economics24.com

November 12, 2008

How To Setup Your Personal Finance Budget

Personal Finance
Joshua Watson asked:


We all know how stressful it is when you suddenly have no money, especially if you have a family to take care of. The worst part is when you don’t know where all your money went to, one day your purse carried some weight, a few days later its empty! Where did it go? You wonder. What did I buy?

All personal finance is, is the request of funds and economics processed through an individual or through an entire family. Personal finance consists of the following, saving, credits, the investments, overall budgeting, statements of your income and the insurance and taxes that need to be paid.

When you want to work out your financial planning and your budgeting there are five easy steps that need to be followed. First of all you should sit down (with your partner if you are involved) and evaluate the situation. Then you will need to set goals for yourself/yourselves, whether it’s to do with money, home life or work. Being able to create a plan is what comes next, create a plan that you or both of you will be willing to work on and succeed. Then taking action, carry out those plans that you made, do things properly and work together. After you have done all that you will need to observe the progress you are making. If you are making no progress at all then again you need to sit down and work it out or come up with an easier, more efficient plan.

Nine times out of ten people find that it is easier for them to work out their personal finance budgeting with an expert or profession that knows exactly what they are talking about. They will be able to help you and work out a plan that will help you in the future. The answers they will give you will be detailed and most importantly, accurate. Without accuracy you won’t know what you are doing which could make your situation worse. They will also ensure you how to spend your money wisely using all the available income.

There are many experts that you could use to help you work through your problem, you just need to find the right one. Do some research and make sure to find a good one that will be able to give you that professional help and advice on your personal finances that you need. They will tell you everything you need to know, from budgeting right down to investing, catering for all of your specific needs. You will learn things that you didn’t even know existed!

These are easy steps to follow, so if you are struggling follow these steps, sit back afterwards and admire the outcome!

August 21, 2008

Continuing Education: Its Benefits in Global Development

Education
David W Morris asked:


Global Development and Continuing Education:

In most fields of study and societies, continuing education courses are a standard part of the curriculum. Continuing Education programs help students stay up to date with accessible and a relatively easy method of acquiring new information related to the changes, methods, breakthroughs and research in their field of expertise and general global development The Enoch Olinga College (ENOCIS) is one such project continuously strives to address these ever changing needs of global change focusing on training students paying special attention to cultural and intellectual background.

For many reasons, most people take an education break and don’t complete their degrees. This hiatus causes students to lose confidence and with time, even forget the study material contents. A Continuing Education course helps these students regain this self esteem and confidence in their skills helping them to complete their education.

Most continuing education courses students take are related to their previous field of study. Besides, boosting the confidence of the individual, continuing education courses also help the person to pursue the profession of his choice and form a solid career base.

Continuing Education – A key to Success:

Continuing education courses are provided in numerous subjects. These courses are also available online, in colleges and on the Internet. Online courses are the most popular amongst adult education students, because they not only facilitate communication opportunities between student and faculty but also because courses may be taken at hours convenient to them.

The origin of The Enoch Olinga College (ENOCIS) learning model can be traced to the Sons of David Foundation (SOD) which advanced the funds to create this new paradigm in learning.

Although, continuing education courses are available online, it does not mean that a student has to sit at home and study. Because of the transportability of continuing education courses and their ease of use with modern technology, on line study has generated a lot of enthusiasm. Numerous seminars and conferences are set up by educational institutions to facilitate this new and innovative interactive platform.

Continuing education courses are also used in traditional colleges and have become core material in such recognized institutions as Purdue, DeVry and Phoenix University. Although, these courses cannot be considered the same as a traditional college education, a pupil can use on line course as an adjunct to their college studies. Large numbers of recognized institutions have mushroomed up which broadens the course offerings. Courses are structured especially to address the experienced study groups and adults. In fact, on university transcripts there is no notation as to whether a class was taken on line or in a classroom environment. A degree from an accredited university is a valid degree whether on line or on campus.

Most of the courses available through on line continuing education are fields of study which are constantly evolving and regularly have new scientific breakthroughs. These on line courses actualize materials students have already learned. Traditionally, these courses don’t have a lot of introductory material because it is assumed that pupils already have knowledge about the fundamentals of the topic.

ENOCIS – a Class apart:

The duration of the continuing education courses are varied. They also have flexible hours to accommodate the needs and the requirements of the working professionals. Continuing education courses are a window of opportunity to majority of the people, who have a dream of graduating and fulfilling their career goals. Continuing education online also helps professionals to remain up to date in their field, making sure that their knowledge does not become obsolete.

There are some institutes which stand apart from the rest such as Enoch Olinga College, which helps the student in the preparation of real life experiences, helping their education not only to benefit the student but also society and family.



August 19, 2008

Master Online Special Education Degree – for Teachers Who Want to Make a Difference

Education
Jim Zorn asked:


How will the master online special education degree equip those teachers who want to make a difference? The answer is straightforward – in the USA, currently there are over 6 million students who have enrolled in these special programs.

While schools – public and private, preschool to secondary – struggle to identify and deploy qualified teachers to address these 6 million students, nobody knows for sure how many million students more need to be identified for special classes, so that they can better cope with their learning disabilities, or physical and mental handicaps.

At the same time, successive Federal and State Administrations since 1975 have sharpened their focus on creating complex systems for identifying, formulating, and delivering a highly-individualized education program to each eligible student. The cornerstone of these legislations, programs, and licensures is the highly qualified teacher.

A Master’s degree in has thus become a must for aspiring teachers, and with many of them already employed as regular teachers, master online special education degree has become the most convenient route to this profession.

What It Involves

Master online special education degree involves distance or online learning that leads to graduate degrees like Master of Education (MEd), Master of Science (MS), Master of Arts (MA), or any of the specialized master’s degrees in various sub-domains, such as dyslexia, attention-deficit, etc.

Master online special education degree courses will last upwards of one year, and might involve significant on-the-job training under an experienced special educator. Most states also require that aspiring teachers pass a licensure test, before starting their career.

Why Special Education?

On an average, teachers in this field don’t earn much more than regular teachers. On the other hand, the job responsibilities of these teachers are more demanding – they can even include defending oneself and the school’s program in court, if dissatisfied parents of challenged students opt for litigation, as has happened numerous times in various states!

Still, about 450,000 educators have opted for and currently work as special education teachers in the country. What must be the attraction?

Teachers in this field are very unlikely to encounter unemployment in the short-term or long-term. But that alone can’t be the lure to enter this profession, where sheer hard work, difficult coordination between many, and uncertain outcomes from the part of students, make life stressful.

The answer can, hence, be only that there are hundreds of thousands of teachers out there who want to make a genuine difference to the lives of these challenged students. And it is indeed a huge difference. According to estimates, four in five challenged students used to be excluded from the US education system, as near as three decades back. Official figures, tabulated around 1975, put this at 1 million students, who missed the bus.

Why Master Special Education Degree?

Teachers in this specialty are still in significant short supply. Because of this, some states have still not made it mandatory for them to have a master’s degree. In such states, bachelor’s degree holders appear for professional licensure exams and work as special education teachers.

However, more and more states are opting for a master’s degree as the minimum qualification, for a simple reason. A special ed. teacher should be capable of interacting effectively with professionals like psychologists, disability therapists, educational evaluators, educational lawyers, supervisors from the school district, regular teachers, and, of course parents of disabled students. It takes a master’s degree holder with significant on-the-job training to confidently undertake this.

Master’s degree holders in this field have also another booming avenue – they can work as instructors in colleges and universities that deliver specialized programs, and these institutions are rapidly increasing in number. They are also eligible to work as supervisors or administrators in the school districts.

A small but significant proportion of educators go for ‘ degree, so as to progress to doctoral degrees, which are also offered by more and more universities, these days.

Lastly, though special education teachers don’t earn much more than regular teachers on an average, the highest salaries drawn by special educators exceed the highest salaries drawn by regular teachers by $3,000 to $8,000. It goes without saying that almost all of those highest paid special educators are master’s degree holders.

Why Master Online Special Education Degree?

Those planning to take a master’s degree in this field are almost always regular teachers who have developed a fascination for this field. Others include psychologists, counselors, learning disability therapists, etc. Since both teachers and these professionals already hold full time jobs, it is a master online special education degree that is more suitable to them.

Secondly, only an exceptionally good regular teacher can hope to be an effective teacher of special students. Because of this, aspirants enter the regular teaching profession to garner some years of experience before attempting to study special ed. Master online special education degree perfectly fits this scheme.

Thirdly, a significant component of any education master’s degree is on-the-job training in a special school or a regular school’s special education department. Those working teachers who opt for a master online degree can thus modify their school work itself for the on-the-job training part.

Where to Study Master Online Special Education Degree?

Hundreds of universities and colleges across the country offer master online degrees in special ed. They include state or public universities, and private or independent universities. Some of the courses have small components that require occasional campus visits, while almost all require on-the-job training at a school.

Working teachers who opt for master online special education degree generally prefer studying in their own state, if not their city. Another reason for local preference is that some universities incorporate that state’s licensure requirements as part of the course. Due to strict licensure requirements, it is also important to go for an accredited course.

State or Public Universities Offering Master Online Special Education Degree

At least 12 state university systems offer master online degree in special ed. They include Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Aspirants in states like Alabama, Florida, and Kansas, are especially fortunate, with multiple public universities offering the course. Florida perhaps tops the nation with its three public universities offering this degree. Some of the prestigious state universities offering the course across the nation are:

ALABAMA: Auburn University, Auburn, University of South Alabama, Mobile
FLORIDA: Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of West Florida
INDIANA: Ball State University
KANSAS: Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University
KENTUCKY: University of Louisville, Louisville
MICHIGAN: University of Michigan, Dearborn
MISSOURI: University of Missouri, Columbia
NEBRASKA: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
NEW JERSEY: New Jersey City University
NORTH CAROLINA: University of North Carolina
PENNSYLVANIA: Clarion University of Pennsylvania
TEXAS: Texas Tech University

Private or Independent Universities Offering Online Degrees

At least 10 well-known private or independent universities in 8 states offer master online special education degree. These states include Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. Arizona and Iowa top the list with two private universities each, offering the course. Florida and Pennsylvania are perhaps the only two states that have both public and private universities offering the course. Some of the well-known private schools offering online degrees are:

ARIZONA: Grand Canyon University, University of Phoenix
CALIFORNIA: La Sierra University
FLORIDA: Nova Southeastern University
IOWA: Graceland University, Kaplan University
MINNESOTA: Bethel University
VIRGINIA: Regent University
WASHINGTON: City University

What to Expect From Master Online Special Education Degree, in the Future?

The high performance expected from special edd teachers will ensure that a master’s degree in this field becomes an absolute must in all states. As it is working teachers who are more likely to go for a master’s degree in this subject, and because the course itself is dominated by on-the-job training, college degree master online might even upstage regular courses in the subject, in the near future.

Recent stricter regulations from the part of administrations regarding expected student performance, and better awareness about learning disabilities from the part of parents, will make sure that more and more students will be presented for evaluation. This scenario will drive the demand for qualified and trained special educators, giving further momentum to master online special ed. degree courses.

The most likely change in course content will be super-specializations in special education, with probably different master’s degrees built around different learning disabilities or handicaps.

August 18, 2008

The Art Of Career Planning

Careers
Jason West asked:


Do you plan your vacations? Do you plan your weekly activities? It would make perfect sense then, to create a plan for a successful career, right? The term “career planning” is foreign to most people, but it is a very important process by which we reach our goal of attaining the career we desire.

The definition of career is “a person’s progress or general course of action through life or through a phase of life, as in some profession or undertaking” (striving for a goal). What is the definition of planning? Planning is “a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance” or “a specific project or definite purpose” (such as preparing for the future). So, for our purposes, let’s say that career planning is “A goal that you desire to achieve in a selected field or occupation with a well thought out plan to get you there”.

Why is it important to decide on a career goal?

A career goal can:

Help you focus and make decisions on what it is you want to do for a living.

Function is a motivator and therefore helps you accomplish your goal.

Assist you in discovering hidden abilities or skills you might not have otherwise realized you possessed.

Keep you from wandering from job to job.

Once a specific job (such as a teacher) or area of expertise (such as business) has been chosen, steps need to be taken to reach that goal. A goal is “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed”. We would like to see our efforts result in having the career of our dreams.

Now,” why is career planning important?” We must consider that the world around us is constantly changing. In order to meet new challenges as time goes by, one aspect of career planning is to look to the future to see what additional training or knowledge is necessary to continue to excel in a specific field. Most people today are constantly learning throughout their careers.

