DNG Education Program JOIN THE GUARD!
By 1LT Deborah L. Welch, Education Services Officer, Delaware National Guard

2006 COLLEGE AND CAREER GUIDE
RETURN TO EDUCATION MAIN PAGE

from www.military.com

Enhancing your career opportunities is no joke. If you need a push to start learning again, check out our top 10 reasons to be a lifelong learner.

Everyone says lifelong learning is good for you. That's about as inspiring as being told to take your vitamins. Need a bit more motivation? Here are MonsterLearning's top 10 immediate, practical reasons you need to expand your knowledge and keep learning.

1. Your Livelihood Depends on It.

There aren't many career fields whose practices have stayed static. Information technology gains have changed the way the majority of us do our jobs. The Department of Labor has the new Office of the 21st Century Workforce to anticipate the changes in education needed to cope with a "fundamental transformation for all industries." Are you ready?

2. You Need to Keep Your Certification Up-to-Date.

Many employees with professional certifications must keep learning to stay current and retain their certification. Lawyers, teachers, medical practitioners and a number of other professionals must take courses to fulfill professional development requirements.

3. You Want to Be Satisfied with Your Position.

Monster's own surveys suggest that as education increases, so does confidence in one's next career step. It makes sense; the more educated you are about your field, the more you'll know about your prospects and potential.

4. You Want to Earn More.

US Census data indicates median incomes increase dramatically with advanced degrees. Bachelor's degree holders earned an average of $37,224 in 1995, while those with master's degrees earned $46,332, those with doctorates earned $67,685, and those with professional degrees earned $82,749.

5. You Have a Powerful New Tool for Learning: The Internet.

E-learning provides access to thousands of learning opportunities no matter where you live. As David Spencer, president of Michigan Virtual University told The Technology Source , "the learning industry is exploding, driven by global competition, a shortage of skilled workers, the growth of the Internet and the rapid pace of change in what we need to know." He cites a Merrill Lynch study projecting growth in online education from $9.4 billion in 2001 to more than $53 billion by 2003.

6. You No Longer Need to Complete Your Education by 22.

Students are no longer confined to a certain age group. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , "participation in adult education has grown steadily over the past three decades, increasing to 46 percent in 1999," or more than 90 million people. The University of Maine 's Continuing Education Division notes that in the US , college students over the age of 40 have tripled in the past 20 years.

7. Colleges and Universities Are Reaching Out to You.

Nearly all learning institutions actively seek lifelong learners and offer alternatives to traditional daytime classroom learning. There are night sessions, working semester programs, weekend learning and other special programs to accommodate people who can't be full-time learners, in addition to e-learning opportunities.

8. Employers Support Continued Learning.

Monster's surveys find the majority of respondents have employers who support ongoing education, including benefits such as financial aid for employee education. Employers are also experimenting with mass education of employees through in-house seminars, specialized software and online courses.

9. There's an Explosion of Learning Opportunities.

With the proliferation of new ways to learn, you don't have to follow traditional pathways — what counts is results. You can build your own learning program by taking an accredited course or professional development seminar, attending a conference, joining a professional organization, subscribing to a trade journal or reading a book.

10. You've Got Competition.

The 1999 Digest of Education Statistics reports that during the decade of academic years ending in 1997, "associate degrees increased 31 percent, bachelor's degrees increased 18 percent, master's degrees increased 45 percent and doctor's degrees increased 35 percent." What degrees have you earned lately?

In the current workforce climate, you have to stay on top of the career you have and do more to get ahead. But the educational world has never been more accommodating to lifelong learners. Whatever your learning style or personal career goals, MonsterLearning can help. Get inspired, and then search the database to find learning opportunities that can keep your career moving.