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

The 2009 Nobel Prize laureates who are U.S. citizens earned their degrees from a variety of schools. Their hard work has received attention this year, and check out the list below to see how their majors and college paths contributed to their research and efforts that received recognition from the Nobel Prize committee.

Even if you have no interest in these individuals’ fields, their education and focus could inspire you during your college search or career considerations.

Nobel Peace Prize 2009

President Barack Obama: Earned his bachelor’s degree Columbia College, part of Columbia University in New York in 1983, after transferring in his junior year from Occidental College in Los Angeles, and then earned his law degree from Harvard Law School.

Inspired? Consider this: Anyone can aspire to be a do gooder, no matter what career. You may want to consider a career in public policy, social work, education, or local government.

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2009

• Charles Kuen Kao: Earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering 1965 from the University of London, where he also earned his undergraduate degree.
• Willard Sterling Boyle: Earned his Ph.D. in Physics 1950 from McGill University, Montreal, Canada., where he also earned his undergraduate degree.
• George Elwood Smith: Earned his Ph.D. in Physics 1959 from University of Chicago; earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Pennsylvania.

Inspired? Consider this: Although not everyone can be a physics whiz, you can certainly apply your interest in how things move and work by seeking a career that requires hands-on technical skills. Those in fields like electrical engineering and aviation maintenance use their skills to build and fix.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2009

• Venkatraman Ramakrishnan: Earned his Ph.D. in physics in 1976 from Ohio University; did undergraduate studies in Baroda.
• Thomas A. Steitz: Earned his Ph.D. in molecular biology and biochemistry in 1966 from Harvard University, earned his undergraduate degree from Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisc.

Inspired? Consider this: Figuring out chemical reactions was never your strong suit, but you do have “chemistry” when it comes to working well with others. Check out careers in public relations, hospitality management, or occupational therapy.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2009

• Elizabeth H. Blackburn: Earned her Ph.D. in 1975 from the University of Cambridge; undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne.
• Carol W. Greider: Earned her Ph.D. in 1987 from University of California, Berkeley; earned her bachelor’s degree at University of California in Santa Barbara.
• Jack W. Szostak: Earned his Ph.D. in 1977 from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.; earned his bachelor’s degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Inspired? Consider this: If the site of bodily fluids is too much for you to handle, there are many health care positions that involve patient care minus the blood, like being an x-ray technician or working in medical billing or as a hospital technician.

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2009

• Elinor Ostrom: Earned her Ph.D. in political science in 1965 from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she also earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
• Oliver E. Williamson: Earned his Ph.D. in economics in 1963 from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh; received his bachelor’s degree from MIT and MBA from Stanford University in California.

Inspired? Consider this: If you’re known for your number-crunching prowess, careers in financial planning, bookkeeping, and accounting are attainable with just a couple of years or less of schooling.

-Lori Johnston

If you haven’t seen the prolific public service announcements yet, you will. This month, be on the lookout for TV stars like Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Masi Oka, and Rainn Wilson singing the praises of service and volunteering through a new Web site, iParticipate.org. In fact, all sorts of celebs are offering up personal stories on the impact of service, including former bad-boy Mark Wahlberg, who wrote an essay on making a difference for troubled youth.

Why the spotlight on service? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate at which Americans volunteer is around 26 percent, and it hasn’t increased in 40 years. Talk about a sad stat – especially when everyone has something to give.

So the long-range, multifaceted iParticipate campaign, led by the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) – the leading charitable organization of the entertainment industry – seeks to promote a new way of thinking about service and persuade millions more Americans to volunteer regularly. After all, they say, great change begins with small choices, and one decision to change leads to others.

If you don’t know where to serve, click into iParticipate.org, which simplifies the process of finding volunteer opportunities in your local community. Opportunities are categorized in one of five key areas of service: children and education; community health and wellness; environmental conservation; financial security; and support for veterans and military families. You can register a project for Make a Difference Day, October 24, or you can volunteer any day of the year. EIF has even provided grants to key organizations in order to help build capacity to accept, train, and deploy volunteers.

Once you decide where you’ll volunteer, the site enables you to recruit friends to join you in service. After all, reports the BLS, nearly half of all people who volunteer started because they were asked by someone they know.

Benefits of Service
Though the people you’re serving are the obvious beneficiaries of your commitment, they’re not the only ones who receive a reward. When you get involved and enrich the lives of the people in your community, you strengthen your own wellbeing. Doing good for others enables you to live a longer, happier, healthier life. After all, studies show that those who volunteer early in life experience greater functional ability and better health outcomes later in life.

And volunteering doesn’t need to exist independent of your current activities. In many organizations, employees are actively involved in company-sponsored community service. Corporate community service is a great way to forge bonds with co-workers and supervisors as you become united toward a common, higher goal. Helping the less fortunate can bring a level of compassion and empathy that’s often missing in the workplace. Plus, volunteering can make you a more focused and motivated employee, which always pays dividends in your professional life. You may even decide to take it a step further, and explore a career that gives back.

If you want to change the world, this is one place to start. I participate. Do you?

-Robyn Tellefsen

There’s no doubt, job offers are few and far between in these dreary days of layoffs, cutbacks, and hiring freezes. That’s why we can learn a lot from the  list of the 10 jobs most offered to the class of 2009 as reported by the National Association of Colleges and Employers in its Fall 2009 Salary Survey. For one thing, it tells us which industries are still hiring in tough times. But it also gives a heads up for those who may be considering a job or career change, or a return to school to learn a new skill or trade.

