Pinterest isn’t just an awesome social media place for craft ideas, fashion, makeup and hair tips, recipes, birthday party themes, and home design ideas (they’re fueling my dream of having a custom master bedroom closet). If you’re on Pinterest, and if you can tear yourself away from repining those things to your boards, you’ll notice that one of the categories on Pinterest is education.

A lot of the items posted on the education boards are related to children, but some are more adult-friendly and could encourage you to go back to college or pursue a new degree.

Also, if you’re a “pinaholic,” think about how much time you spend browsing other boards, such as photography, hair and beauty, fitness, science and nature, technology, and history. Your passion for one of those subjects may be clear, and it could lead you to start researching career paths in those areas that have captured your interest for a long time.

Here are some of the latest things we’ve seen pinned that can inform you about potential new careers or degrees or inspire you as an adult learner. Our links take you to the actual webpage, so that those who don’t have Pinterest accounts can see them, too.

The Bachelor’s Job Market
A social media professor (sounds like a cool job) at Syracuse University posted this insightful infographic, created by Rasmussen College, that shows the need for more bachelor’s degree holders and reasons why people don’t pursue their degree.

I’m So Much More Than Just a Teacher poster
If you’re considering going into education, whether to work as a teacher’s assistant at your child’s school or to teach in another grade level, this poster’s message may be the push that you need to head into that direction.

Albert Einstein Quotes
The inspirational sayings on Pinterest range from sassy to sappy, but if you sort through, you can find some that may be worth putting your computer, phone, or near study central for you. The ones by Albert Einstein often pop up, joining others by authors, book characters, and even created by Pinterest members themselves.

Oh, and don’t forget to check us out on Pinterest. Our Boards are a mixture of smart (College-related Infographics and A+ College Stuff) and fun (Because Bacon Makes You Smarter).

Are you on Pinterest? Tell us what you’ve learned so far. Happy pinning!

-Lori Johnston

The holiday frenzy may be over, but the new year often rings in an organizing frenzy that can eat up free time. Organizing strategies and tips that are meant for your pantry, closets, laundry room, storage spaces, and other areas also can be perfect when searching for a new career.

Here are three ways you can organize your search for a new profession (and after you’re done, go ahead, use them in your home, too).

1. Do it in intervals.
Plunging into a search for a new career can be overwhelming – just like trying to organize a year’s worth of photos, children’s art projects, or receipts for your taxes. Make time to research career options and the type of education programs you’ll want to pursue by returning to school, but don’t expect to do it all in one day. Spending a couple of hours at a time can keep you energized throughout the process.

2. Get help.
Bounce ideas of someone you trust and who will support you in your career endeavors. Whether it’s a spouse, parent, best friend, or colleague, having someone to help you during the process can motivate you, especially if you ever want to give up your search.

3. Tackle one area at a time.
In your home, you don’t want to jump from one area, like the kitchen, to the bedroom closet to the garage or the kids’ playroom, until you’re done with the other one. That just leads to chaos. To avoid a chaotic career search, start off by focusing on your passions and the types of occupations that fit with those passions (you can also take career assessments to help you with this part of the process), then go onto researching salary and job potential, then degree programs. As you tackle these decisions, set up a system by creating folders on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or in your paper files, to make sure that you lose any valuable research.

Taking these steps can help you keep focused on your career search and finding the profession of your dreams.

-Lori Johnston

If you’re still working on your Thanksgiving Day menu or want to see what the experts are making, sure, you could turn on Food Network and see Bobby Flay, Alton Brown, and those Iron Chefs whip up their own traditional and untraditional menu items.

But there’s expertise shared daily with students at culinary institutes, which may be a career field you’re considering, that you can use when preparing for the holiday. Chef instructors shared their favorite recipes for a memorable Thanksgiving meal.

