My white-chocolate pumpkin cheesecake recipe is ready to be whipped out and put the sweet finishing note on holiday diners. That’s what I’ve been talking about in conversations with my family and friends since the Halloween costumes were put away –  Thanksgiving potlucks and holiday dinners and parties.

One of my 30-something friends would love to become a personal chef, and she displays a natural talent in the kitchen, creating the most difficult Martha-esque recipes quickly, while mine are disasters. So it’s amazing to learn about the types of culinary training available for her and others pursuing that goal in the growing field.

Look at the backgrounds of celebrity chefs and restaurant owners in major cities competing on popular shows such as “Top Chef,” and you’ll find an array of education experience.

One of my “Top Chef: Las Vegas” favorites, restaurateur Kevin Gillespie of Atlanta, cooked part-time at eateries while attending the Art Institute of Atlanta.

The stars of Food Network also demonstrate different paths to a culinary career. Bobby Flay attended the French Culinary Institute while Giada De Laurentis earned a degree in anthropology from the University of California in Los Angeles before focusing on food and training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, as did Sandra Lee.

The entertaining Guy Fieri route’s was a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, then working in and owning restaurants before being named “The Next Food Network Star” a while back. Iron Chefs Cat Cora and Michael Symon are graduates of The Culinary Institute of America.

You could leave those schools with associate and bachelor’s degrees as well as the in-depth instruction and hands-on experience that will propel you to succeed in your next kitchen, whether it’s in the glare of the TV cameras or delighting small groups of diners every night.

-Lori Johnston

My mom is in her early 60s and doesn’t intend to stop working as a middle school teacher anytime soon. That’s partly because she hasn’t been in the school system for that long. It’s a profession she’s wanted to do for years, but more than two decades after earning her bachelor’s in education and after years of working for computer companies and other businesses, she finally entered into her dream job a few years ago. She hasn’t regretted her decision and grows more passionate by the day.

It’s interesting because she made the career change at the same time her peers were preparing for retirement. Instead of saying goodbye to a full-time job, she took on the demanding role of a teacher. She’s even received her master’s since then and is pursuing her doctorate.

I often talk to retirement-age professionals around the country who are staying in the workforce or re-entering the job market, in new careers or consulting gigs stemming from their existing experience. Newsweek recently reported on how growing numbers of retirees have returned to the workforce after a drop in their 401(k) values.

If you’re looking to hospitals, universities, nonprofits, municipalities and insurance companies, Newsweek’s story says that’s the right track.

Don’t just rely on experience though. Gaining education can bring you up to date on changes in your profession or give you the training you need to pursue a new field.

Acquiring certifications, diplomas and degrees in health care, technology, education, and other areas through online programs or traditional formats could go a long way in helping you land new employment in this weak job market. And that can add to a dwindling nest egg. Or, as in my mom’s case, help you rediscover a passion you once had.

-Lori Johnston

Here’s some encouraging news out of my home state of Georgia: Record numbers of students are enrolling in technical colleges, inspired to try new career fields and seeking to quickly gain the knowledge needed to land those jobs.

Data from the Technical College System of Georgia shows a 24 percent increase in 2009 enrollment compared to 2008, with 110,254 students in the state’s 28 technical colleges. The previous record: 91,838 students, in 2003.

Officials say the enrollment increase is due to the downturn in the economy. The education provided by technical schools can provide marketable skills that open doors to jobs in high-demand fields such as healthcare, business and office technologies, and computer information systems.

You can gain that knowledge faster than at traditional four-year colleges and universities.  In Georgia, its 600 certificate, diploma, and degree programs can be completed in six months to two years, depending on the program. That’s much like other areas of the county, and the costs are low ($2,100 is the annual tuition and fee average in Georgia).

And the interesting thing is that technical colleges have a diversity of ages among the students enrolled. The schools in Georgia are seeing an increase in students under 21, with recent high school graduates joining experienced workers in the classrooms. Having that diversity of ages in programs is beneficial to everyone, preparing you for a multi-generational workplace.

You may be among those who have lost jobs or are just ready for a different career path, and technical colleges are an affordable route worth considering.

-Lori Johnston

While health care reform is grabbing headlines, health care is one of the more secure job sectors.
Some professionals in hospitals and physicians offices are seizing the moment to earn degrees. If you’re a registered nurse, you may be considering a bachelor’s in nursing, which could lead to promotions or higher-paying jobs. You also could teach future nurses.