Six steps are taken in the career planning process:

1. Self-Assessment – evaluate and judge your abilities
2. Career Exploration – researching different careers
3. Targeting – deciding on what goals to set
4. Career Preparation – workshops, seminars, internships
5. Marketing Yourself – a professional resume, dress, and attitude
6. Career Management – “rolling” with the trends in your particular field and realizing when our own needs or interests change

It is possible that these steps will be taken several times throughout a lifetime.

Something else to consider is to find a mentor in your field who is willing to assist you as you achieve your goals. They can be invaluable to you!

Goal setting is a learned skill and crucial to success in a career. Just as with any sport or hobby, “practice makes perfect”. Those who are successful in achieving their life’s dream (career) set both short-term and long-term goals. If it is helpful to you, write them down. The long-term goals will need to be re-evaluated from time to time as interests or circumstances vary.

Why is career planning an ‘art’? Because it is a skill that we obtain through study, practice and/or observation. Gather your information, set your goals and go after the career of your dreams!

The Advantages of Career Coaching

Careers
pintoo asked:


 
Career coaching can make your life a lot more rewarding from a professional point of view. Career coaching refers to a careful assessment of your skills, experience and training, analyzed in the objective context of your country’s statistical data. By assessing your opportunities, you will know exactly what your chances are of getting employed in a certain profession based on the market requirement for that special sector. Moreover, people who, for whatever reasons, face problems at their present workplace may undertake career coaching as a way to cope with their problems. The focus will be on helping you discover what you want to do with your life and how you can achieve what you want.
 
A career coach will help you decide:
- What you want
- What you are good at
- How you can achieve what you want
 
 
If people were equipped with relevant information pertaining to the lucrative opportunities available in their field of expertise, and if they knew their prospects for career growth beforehand, they would be a lot more content with their lives and professional achievements. Unemployment rates would drop while satisfaction levels would soar. In the past, people were not aware of the advantages of career coaching. Today, this is no longer the case.
 
Through an online career coaching, for instance, you will actually access the salary and job growth data specific to your country. You will know precisely how much money you could expect from your employer vis-à-vis your job attributes and responsibilities.
 
Suppose you are just starting out, career coaching can help you identify the right job. Education and training are essential for mapping career opportunities. A good career coaching program will point out the exact type of qualification needed for you to occupy a certain position. Thus, you’ll save a lot of time by avoiding costly mistakes, like going for interviews that you don’t stand a chance for. Once you clearly assess your skills and qualification, your job search will be a lot more focused and rewarding.
 
A career coach will maximize your chances of landing a job that is congruent with your personal needs. Whether you are looking for a new job or aiming at achieving higher success in your current job, a career coach can boost your chances of success. In turbulent times such as these, a career coach can provide you with all the support your career needs.
 
Career coaching specificity varies from one country to another. It depends on the economic growth and the employment rate of that country, the job market and the availability of a particular task force. Therefore, in case you choose a job assessment that is run online, make sure to check what area of the world it is valid for. Good luck!
 
Career coaching Find your dream career with access to 1000’s of career and educational resources. Offers unique career assessment test that can help you make better life decisions. Take a free Career test now online!
 
The advantages of career coaching Find your dream career with access to 1000’s of career and educational resources. Offers unique career assessment test that can help you make better life decisions. Take a free Career test now online!
 

3 Secrets To A Successful Career Path

Careers
Tony Jacowski asked:


Secret #1 – The Definition of “Job” and “Career”

A fast food position is a job. Being an accountant is a career. It’s important to understand the difference between the two and not just settle for the former. In the beginning, lots of people work at their “job” while also training for their “careers”.

Development Issues: Careers develop over time – and you will realize whether a particular career is valuable and acceptable to you. There will come a time when you will realize the true significance of a career. Generally, career specialists are of the same opinion – that careers are progressive and change over time – what you decide to do at 18, 25 and 30 will sometimes be markedly different.

There will be occasions where you will probably may have quite different views of every profession and still remain in a dilemma as to what career to pursue. Settling down in a particular career is a decision you can make only when you determine the areas you are good at and the activities that you enjoy doing.

Secret # 2 – Be Familiar with Yourself and What You Want

One of best ways to be unsuccessful in your search for the right career is to be unclear as to what you want. In Secret # 1, it was said that it is all right not to have a specific career track (at least in the beginning), since it is impractical to believe that you can flawlessly prepare a career path.

