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Top Five Passions That Can Turn into a Profession

September 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment
community activitst turned nonprofit leader

If you’re passionate about your profession, it can help you get through those bad days that we all have on the job. Instead of giving up, you can draw from your passion to get inspired and tackle challenges or issues.

It’s the same way if you need a little career inspiration. Consider what you often talk about, devote Google searches and online activity to, and invest your time and money into (outside of our current job or job hunt).

Sure, some passions — like an obsession with “Real Housewives of New York City” — may not be able to translate to a new career. But here are five passions that can turn into a profession.

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Remembering 9/11: How It Changed Our Lives & Our Goals

September 11, 2012 By 2 Comments
Remembering 9/11

On 9/11/01, everything changed. Families were broken, friends were gone, our security and peace were threatened. But in those 11 years since that horrific day, we have rebounded. Though we’ll never, ever be the same, and nothing can take the place of those we loved who were lost, I think that we learned many lessons that day.

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Refer a Friend to Online College, Get Cash

April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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We all want to be supportive of our friends and encourage them to pursue and earn their college degrees.

Now some students can get paid for doing that!

Online schools Ashworth College and James Madison High School are paying students and graduates $50 for every friend they refer who enrolls in their programs. The friends have to be in a class for a minimum of 30 days for the students to get the cash.

Refer a friend programs that offer cash are offered by stores, restaurants, credit card companies, banks, attractions, and even college saving plans. We’re not seeing many colleges getting in on the act, though.

Ashworth College and James Madison High School (the for-profit schools are owned by the same company) are encouraging students and graduates to invite their friends via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail or direct mail. The school set the limit at earning $100 per year.

Ashworth College officials say the refer a friend marketing program is a way is seeks to introduce people to online education as an affordable alternative. Ashworth College and James Madison High School, both accredited schools, online high school diploma programs, more than 115 online college degrees, and online certificate programs.

We all can use a little extra cash, and for you, the program offers another way you can have a stake in your friends’ education.

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The Obligatory Career Resolutions Post

January 4, 2012 By 44 Comments
career-resolutions

Five Steps to a Better Career in 2012

Beyond breaking your cheese doodle habit and saving more money, you’ve probably got a career resolution or two. And, if not, you should!

Here are some ideas to get you started on your 2012 career advancement plan, courtesy of Julie Redfield, talent management expert at PA Consulting Group:

Connect the dots. Career building is all about the connections, isn’t it? “Reconnect with school friends, prior employers and others in your profession. You never know where that next opportunity will come from,” says Redfield.

Look up. Redfield suggests that you identify a mentor, at least two levels up from your current position, and ask if you can pick his or her brain for career advice. This strategy also works if you’re looking into entering a new industry. See if you can identify someone willing to show you the ropes, whether it’s at an industry event, or by requesting an informational interview with someone at a company you’d love to work for.

Meet new people at work. Make this your goal today: “Identify one person in the office that I don’t know, and make an effort to get to know them and learn what their career aspirations are,” says Redfield. Along those lines, try to pay one genuine compliment to someone new every day. Getting to know people and being likeable, can go a long way.

Be the boss’ go-to employee. Every Monday, pay a visit to your boss’ office and ask what’s on his or her worry list, says Redfield. Then offer to help. That’ll help you remain top of mind, and when it comes time for promotions, guess who will be at the top of the consideration list?

Get smarter. This is one of our best tips, but we’re sure Redfield and other career experts would agree. If there’s a skill you’re lacking or something you don’t know, make this the year that you update your knowledge. Take a class online, see if your company offers career training, go to seminars, or if it’s warranted, consider exploring a certificate or degree program.

What are your career resolutions? Please share them with us here, or on Twitter (use #careerresolution).

Happy 2012!

-Dawn Papandrea

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