So without further ado, check out the top jobs:

1. Teaching
2. Management Trainee
3. Financial/Treasury Analysis
4. Consulting
5. Sales
6. Accounting (public)
7. Accounting (private)
8. Software Design & Development
9. Registered Nursing
10. Project Engineering

All of these “safe” jobs have in common the need for good communication skills, analytical thinking, and working well with others. And, of course, some have specific degree and/or licensing requirements (such as teaching and nursing, for instance).

No matter which field you’re in or considering breaking into, you can also see from the list that a working knowledge of business and finance will come in handy as well. My editor says all the time that she never thought she’d be spending work hours toiling with budgets and spreadsheets, but if you work for a company or organization, that is always a real possibility no matter your job title.

Bottom line: Don’t think you have to work toward getting hired in one of these 10 fields, but do think about what these employers are looking for, and how you can strengthen your resume with those same skills. Chances are other employers will value the same qualities and knowledge.

-Dawn Papandrea

I love reading articles about college major trends because that’s a good way to gauge which career fields are up-and-coming and eager to hire. Lucky for us, writers at The Chronicle of Higher Education did some legwork in yesterday’s story, “5 College Majors on the Rise.”

Not surprisingly, all of the majors they list have something to do with making ourselves and/or the environment a little healthier, and finding new ways to solve problems. In fact, each field can be classified as “higher” education in some way, since they each have a higher purpose than just simply memorizing facts, performing calculations, or appreciating some type of art.

Take a look…

Sustainability — A few weeks ago, I actually had to look this up — no joke! That’s how new an idea this is when it comes to education and business. If you’re wondering what it is (which is nothing to be ashamed of), I’ll tell you. It’s the concept of making something more “green” or ecofriendly. Many businesses today are sustainable businesses. So college students, be sure to at least take a class on this because it’s the hottest buzzword in the workplace today!

Service Science — This is another buzzword that may not be what you think it is. The article describes it as cultivating “‘deep problem solvers’ who understand the economic, human, and technical dimensions of complex systems.” Yikes! That’s a mouthful, isn’t it? The idea is to improve productivity and encourage innovation in various service industries. In other words, these grads will help find more efficient ways of doing things. That sure is a good skill set to have.

Health informatics — The idea is to take each person’s tons of health data and digitalize it. The Feds are totally behind this initiative, and so a new field has emerged that will demand lots of technological know-how with a health care twist.

Computational science — Math meet science. Science meet math. Together, you’ll solve problems. At least that’s the gist of what computational science is all about. I’m not a techie or a number cruncher so it’s a bit beyond me, honestly, but the article says this: “Companies have used computational analysis to increase the absorbency of disposable diapers and to tweak the shape of potato chips so they drop into packages rather than fly off the conveyor belt.” OK then, moving on…

Public health - If the swine flu epidemic has taught us anything, it’s that public health is an expansive field. Students who merge the biology stuff with the public policy stuff will be huge commodities in our society.

Intrigued by any of these up-and-coming fields? They are definitely worth paying attention to for anyone interested in entering a viable industry. One day, they may even be as commonplace as English literature or psychology, so get studying!

-Dawn Papandrea

And now, a roundup of fun sites, blogs, and articles that’ll keep you busy and entertain  you before you hit the books in a few weeks…

Unigo.com’s Back to School College Guide – This time of year, many sites tout their back to school coverage, but what makes Unigo’s unique (say that fast three times!), are the cool interactive components. Our faves: Watch grads on camera giving freshmen advice, or get money tips via “what I wish I’d known about my college budget.”

Snapple Real Facts — Want to always have fun facts at your disposal? Great for making small talk at a campus icebreaker or even an informal job interview. For example, did you know that every ton of recycled paper saves about 17 trees? Tell that to your environmental science professor for some extra credit!

Speaking of saving trees, for all of you “green collar” workers out there, check out CareerBuilder’s new site GoingGreenJobs.com. Good resource articles, and of course, a job search engine — all related to working for a sustainable company. And, at least you know you won’t be making copies all day!

Even if you do spend time at the copier, filing, or even prepping for the SAT,  “paying your dues” job can have a lot more value than you think! Elizabeth King tells you why you shouldn’t look down on drudge work. “Lots of things that aren’t necessarily fun lead to great things,” she says. Next time you feel like you’re doing work that’s “beneath you,” click in here and you’ll see that you’re not necessarily wasting your time or talents.

Finally, if you’re anticipating the sinking feeling of signing away your savings on a tuition check, check out CollegeBound.net’s “25 Things You Can Gain From College Beyond a Degree.” Lots of fun and funky returns on your investment for sure!

Happy Surfing!

** This just in: The latest edition of the Carnival of College Admissions is live. With tons of links from the top college bloggers in the biz, you’re on track for lots of afternoon procrastination surfing. Just be sure your boss isn’t looking for you!

On average, new grads are making almost $50k right out of college — not too shabby in this down economy of ours, right? I know I certainly would have been thrilled with that kind of “first job” salary offer back when I graduated. Here are the deets…

NACE’s [National Association of Colleges and Employers] Summer 2009 Salary Survey report shows that the average starting salary offer for new college graduates now stands at $49,307. That’s off less than 1 percent from the average $49,693 that 2008 graduates posted last year at this time…

Seems like a good sign that things may be on the upswing. Of course, job openings may be a little harder to come by, which means that grads need to work slightly harder to edge out their competition.

Start with these tactics:

• Top 5 Tips for Job Seekers
• Social Network Your Way Into a Job
• How to Turn Your Internship Into a Job

Grads: We want to hear from you! Tell us about your job hunting experience, and if you’ve been happy with salary offers.

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