On the other hand, you should be very observant when you are hunting for a job. You should be able to determine that a career you are submitting an application for is heading in the right direction, even though you may be a bit unclear on your long-term objectives.

The Kind of Jobs that are Appropriate for Me: Evaluate your strong points, interests, principles, and character. Make use of career guides and personality tests. Try seeking guidance from a certified career coach or therapist.

No matter what techniques or tools you use, you will be accumulating a private assessment and outline that will direct you on a suitable career path.

Secret # 3 – Identify What You Have to Offer

There is no doubt that you must be able to highlight your skills, strengths and accomplishments when applying for a position. Prospective employers simply want to know what you have to offer. They will ask you the question “What can you achieve for us?” In order to be able to answer this, you must market your skills and expertise well, as well as your ability to adapt quickly to changing environments.

Carrying out an evaluation of yourself, as supported in Secret # 2, is one method to develop your self-marketing plan. Your interests, expertise, and principles form the foundation of your career. They also give prospective employers a good idea as to who you are and how you will be valuable to their business.

August 17, 2008

Advice on Picking and Developing a Career

Careers
Josh Stone asked:


Have you wondered why it seems some people are so successful in their career and others are not? This is true, since most people who are unsuccessful in their career give up their hopes and dreams. These are the people who settle for something lower than their own capabilities would qualify them for. They did not do the things which people who are successful in their career do, which is keeping their focus on their future path, and working towards it no matter what may happen.

So how did successful people attain their desired profession and achieve their satisfied career success? The first thing they did was to carry out a session of career goal setting. To perform career goal setting successfully, you must state your career desires explicitly and write them down. This provides you with a basic outline to follow when you set your ideal career goals. With your career goals written out, you know what your final destination looks like and can steadily work towards it.

Also, when carrying out career goal setting, be sure you do not assume that you can achieve your long-term career goals easily and successfully without effort. There is a risk in trying to reach the end without having some mid-term and short-term goals along the way. To prevent this potential mistake, always start from the end and work backwards, since this provides you with the elements for a successful career. Moreover, seeing it from the end to the beginning gives you an idea about how that the long term career goals is achievable.

Suppose you are attending university to become a doctor. Your parents persuaded you to have everything that was part of becoming a doctor written out in a detailed form. By asking you to perform the above steps, they were actually asking you to carry out career goal-setting on the way to becoming a doctor. This includes the short-term, mid-term and long-term career goals of yours. Because you knew everything that was covered in going to university, you were able to do better than the average student. You were aware of every element in pursuing that doctor career and this prepared you well for the challenges you have faced.

People delude themselves into thinking that having a successful career will come easily. However, when reality strikes, they become fearful and quit without achieving their goal. Being prepared mentally requires it of you to be disciplined and persistent in order to overcome fears of failure, and thus you can achieve your career goals. Always expect the best from yourself and do not settle for anything less than what you know you are capable of achieving.

Just about everyone wants to advance in his or her chosen occupation. No one wants to simply stay put. The nature of living makes people want to get somewhere else and grow. But few people, those not lacking a self-starter capacity, really know how to make their own advancement happen.

Career development is not very complex, which is not to say that it is an easy task to accomplish. On the contrary, it requires a tremendous amount of discipline and determination to be able to maximize the resources available to you, such as your time, money, and energy. However, once you have mastered the skill of using what you have to the fullest effect, you will be well on your way to personal growth and new career advancement.

Some things that many have found help them in their career prospecting are:

Reading extensively. In many fields, taking your time and reading is one of the best things you can do to educate yourself. An oft-quoted study shows that Americans on average read only one book each year after graduation. Obviously, in a rapidly changing world, one book per year is not nearly enough. If you expect to get anywhere in this competitive world, you will do your share of studying and researching, if only in the subject areas which will apply to your line of work.

A large number of self-development professionals say that anyone who aspires to be a leader in their industry must read for at least thirty minutes each day. After all, they say, reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. By keeping your mind sharp and by staying abreast of the news and developments in your field, you will have a decided advantage over those who simply do not bother to take this kind of time.

Another tip is to provide what is required. Whether you work for a firm or bravely operate your own business, a fundamental principle is to give your clients or customers what they want. If you are an employee, giving the customers what they want is really giving your boss, who qualifies as your customer in this scenario, what he wants in terms of work productivity. If you operate a business, this principle requires no further explanation.

Always try to find out what it is that is expected of you, and what people want to receive from you as well. As a business owner, this will mean conducting some market research. As an employee, this will mean making a study of your own company and finding the area where your unique skills are most certain to have an effect.

Whenever the hard work to get ahead seems to be too much, remember that the temptation to quit will be strongest just before you succeed.

Career Mapping For A Smooth Journey

Careers
Tony Jacowski asked:


You can dream of being a Vice President, but you may not know how to reach that position. If you don’t have a career map, then eventually you may end up being in the same position as before.

Career mapping can be highly beneficial at any stage of your career. Whether you are entering the workplace for the first time or you are a veteran of the rat race, career mapping can prove to be one an invaluable tool – particularly if you are thinking of switching careers.

A career map is a two-piece document that actually summarizes a person’s career strategy. In short, it is like a road map that will guide you throughout your work life. You should refer to your road map when you want to reach a destination; similarly, you should use your career map when you want to go ahead in your career. A career map is particularly handy when you experience job loss through downsizing or layoffs – when you have a career map, you won’t have to panic, because your strategy will already be in place.

Career mapping can help you go about achieving your goals with purpose and clarity, whether that is advancing in your current career or searching for a new one.

Overview

This point clarifies what it is that you would like to accomplish in the future – in as short as one year or as long as five – and gives you the route that you need to take to get there. There are times when you may have to change the map suddenly when you find a lucrative job opening or when you realize that you have taken a wrong turn in your career – so it pays to be flexible.

Marketing Plan

If you are presently working long hours and not making the kind of money that you want, it could be a matter of insufficient focus. Decide which aspect of your profession is the most valuable, and develop a plan to market your knowledge, skills and experience to get a position that’s right for you.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Maximize your strengths through experience and reduce your weakness through education. If you are stuck, then you can consult a career coach or counselor.

Plan of Action

Once you know your goals, then you need to identify how you will get there. You can do this by talking to experts or getting help from a mentor. Similarly, you should seek advice from people in similar positions that are already successful.

Financial Plan

Analyze why you want to change your career and direct your strengths to influence your finances. Look at your present position and then set a pattern to monitor your progress.

If you want to change your career for the better, then it pays to have a plan. Having a career map is one of the best tools for getting you where you need to go.

Is It Time For A New Career Change?

Careers
James Copper asked:


Career change is one of the most important decision and the most important step in ones life. This career change can alter ones life completely and change it for ever. People change careers because they find their current careers boring, monotonies, and unchallenging. There are people who change their careers because they want to try out something new. There are many career changing options available. The industries have become more flexible and are welcoming multi tasking individuals. There are many examples of people who have changed their careers and have been successful at it.

A few important things that one should consider before changing one career are that The fore most thing is to identify the correct reason for which you are changing your a career. There can be many things like friend’s influence, monotonous job, lack of growth opportunities, lack of passion, lack of incentives, etc. Once you understand the basic reason why you want to change your career then you will be in a position to think of the new career options.

The second most important thing is to choose a new career. The choice of the new career should be made according to the job opportunities, the growth option, and the pay packages and last but not the least your passion for the new career. There is no point in changing ones career just for the sake of changing it. One should have a strong enough to change his or her career and then also should be confident of doing well in the new career. Then one should also check out the courses that are on offer for the new career. Taking these courses will help you get a better job in that field and will also be helpful for your growth.

There are many part time courses that are available and can help you change your profession. For, example if an IT professional undergoes a part time course for fashion designing and if he is good at it, then he can change is career and become a fashion designer. If there is commerce graduate and he undertakes computer language courses then he can turn into an IT professional. There are no limitations on which course you can undertake or which sector you can work in, each and every career has some pros and cons. There are also career options like modeling, acting singing, drawing, carpentry, sports, business, stock brokers, etc.

While making a career change decision, you must ensure that you have some financial back up, in case you have to wait for a while before you land the new job. This financial savings back up will also allow you some time to deliberate over the various options and will not force you into making a decision in a hurry. After all, your first career choice may have been influenced by peer pressure, parental insistence or simply something random you thought you would like to try. A career change may be a way to correct some such mistakes or simply a way to experience something new.

August 16, 2008

Importance of Career Planning—mapping our Future

Careers
Munir Moosa Sewani asked:


Career means profession, which we want to adopt for earning livelihood, and planning means proper flow or to make proper decisions.

