this degree?
Gaining a degree comes with the impression of increased earning potential. That is not always the case. Do your research to make certain you have realistic expectation about this endeavor. Education has financial and time costs involved, and expected earnings need to be calculated.

4. What do I know about the jobs I would seek with my degree?
Job shadow, ask questions, research! Do yourself the favor of developing a clear path with your education. How is it getting you to where you want to go? And, do you REALLY want to go there? Obtaining a degree, graduating, and then doing the work to find out its really not for you is not the best use of your time and energy.

5. Do I see myself long-term in this field?
Education is to build knowledge and enhance understanding. It is a building block. Knowing about your field of interest and being ready to pursue it long-term is the best way to enter into a degree. It can change as you learn more, but be well-intended when you start, or you'll learn a lot about something you may not care to.

6. Are there other means to achieve my career goals?
There are many routes to a dream job and the most cost-effective in many fields is to get right to work. Often companies offer apprenticeships or on-site training to candidates which (1) gets you a paycheck, (2) builds your experience and (3) gives you industry contacts and references. It is always good to know if these opportunities are available.

7. Am I ready to start as entry-level after graduation?
This is all too often a shock to graduates. Education is very important, and definitely strengthens a candidates' chances of gaining employment. But if they have not done the job before, they are most likely going to be starting from the bottom-up. Be ready for this.