Technology Review: Resources: Career Resources

Career resources

Continued from Page 1

By Katie Ford

Poh weighed these factors when exploring graduate schools:

Type of program: Poh didn’t want to go back to school full time, so she opted for a weekend MBA program.

School’s reputation and areas of specialty: Is the school recognized in your industry? Does it offer programs that are relevant to your work?

Flexibility of the program: Can you choose your courses, or is there a set curriculum?

Commute time: Poh commuted on Saturday mornings from Cincinnati to Chicago because the program offered exactly what she wanted. However, she admits there are disadvantages to attending a school outside your hometown. “Staying local gives you the ability to build a strong local network of peers and professors,” she says. “[When you commute], doing projects and socializing becomes a lot harder during the rest of the week. If you end up traveling for school, find a carpool or buddy to share travel costs and driving with.” Poh adds that participating in a carpool allowed her and her peers to use the commute time for group studying.

Expert Q&A

: How do you convince your employer to support continuing education?; You might be lucky enough to work for a company that offers flextime, tuition reimbursement, and other benefits to employees who want to continue their education. Before you can receive these benefits, however, you’ll probably need to justify why the company should invest in your education.

Taking the time to analyze your career goals, educational objectives, and personal commitments will help you choose a program that works for you.

The type of learning environment offers a new level of convenience for students, but it also requires planning and preparation up front.