Turkey Breast Stuffed with Sausage, Fennel, and Golden Raisins

From Robert Brener, associate professor at Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte, N.C., campus)

Ingredients

• 4 green onions
• 3/4 pound Italian sweet sausages, casings removed
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 slices of bread crusts removed and cubed
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 3-pound boneless whole turkey breast butterflied & pounded to a half-inch thickness.
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cups chicken stock
• Flour as needed to thicken pan sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Finely chop onions and mix with, sausage, raisins, bread, eggs, and cream, season with salt and pepper.

3. Place turkey on work surface, skin side down.

4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

5. Spoon sausage mixture in row down center of breast.

6. Starting at 1 long side, roll up turkey breast to enclose filling.

7. Tie with kitchen string at 1-inch intervals to hold shape.

8. Brush oil all over turkey.

9. Season with salt, pepper.

10. Roast until thermometer inserted into filling registers 165°F.

11. Remove turkey and allow to rest under loosely tented foil.

Sweet Potato Hash

From Chef Jim Gallivan, department chair, culinary arts, The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 ½ cups green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 ½ cups yellow onions, chopped
• 1 ½ cups sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into ½” cubes
• 5 cups vegetable stock
• 1 cup cooked corn kernels
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• ½ lime, juiced
• Sea salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions

1. Sauté bell pepper, garlic, and onions in 1 tablespoon olive oil until soft.

2. Add sweet potato and stock and simmer until potato is soft.

3. Drain, keeping the stock for future use.

4. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, corn, lime, and cilantro. (Use your gloved hands to avoid breaking up the sweet potato.)

5. Season to taste.

6. Serve at room temperature. Serves 6.

Fresh Cranberry Relish

From the Culinary Institute of America (see this recipe being prepared). The CIA’s main campus is in Hyde Park, N.Y., and it has additional locations in St. Helena, Calif., San Antonio, and Singapore.

Ingredients

• 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier or Triple Sec
• 2 to 3 tablespoons orange marmalade

Directions

1. If using fresh cranberries, wash, pick through, and dry them thoroughly.

2. In a medium saucepan, mix 1/3 cup of sugar with the cranberries and the remaining ingredients.

3. Taste to adjust sweetness and add more sugar if desired.

4. Place over medium-high heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until the berries pop.

Serve hot or cold. Makes 6 servings.

Butternut Squash & Apple Soup

Adapted from the Culinary Institute of America’s The New Book of Soups (2009, Lebhar Friedman). See this recipe being prepared.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups diced onion
• 1/3 cup diced carrot
• 1/2 cup diced celery root
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 to 4 cups vegetable broth
• 3 cups cubed butternut squash
• 1 cup sliced tart apple
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or as needed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper, or as needed
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1 cup crème fraîche for garnish (optional)
• 8 small pumpkins (about a pound each) or one large pumpkin
• Directions
• 1. Heat the butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, ginger, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is tender and translucent, 5 to 6 minutes.
• 2. Add the broth, squash, and apple. Bring the broth to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook until the squash is tender enough to mash easily with a fork, about 20 minutes.
• 3. While the soup is cooking, wash the pumpkins with mild soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and pat dry. Carve a lid off the tops and remove the seeds from inside.
• 4. Purée the soup using a handheld blender directly in the pot, with a sieve or a food mill, or in a countertop blender food processor. Return it to the soup pot if necessary. Return the soup to a simmer over medium-low heat.
• 5. Season the soup as needed with salt, pepper, and orange zest.
• 6. You can serve the soup in heated bowls topped with a dollop of crème fraîche if desired.
• 7. Or, to serve the soup in pumpkins, place each pumpkin onto a plate and fill them with soup topped with a dollop of crème fraîche if desired. If serving the soup in one large pumpkin, place the lid back on top to keep the soup warm. You can also offer the crème fraîche in a separate bowl on the buffet.
• Makes 8 servings.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

From Chef Jim Gallivan, department chair, culinary arts, The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta

Ingredients

• Crust
• 1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
• ¼ cup water
• Cheesecake
• 18 oz. low-fat cream cheese
• 1 ¼ cup fructose
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 4 tablespoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons nutmeg
• 2 ½ teaspoon cloves
• 6 sheets* gelatin
• 4 cups pumpkin, canned

* Can use equivalent plain packaged gelatin

Directions

1. Combine water and graham cracker crumbs

2. Press into a 10 in. cake pan and set aside.

3. Cream together the cream cheese and fructose.

4. Combine pumpkin and spices and mix well.

5. Fold the pumpkin mixture into the cream cheese mixture.

6. Soften gelatin in warm milk.

7. Quickly fold into the cheese mixture.

8. Pour into prepared pan and refrigerate overnight.

Serves 8-16 (depending on serving size).