And there are plenty of choices for nurses, with more than 700 nursing programs offering degrees at the bachelor’s level, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some are available online.
You’ll join a growing number of students – 145,845 as of 2008 – enrolling in baccalaureate nursing programs, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Here are three questions to ask when considering a nursing degree.

1. What additional skills will I acquire with my BSN?
Students can learn the skills to work in a range of clinical settings and provide comprehensive nursing care to patients and their families. Expect to gain knowledge to make decisions quickly in health care settings, collaborate with other professionals on issues of health and wellness, and develop management skills. Officials at Jacksonville University (FL) also report that a BSN degree can be beneficial for those seeking to enter into high-demand fields such as critical care, cardiology, dermatology, ob/gyn, and oncology.

2. How will earning a BSN impact my career?
It can. Jacksonville University, which offers one of the online bachelor’s of nursing programs, reports that the degree enables nurses to move from the technical level to a professional practice. It cites a 2007 earning survey in RN magazine that found salaries are increased from 50 cents an hour to $3.20 an hour. A nurse with a BSN also could receive a specialty pay differential, the university says.

3. Is a career in teaching possible?
There is a great need for nursing teachers. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing found 32,617 qualified applicants in 2008 were not accepted due to factors including the shortage of teachers. The association’s CEO and Executive Director, Geraldine “Polly” Bednash, says: “Increasing enrollment in baccalaureate nursing programs is a critical first step to correcting an imbalance in the nursing student population and reversing our nation’s diminishing supply of nurse educators.”

In short, there are many career roads for those with a BSN. Which one will you take?

-Lori Johnston

Going to college after years away, or for the first time as an older student, can seem daunting, but it’s possible to juggle papers and exams with family, work, and other time-consuming obligations.

A friend of mine has been doing just that, pursuing her master’s while holding down a full-time job, and the duties of a wife and a mom of two young kids. She’s put in the hard work, sacrificing sleep for school at times, but has received the rewards of gaining knowledge about a passion that should lead to a new career or career advancement.

As she and many other adult students can tell you, succeeding in a back-to-school endeavor is no easy accomplishment. That’s why we’ve turned to Joyce M. Stern, dean for Student Academic Support and Advising at Grinnell College in Iowa, for her tips on tackling school when you’re out of your 20s. For starters, find out how your work experience could assist you in getting a jumpstart on school, then try these strategies once you’re back in class…

Get organized.
On the first day of class, grab the course syllabus and mark down any test or assignment deadlines on your calendar or planner, suggests Stern. That can be on your computer or on paper, depending on your preference,  “Determine what can get done now, what can get done tomorrow and what you need to do later in the week,” she adds.

Take it step by step.
Create interim goals or due dates for parts of a project, whether it’s a 10-page research paper or a midterm, Stern recommends. That way, you won’t cram the night before or put all of the pressure on one day. She points out that scheduling blocks of time – and sticking to them – will help minimize the intensity of a project.

Just get started.
If you’re unmotivated by the task or subject matter, don’t procrastinate. Stern says it’s OK to give yourself permission to work in small segments (for example, stop after 10 minutes) if you continue to have a hard time. “Often starting on a project is the hardest part, and you may find it’s not as unpleasant as you anticipated,” she says.

Push aside those perfectionist tendencies.
Stern points out that perfectionist students, or those facing “writer’s block,” sometimes can be helped by composing their thoughts in a different manner. She recommends taking a notebook to a coffee shop or library and write out all your ideas long hand, or typing on the computer without the screen lit (turn off the monitor).  When all else fails, write, “Done is better than perfect” and tape it to your computer. “Repeat it the next time you are tempted to make another change,” she says.

What are your best school tips? Share them in the comments.

-Lori Johnston

Ready for a career switch? In an uncertain job market, it’s a good idea to consider all your career options — and workers in Washington State are doing just that. According to the Workplace Confidence Survey released in April by Everest College, 57 percent of respondents said they would change careers if nothing stood in their way. And about 65 percent reported suffering from work-related stress about potential pay and job loss.

If you’ve got career-switching on the brain, set yourself apart from the competition by employing these six sure-fire career strategies.

1. Take a career aptitude test.
When you sit around thinking about what you’d like to do and what you’re good at, you may end up going in circles – especially if you’re having trouble seeing past the stress of your current career. That’s where professional services come in handy. Career aptitude tests can help you discover your interests and skills and match them to a specific career field. And you don’t have to go far to access these resources. Some of the most popular career tests are available online for free or a small fee.

2. Position yourself as an industry expert.

Once you’ve solidified a career direction, spend time researching the field. Find out what a career in the industry entails, stay abreast of the latest news in the field, and set up informational interviews with professionals in the industry. In short, make yourself as knowledgeable about the industry as possible so that, when hiring decisions are made, you will have distinguished yourself as someone in the know.

3. Showcase your strengths.
Use the knowledge gained from your research to determine your areas of strength pertaining to the field. The transferable skills you discovered during your initial career assessment will comprise a major part of your personal marketing campaign. When you can demonstrate specific ways that your personality and experience fit a job description, you will capture the attention and interest of any hiring manager.

4. Wipe out your weaknesses.
Your research may also uncover areas in which you are lacking skills or experience. Fill those gaps by taking a class, pursuing certification, or brainstorming creative ways to beef up your skills. Not only will you get yourself up to speed for the career you seek, you’ll also demonstrate proactiveness and dedication — desirable traits in any industry.

5. Infiltrate the industry.
After you’ve learned everything you can about the field from the outside, it’s time to get an inside look at daily operations in the industry. This is something you can do even while working at your current job. Find out about part-time work in the industry, or even opportunities to volunteer. The rewards may not be financial at first, but you will reap benefits in the form of relevant work experience, career confidence, and strong industry contacts.

6. Be like Gumby.
When you’re finding your way into a new career, flexibility is the watchword. In order to make a successful career switch, you may need to accept an entry-level position and a lower salary than what you’ve grown accustomed to. You may even need to relocate or commit to traveling a certain percent of the time. Analyze yourself and your current situation – if you can realistically (and cheerfully) make some concessions, you may find yourself first in line for the career of your dreams.

– Robyn Tellefsen

What do you suggest for those interested in switching career gears?

Nobody wants to get laid off. And in this economy, very few will voluntarily quit their jobs. A job is financial security, a way to feed your kids and keep a roof over their heads. But what if the unthinkable happens? What would you do?

Once the fear subsides, some people are able to see unemployment as an opportunity, a chance to explore an interest they’ve never fully pursued.

A recent Boston Globe article chronicles the plight of laid-off software engineers and financial types who are taking the time to go back to school to engage their creative side and feed their soul. They are taking courses in painting and digital photography, furniture making and graphic design. They’re pursuing passions that have lain dormant through years of analyzing spreadsheets, making marketing presentations, and navigating the corporate jungle.

[Debra] Samdperil [director of continuing education at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, MA)] says exploring the arts helps people in career limbo whether their interest lies in the creative or business fields. “It kind of keeps things in perspective, in terms of what’s important in their lives and also gets them to think creatively about their situation,” she says. “The skills you learn in an art environment or art class are more transferable in terms of creative thinking strategies. . . . It’s not just business skills and more practical thinking. It’s how you think about your life.”

If you don’t have a vision for something you could do besides what you’re doing now, a layoff is especially frightening. But what if you allowed yourself to dream for a bit, to think of what you’d really like to do if there were no constraints? Once you have your answer, you’d be surprised how few of those constraints are real, and how many are rooted in fear.

I have a friend whose job is moving clear across the country. If he moves his family away from their home and their friends, he gets to keep his job. If he doesn’t, then he joins the fast-growing ranks of the unemployed, desperately looking for ways to pay the mortgage.

It’s not my decision to make, of course. But I wonder what kinds of creative talents my friend has up his sleeve, talents he could use to pursue something beyond the path he’s on right now. What if he gave up his well-paying job, nice house, and 401K and decided to live on less and make a go of a new career altogether? It would probably require a return to school and a major lifestyle change. And maybe he would be happier in the end.

As for me, I’ve dreamed of running a professional counseling practice with my husband. I don’t think the time to pursue that dream has come just yet. But I hope that when my opportunity does come knocking, I’ll have the courage to open the door.

Comment up: If there were no constraints, what career would you pursue?

– Robyn Tellefsen

Internships are a fabulous way for people of all ages to see how they might enjoy a particular field. The downside is that most internships are unpaid; but the upside is networking, getting your foot in the door, and possibly getting a job offer at the end of it all. No, you’re not guaranteed a job with an internship, but you’re more likely to secure one with your internship experience. And although the current state of the economy may have left many unemployed, the key to a new job could be an internship.

