CAREERS NOW 05-14-08

The Best Strategies For Going Back To School

DEAR JOYCE: Having been laid off, I visited the unemployment office. I was told that since I do not have an associate degree, I am not "job-ready." I was a stay-at-home mom with a high school diploma who entered the workforce at age 40 because of divorce. I moved from my own home decorating business to a series of jobs in retail, real estate and substitute teaching. I even got a paralegal certificate in my state.

At age 51, I'm still lost. I get jobs easily but they just do not pay enough. How can I get a job that will pay at least $35,000 a year? Do I really need an associate degree? - V.L.

Employers think you have a job-hopping career record - unfocused, uncommitted. Start referring to your record as "diversified" and speak of how the breadth of your previous experiences and achievements coalesces to bring unique value to a target job.

Why is your state employment counselor recommending an associate degree program from a two-year community college? Probably the recommended degree is seen as a vehicle to give you a fresh start, especially if you choose a terminal vocational program preparing you for a specific occupation (vs. the first two years of core education that can be transferred to a four-year baccalaureate program). Here are strategies to help you out of a career maze.

Get acquainted with "inner you." I don't agree that an associate degree is necessarily your best bridge to the future but I do agree that you should visit the career services center at your local community college. Ask for validated interest testing. If not free, the testing will be modestly priced. Another approach: Ask a librarian for career self-discovery books and read them cover to cover.

You are not ready to seek additional education or training until you know why you're doing it and what you're chasing - other than $35,000 a year.

Find your motivated skills. Motivated skills are work activities that you do with pleasure, paid or unpaid. Your background suggests that you have sales skills. Do you like selling? If so, that's a motivated skill for you. Try to identify skills that you do well that you like doing.

Research end results for others. Even if you spend two years preparing for an occupation with screaming demand, such as nurse, you may not have an easy time launching your new boat. I sporadically hear from readers who assumed college or more college was their answer. It wasn't. Instead they became better educated unemployed people.

You've understandably followed a pattern of survival thus far, one characterized by charging ahead without serious thought of situations to come -the fire, ready, aim syndrome. Since that hasn't worked out for you, change your direction by A) researching the specifics of a potential occupational decision, and B) asking school officials for details of how easily older graduates found jobs as a result of an education or training program you're considering.

Make ends meet. While you work out a direction for a more rewarding and better- paying future, contact staffing companies for temp assignments.

DEAR JOYCE: My story is too long to go into here but I believe my workplace rights have been violated. Can I file a complaint by telephone or online with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)? - T.A.T.

EEOC statistics released this spring show that the number of filings for discrimination claims is rising substantially. Speculation about what's fueling the increase includes a court case and the economy, but many think it's because Web use has made it easier to file charges. Look for the new online charge assessment form and details on eeoc.gov. Whatever the root cause for the jump in filings, a charge has to be signed and you can call 800-669-6820, but only to start the complaint process.

Email Joyce
Sorry, the volume of mail makes personal replies impossible.