As Thanksgiving approaches, the distractions increase, with thoughts of turkey, shopping, and family time taking you away from studying, writing papers, and finishing end-of-the-semester college projects.

With these top tips, you can enjoy your holiday traditions (yum, pumpkin pie) and finish up the semester strong.

1. Get real (but not about Santa)
Family get-togethers, holiday shopping, holiday cooking, office parties, your child’s school events, and more are all filling your calendar in Thanksgiving and December. Acknowledge that the holidays will bring challenges to your regular college schedule. As officials with Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, N.J., say: It’s a mistake to ignore this and treat the holiday season just like the rest of the year.

2. Schedule your holidays
Just like timing the components of a holiday meal, designate days and hours for studying/coursework, holiday commitments, and family time.

For example, complete a homework assignment before you head out for Black Friday shopping, so you can enjoy the madness along with other deal seekers.

Establishing a balanced schedule will keep you from having to finish a key assignment or study for a final at the last minute, says Mary M. Herster, director of continuing education at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Penn.

Chose which holiday parties you will attend based upon school deadlines, so that you have enough time to study and have fun, says Richard Shadick, director of the counseling center and an associate adjunct professor of psychology at Pace University in New York.

3. Prioritize your assignments/studying.
Being organized can maximize your time and increase efficiency, Herster says.

4. Set realistic goals
This may be the year that you hand off certain Thanksgiving dishes or holiday parties to someone else. Explain your school obligations to your family, and if they are aware of your time pressures, they are more likely to be understanding, says Jorie Scholnik, an assistant professor at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Fla. Adult students often feel like they are unable to give anything their “all,” but if you set reasonable expectations about school, home and work, you will feel less stressed, Shadick says.

5. Use down time for studying
Bring your class materials, and turn waiting for a flight or traveling to your destination into a productive period. Or while you’re waiting for a delicious dessert to come out of the oven, dig into reading or a class assignment, or post a response on a discussion board.

6. Bond with other students in your family.
If family members you are hosting or visiting include other college students, offer to study with them, Scholnik says. Officials at Thomas Edison State College have a fun recommendation: Get your kids involved in your education by having them prepare note cards for your exams or quizzing you on the information.

7. Don’t overindulge.
Enjoy that (one) cup of eggnog, as Shadick points out that drinking too much, overeating, or staying up later than normal makes it difficult to study effectively,

8. Be thankful for help.
If you feel overloaded, consider going to your school’s counseling center to talk to a professional about your holiday and school-related stress.

With a little bit of planning and preparation (just like getting ready for guests), you can actually enjoy the holidays and earn that break you’ll get in December!

-Lori Johnston

Being an adult student can be stressful.

We’ve all felt it – those nervous butterflies before a big test, that sense of panic when deadlines creep up, the feeling of dread when you look at your calendar and empty spaces are nowhere to be found. Anxiety is a common part of the human experience, and most of us have to deal with it at some point in life.

But sometimes, especially when you’re embarking on something new – like going back to school – the anxiety becomes more than you can handle. Before you throw in the towel, try these tips and techniques to overcome academic anxiety and get back to functioning at full capacity.

>> Practice deep breathing.
It sounds simple enough, but when you’re feeling panicky, breathing is often the furthest thing from your mind. You need to make a conscious effort to slow down. Breathe deeply through your nose to the count of three, then exhale through your mouth to the count of three. Focus on the image of inflating and deflating a balloon as you breathe. This kind of deep breathing can help you stop your racing thoughts so that you can get calm enough to take action.

>> Break down big projects.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you look at everything you have to do as one big chunk. