Today’s market place is dicey, to put it mildly. That degree you put thousands of dollars into? It might not carry the prestige and weight that it once did when businesses are focusing on their bottom lines. Businesses want effectiveness, not legacy.

Where do you start?

Your paramount concern for professional longevity is to remain skilled and versatile. Businesses are reorganizing and job duties that work partners once performed for you may soon be your responsibility.

Many future career climbers facing this reality are reflexively reaching for the M.B.A. degree programs online and at career colleges. Why? It’s kind of like the Swiss Army knife of master’s degrees. But is that the best degree choice for you? Perhaps it’s time to consider some of these alternatives to the M.B.A.

Master’s in Marketing

Forget the degree concentration; why not pursue a degree that focuses entirely on marketing? You can eliminate general business fare and focus on more interesting areas such as:

• Psychographics
• Consumer psychology
• Demographics
• Analytics
• Business metrics

Master of Human Resources

Why waste time and energy memorizing snoozers like general corporate finance. Focus instead on dynamic areas of corporate concerns such as law, policy, and human relations. A higher degree in Human Resources immediately sets you apart, and clears the way for a long journey of upward mobility.

Master of Health-Care Administration

A specialized degree that’s a smart choice for people who plan career advancement within hospitals, physician’s clinics, insurance companies, or an extended-care facility. Health care is just going to keep expanding. So why not invest in some real job security?

These are just a few of the many options you can plan for. All you have to do to get started is use our search for Master’s level degree programs. US College Search can make it easy and quick so you can take your next step to better things!

 The past few weeks have been a busy time for President Obama, Vice President Biden and all of the other members of the new administration. This has also meant big life changes for these elected officials’ family members. In “Second Lady,” Jill Biden’s case, this means a new job.

Before Barack Obama selected Joe Biden to be his vice presidential candidate, Jill Biden, Joe’s wife, was an English professor at Delaware Technical and Community College. But because her husband’s new job required the family to move to Washington, Jill decided to seek out a job in her new hometown as well. With her impressive career experience and education background, Dr. Biden received several job offers from D.C.-area colleges and universities. But ultimately, she chose to accept a position at Northern Virginia Community College.

Some have publicly wondered why Dr. Biden would choose to teach in a community college when job offers were also extended to her from prestigious Washington universities. The answer is simple: Jill Biden believes firmly in what she calls, “the power of community colleges to endow students with critical life skills.” She even wrote her dissertation on this very subject.

Dr. Jill Biden definitely understands the value of community and junior colleges, and the importance of the students who attend these institutions. So if you’re considering enrolling in a community college near you, get ready for an education that you can feel great about – community colleges can be an excellent way to build a strong, affordable educational foundation. And don’t forget to stay on the lookout for professors who may one day become national political celebrities!

Don’t wait for your company to start laying off people before you start looking for a new job or consider going back to school for additional training. If you have a keen eye, you can start to look for the warning signs of your job being in jeopardy.In today’s economy, having a jump-start on job searching can be the difference in getting the job or being up against your peers in a larger hiring pool.Here are some warning signs to look out for:

• Mergers and Acquisitions: If your company is merging with another, you can bet that there are other people who can perform the same job as you. That puts your job in jeopardy.
• Jaguars Become Rabbits: If you see the boss down-grading his nice, new Jaguar for the more reasonable Volkswagen Rabbit, it’s not a great sign. This could mean a drastic cost-cutting measure including layoffs.
• People No Longer Seek Your Opinion: You used to be the “go to” person when people were seeking advice on critical projects. Now they seem to go to everyone else but you.
• You Are No Longer on the Invite List: A drop-off of meeting invites could mean that they are seeking others before you. If everyone is still busy with meetings and the only meeting on your calendar is going to get a manicure, your job could be getting cut.
• Your Competitors Are Slicing Their Workforces: Competitors starting to lay off people in your industry could mean that your company might follow suit.

Watch out for the signs to be more ready to switch careers in the midst of a career recession. This also could be the perfect time to go back to school to earn your degree or continue your education. The more skills you have, the better way to land a new career or simply stay in your current one.

If you’re ready to learn new skills, then USCS can help you find the right school for you. Start your search today!

We all know that there are certain tricks that can help you nail a job interview. I’m sure you’re well aware of the obvious ones like researching the company before-hand, looking polished during the interview and sending a thank you note afterwards.You may even be well-rehearsed on the old turn-your-negative-into-a-positive responses. Heck, I was still in high school when my Communications teacher went over how to respond when an interviewer asks where you have the most room for improvement. You simply give them an answer like “I can be too punctual,” or “sometimes I’m too organized” or something else that follows the: I’m too _______ (fill in the blank with an attribute) formula.

But, what about that particularly delicate moment when the tables are turned and the interviewer becomes interviewee – the part when your potential employer invariably asks “do you have any questions for me?” Being well prepared for this precise occasion can make all the difference.

In fact, the questions you ask can say a lot about you. So, remember that this is not your chance to find out about time off, paid holidays or overtime requirements – unless you want to communicate that you’re not interested in working very often.

You can maximize each moment of your interview by asking the right questions. Here are a few examples:

What you ask: What contributions do you think I can make to this company?
What you’re really saying: I actively seek out ways that my skills and abilities can be put to best use.

What you ask: Does the company encourage employees to pursue continuing education?
What you’re really saying: I am enthusiastic about learning, growing and developing. I’m the type of person who enjoys building new skills and I take the initiative in doing so.

What you ask: What kind of opportunities for advancement and growth are there?
What you’re really saying: I have career goals and I’m interested in making a long-term commitment to an employer that can help me achieve them.

What you ask: When will a decision on the job candidate be reached?
What you’re really saying: I am interested in this position and I am eager to hear from you in the future.

What you ask: May I get in touch with you if I think of any other questions?
What you’re really saying: My interest in this position won’t end once this interview is over and I would like to keep the door open for future communication.