by Darcy McCarthy, PHd

The combination of tough economic times and stories of impending doom have caused crucial introspection for most people. This article is in response to a number of questions readers have sent to educationline.org.

To set the tone for this article, I could not resist this quote In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists. – Eric Hoffer.

As a general rule, our readers write to find out what are the best online education universities, classes, colleges, degrees. However, as of late the questions have become much more focused on career training and whether or not now is a good time to continue complete or enhance their education. Here are the top three questions and answers:

Q. I am employed professionally and have a degree. There are rumors of cut-backs should I continue my education?

A. When thinking about going back to school, you need to evaluate your current profession, where you want to be in 5-10 years and whether or not you can afford to go back to school. While there is generally a grain of truth to rumors, I would not quit my job and go back to school full-time. However, at the same time I would be thinking of recession proofing my career. Do some research on what career advancements are available if you get a graduate degree, as well as part-time education opportunities. Lets say that you are a nurse, there are a number of nursing online education areas that you can investigate.

Q. I have lost my job and want to take a look at a new career. How do I know what to take? Read this article »

Monday, January 26, 2009 is now known as "Bloody Monday".  The number of jobs lost on that day was devastating.  If you are among those who lost jobs on that day, or any day for that matter, keep your chin up and start planning for a better future now.  If you still have a job, but you fear there may be cuts, it is also a good time for you to plan, as well. 

OnlineCreditProfessor.com offers some very good advice on their blog.  So, what should you do when you no longer have a paycheck, and jobs are difficult to find?  In their post "No Paycheck, Now What?" they offer some very timely tips and advice to those who have lost jobs.  The first bit of advice is – don’t panic.  Sit down and take a look at your expenses and find areas where you can make cuts.  Another piece of advice is to consider using this economic downturn to your advantage.  If you can’t find a good job, it may be a great time for you to  to earn a degree online or take career training to learn a new vocation. 

Research has shown that people who hold bachelor degrees make more income over the course of their career than those with no college degree.  In addition, those with college degrees are less likely to be laid off than their peers with no degree.  So, it pays to earn a degree, and may even provide some job security. 

One of the most recession proof career paths in this troubled economy is health care.  There will surely not be downsizing in the health care industry, considering the needs of our aging population.

If you already are in the health care field, you may want to consider increasing your credentials in order to advance and earn more.  For example, nurses convert your RN to BSN degree with an online program, or if you have the BSN degree then go for the Master degree in Nursing.  These degrees may be earned online, it’s convenient and self-paced.

In additon, the need for Health Care Administration will continue to grow, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  So why not consider earning an accredited online Health Care Administration Degree? 

Other career paths to consider include: home health care aide, pharmacy technician, or physical therapy aide.  There are some well respected online career training diploma programs to help you start these career paths fast! 

Go to Classes24Seven.com or eLearningYellowPages.com to find more information regarding all of these great elearning programs!

Many single mothers are now thinking if they could go back to school, they could finally make ends meet. Some may be considering an online Nursing degree, while others just want to pay off the bills.

However, there may be a host of other questions that are holding you back? Like, how would I find the time to take care of my baby? Or how would I pay for college by myself?

These are not very tough questions considering the fact that grants for single moms going back to school are rising. More importantly, an online degree offers you that chance to complete your education.

Online courses are a great way to continue your education because you will be doing most of your coursework while you are at home. And that means more time to spend with your children. Single moms often worry most about their children while they are short of income. And online education offers that one-stop solution for their niche education requirements.

As you find out more and more about online courses, whether its for nursing school or an MBA degree, you’ll learn that the advantages are too big to pass up if you’re a single mom. The best part is that you would not have to spend your whole day in school, and leave your baby in a crib for many hours a day.

The convenience of online courses is that you can sit in front of a computer for a couple of hours a day and do well in your courses. You would also have to take a look at the online content provided by your teacher or guide at your school. And scheduling has never been easier, since you can do your coursework during any part of the day at your convenience.

For more information on obtaining an online degree, please visit www.elearningyellowpages.com. Elearningyellowpages is your online portal for the latest in online education including online degrees, career training, foreign language, etc.