{"id":27165,"date":"2017-06-10T17:29:46","date_gmt":"2017-06-11T00:29:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/?p=27165"},"modified":"2017-06-15T19:18:53","modified_gmt":"2017-06-16T02:18:53","slug":"are-you-on-the-right-academic-path-for-your-career-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk\/career-advice\/are-you-on-the-right-academic-path-for-your-career-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You On The Right Academic Path For Your Career Goals?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/academic-path.jpg” padding_mobile=”off” admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_divider height=”200″ admin_label=”Divider”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text max_width=”620px” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_font_size=”72″ text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_line_height=”1.1em” custom_margin=”0px||0px|”]<\/p>\n

Are You on the Right Academic Path for Your Career Goals?<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ padding_mobile=”off” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” custom_padding=”20px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” admin_label=”row” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/American-Public-University-System_200px.png” animation=”off” sticky=”on” align=”center” disabled_on=”on|on|” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” disabled_on=”on|on|” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_font_size=”20″ text_text_color=”#02b875″ text_line_height=”1.2em” header_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”20px||0px|”]<\/p>\n

AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” disabled_on=”on|on|” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Serif||on||” text_font_size=”16″ text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”10px||60px|”]<\/p>\n

Recognized Leader in Online Education<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_text max_width=”720px” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”24″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”0px||0px|”]<\/p>\n

By Leia O\u2019Connell, MSW
\nContributor, Career Coach<\/p>\n

Getting your degree is a crucial (and often necessary) step towards your ultimate professional goal. As you start down your degree path \u2013 do you have a clear sense of what it will look like at the end? Are you making assumptions about potential job opportunities or do you know for sure that the job you want requires the degree you\u2019re enrolled in? Take out the guesswork and get a clear picture of where your degree might lead.<\/p>\n

Start Looking At Job Roles Now<\/strong><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to guess whether an employer might be looking for someone with a degree in a particular field. Go to Indeed.com<\/a> (or another job search engine), explore job roles you\u2019re interested in, and review the qualifications listed. Is your degree program a requirement? You can also write \u201cBachelor of Arts in Psychology\u201d (or your specific degree) and see what jobs populate. Know what roles and organizations of interest are in your area; job roles and their requirements are ever-changing, but you can still start your research today.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ background_color=”#f7f7f4″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”680px” use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” background_color_2=”#efefe9″ parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/academic-path-3.jpg” animation=”off” sticky=”on” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ background_color=”#efefe9″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/academic-path-2-1.jpg” animation=”off” sticky=”on” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text text_orientation=”center” disabled_on=”off|off|” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”24″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_text_color=”#818178″ text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”20%|10%||10%” custom_margin_tablet=”|10%||10%” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop”]<\/p>\n

Do not graduate and rely on luck: do your research, understand the qualifications for positions you wish to pursue, and start getting experience. As the saying goes, the harder you work, luckier you get!<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text text_orientation=”center” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_font_size=”12″ text_text_color=”#888888″ text_letter_spacing=”2px” text_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”20px||20%|” custom_margin_tablet=”20px|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n

LEIA O’CONNELL, CAREER COACH<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ custom_padding=”3px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” parallax_method_4=”off” admin_label=”row” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”20″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”60px||0px|” custom_margin_tablet=”40px||0px|” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n

Determine Whether Licensure or Certifications Are Required<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a big one. If the job you\u2019re interested in requires specific licensure, you need to be aware of the academic and professional steps you\u2019ll need to take in order to obtain the license. This research should be done at the beginning of your program, not the end. Do not assume – know. If your state issues the license, look at their website AND call them to make sure you understand the requirements. I\u2019ve worked with individuals who misunderstood information on their state-certification website because they didn\u2019t call to confirm what they read.<\/p>\n

Misunderstanding certification requirements can cost you time and money. Don\u2019t start down the wrong path when the information is out there.<\/p>\n

Start Gaining Practical Experience to Supplement Your Education<\/strong><\/p>\n

Enjoy your coursework? Great! How about hands-on experience? Remember, your degree is one piece of a large puzzle. Those qualifications you viewed when researching job roles will also illustrate professional experience needed. If you aren\u2019t already working in your intended field, start volunteering, pursue an internship, or seek out an entry-level position. Down the road when you\u2019ve graduated, you can tell a potential employer that you have not only the academic knowledge, but practical experience as well.<\/p>\n

Do not graduate and rely on luck: do your research, understand the qualifications for positions you wish to pursue, and start getting experience. As the saying goes, the harder you work, luckier you get!<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”780px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|73.90625px|0px” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_text text_orientation=”center” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”36″ text_font_size_tablet=”26″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||70px|”] Want new articles before they get published? Subscribe to our Awesome Newsletter. [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_contact_form captcha=”off” admin_label=”Contact Form” module_id=”et_pb_contact_form_0″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#02b875″ button_border_width=”8″ button_border_color=”#02b875″ button_border_radius=”4″][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”E-mail Address” field_title=”E-mail Address” field_background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” form_field_font=”PT Sans||||” form_field_font_size=”20″ form_field_font_size_tablet=”20″ form_field_font_size_phone=”20″ form_field_text_color=”#adadab” form_field_line_height=”1.4em” form_field_line_height_tablet=”1.4em” form_field_line_height_phone=”1.4em” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#adadab” border_width=”1″ border_style=”solid” custom_css_main_element=”height:64px;”][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”First Name” field_title=”First Name” field_background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” form_field_font=”PT Sans||||” form_field_font_size=”20″ form_field_font_size_tablet=”20″ form_field_font_size_phone=”20″ form_field_text_color=”#adadab” form_field_line_height=”1.4em” form_field_line_height_tablet=”1.4em” form_field_line_height_phone=”1.4em” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#adadab” border_width=”1″ border_style=”solid” custom_css_main_element=”height:64px;”][\/et_pb_contact_field][\/et_pb_contact_form][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ background_color=”#222222″ custom_padding=”78px||78px|” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” padding_mobile=”on” background_color=”#f5f5f5″ column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” parallax_method_4=”off” admin_label=”Row” module_class=”border-hover”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/typing.jpg” animation=”off” sticky=”on” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_cta title=”CAREER ADVICE” button_url=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk\/career-advice\/” button_text=”CAREER ADVICE” use_background_color=”off” admin_label=”Call To Action” header_font_size=”30px” body_font_size=”20px”] Advice from top Career specialists [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/news-cig.jpg” sticky=”on” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_cta title=”GOV TALK” button_url=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk-page\/” button_text=”Government Updates” use_background_color=”off” admin_label=”Call To Action” header_font_size=”30px” body_font_size=”20px”] Articles about the Public Sector [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/public-secot-trends.jpg” animation=”off” sticky=”on” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_cta title=”TRENDS” button_url=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/hr-tips-and-strategies\/” button_text=”TRENDS” use_background_color=”off” admin_label=”Call To Action” header_font_size=”30px” body_font_size=”20px”] Public Sector Trends [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Getting your degree is a crucial (and often necessary) step towards your ultimate professional goal. 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