CareerBuilder.com recently conducted a survey of employers and 59 percent stated that they are more likely to hire those who have interned for their company over those who have not. That’s a large percentage of employers who are looking within, instead of going with a complete stranger. An intern has already been cultivated to work within the company’s set of standards and it’s much easier to work with this than training someone who is not used to working at the company at all.

In fact, I can attest to the internship-materializing-into-a-job mentality. As a rising college junior I interned here at CollegeSurfing and when it came time for graduation, my editor called me and told me she was looking for another writer. It was through my hard work and dedication that I was able to score my first job out of college. Yes, it may have been perfect timing, but without my internship I may not have been the first one on her list.

So consider an internship – it’s certainly beneficial when you are entering any stage of your profession in any stage of your life. And there are a select few internships that do pay! If you’re proactive enough you’ll find one that will be perfect for you. After all, someone has to score the paid internship — why shouldn’t it be you?

For more information on internships visit:
Internships: The Ultimate Career Tryout
Too Old for an Internship? Career Switchers Say No Way!

-Amanda Fornecker

Last night, I was thrilled to participate in a Twitter.com event with moms interested in going back to school, and I must say — I was impressed!!!

In this tough economy of ours, it was amazing to hear inspiring stories from adults who went back to school — whether it was via online learning or their local community college — to launch or advance their careers, all while setting a great example about the importance of lifelong education to their kids. Other participants discussed their desire to return to the classroom and sought general advice about college admissions as well, and we were happy to assist them with financial aid information, facts about online learning, tips for juggling family and books, and more.

If you missed the event, no worries. You can check out the post-event buzz. For specific resources on how to choose the right school for you, the importance of accreditation, and what adults need to know before they make the school commitment, you can head straight to the event portal page. Best of luck!

P.S. Are you following @collegesurfing on Twitter?

Corporate America is in a tailspin, and if you’re one of the unfortunate who is paying the price by losing your job, you’re certainly not alone. The unemployment rate is now at 7.2 percent –- the highest rate since January 1993, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Yikes! What now? Just because you’re laid off doesn’t mean things are totally hopeless. If you act quickly and keenly — employing these 7 steps for starters — you may be back to work before you know it.

1.    Mourn your loss.
As anxious as you may be about all that lies ahead, stop and take a breath. Losing your job can feel like losing a friend, family member, or lover. You have the right to be hurt, sad, angry, and everything in between. Don’t deny the place your job had in your life. Acknowledge it, and then move on.

2.    Get your social network on.
If you haven’t had time to investigate the online social networking scene, now is your chance. Hit up LinkedIn, Twitter (follow us: @collegesurfing), and Facebook, and let the world know you’re back on the market. Start a professional blog. You’d be amazed how fast opportunities open up via cyber connections.

3.    Hit the gym.
If ever there was a time you needed the endorphin rush that comes with exercise, that time is now. Laying on the couch can make you paunchy, pessimistic, and pokey -– none of which will motivate you to make critical career moves.

4.    Take a class.
Use unemployment to your advantage by taking a class to update your skills. You might want to pursue a computer certification, or even a communications course. Then, when you’re ready to dive back into the workforce, you’ll be even better qualified than when you left.

5.    Volunteer.
Volunteering is a fantastic way to fill your newfound free time. It can take your mind off your own concerns for a while and focus your attention on the people around you. Plus, volunteering may also provide an inroad to a new job — remember, it’s all about networking and making new connections.

6.    Change careers.
Why not try your hand at something that’s always interested you? Sign up for a class or two in a new field and find out if you have what it takes to make a go of a new career. To increase your odds of finding a job fast, consider getting into a high-growth industry like IT or health care.

7.    Work for yourself.
I have a super-talented friend who used her layoff from a graphic design job as motivation to start her own event design business. It wasn’t an easy transition to make, but she has been steadily building her brand and her client base. The result? She’s able to do what she loves on her own terms.

As for all my hard working readers who are plugging away everyday, remember no job is layoff proof. Now is a good time to start socking away some emergency fund money just in case, get back in touch with your networks, update your resume, and work extra hard on the job.

As hard as it may be to see when you’re going through it, a layoff could often be an opportunity in disguise.

-Robyn Tellefsen

Readers, any other layoff surivor tips to share? Shout ‘em out in the comments section!