Pre- planning in our life plays very important role in every aspect of life, to work in a proper flow, and pre-planning for career, which we want to pursue in our future ahead after acquiring certain level of degree is also very necessary in today’s competitive world.

According to the Thorndike dictionary

“A goal that you desire to achieve in a selected field or occupation with a well-thought out plan, to get you there is called Career Planning.”

The world is now moving very fast, and the time has come when this meritocratic society accepts only those, having right qualification and right skills.

Olden days are gone, when just a degree would help an individual to get high profile job by giving bribe or using some other mean. Now it’s high time, when the transparency in job recruitment has taken place.

Challenges and competition are the part of today’s society, and therefore, Career Planning is the only task, which can guide us to do what we want to do in our life, rather than just aimlessly changing job all the time in future.

We have seen many Pakistani, who after completing Intermediate don’t know where to go, what to do and we have also seen graduates, who aimlessly do graduation without any specialization. As a result, they earns just in 6-8 figures.

Career Planning is one of the broader aspects of learning in our existence. We all have some intentions and we all think to have stability in our future lives, and for that purpose, CAREER PLANNING serves as a key to success.

Career Planning makes a person to think suitably about their positive and negative aspects. All about their interest, about their creativity becomes possible through proper analyzing ourselves.

Career Planning basically starts, when a person finishes Secondary/ Higher Secondary level of education. After that level, a person could opt for that educational degree, which would help them out to have a good job opportunity according to their skills at the right time.

Career Planning helps us to design and formulate our future smoothly. Like, If a person wants to be a banker, then he or she would choose to go for ACCA or CA or MBA in finance after completing Intermediate in commerce and Graduation in commerce/ business administration.. Else he/ she would go for CAT course or Masters in Commerce or even upto doctorate level.

This pre-planning would be effective and would give him/her benefits after achieving educational targets effectively.

It also helps us to evaluate our own personality, which helps us to know that which kind of job would suit us according to our need and capabilities.

In short, Career Planning is like mapping our future.

Without proper planning, no one could think of getting a desired job in future.

Think what we want to do and finding out more about the kind of training, education, and skills we will need to achieve our career goal is the core objective of career planning.

It help us knowing the nature of the jobs that interest us, such as educational requirements, salary, working conditions, fringe benefits, promotion chances, future prospectus, and help us focusing in the right dimension.

Career planning directs us, motivates us, and helps us to accomplish what we want. A career goal is a specific vision such as an architect or a teacher or a career goal can be a particular field, which we want to work in, such as Media, Education, Medicine, Engineering etc.

For those who will think about their future and career after completing education without any long term desired goals are the one, whose all attempt might end in smoke.

There are some cases and situation, which bound a person to pre-plan in advance, such like family high family business status, lack of interest in studies or traditional job, low motivation, low financial status etc or some past educational traumas, which had made a person to plan after wards.

Career planning is a life time process we are always learning and growing, and as we do, our interests and needs also change. Career planning is not just making plans to obtain our career, but it also help us to make many adjustments there will be along the ways we learn throughout our lives.

Those who have successful careers like educators, business man, manager, pilot, architect, banker, doctor etc are the one, who has made their ways through proper guidance.

No doubt, that our parents have some wishes and expectations from us, but we have our own too. Therefore, we should also consider others opinion. For that we could take guidance from an educational counselor to get better guidance towards new dimensional fields as well. Teacher, professionals, career guidance websites, Head educational consultants can also guide us, to have a better approach for our future.

We must have freedom of speaking and freedom of choosing our career as we have to lead our lives which interest us. We must try to have an open mind in order to choose the right career on right time.

According to one renowned professor,

“Few of us like to opt for those degree courses, which their family or friend has advised them to adopt and this inappropriate knowledge trapped them into a great mistake and

In this way, they are unable to get good job opportunities according to their interests. Only Proper Career Guidance would help an individual to be on the right path before hand. Few of us try to seek the right path and take guidance from family or teacher to tell them what is good for them, which career is in demand and which career suits their interest.”

The future is un-predictable, however, we could still make our place in this meritocratic world by making career goals and plans in advance, for getting better opportunities in todays pluralistic and globalize world.

We must pre-plan our goals under the supervision of professionals in conscious state of mind, so that we could strategically maintain our goals and follow it towards the path of successful future.

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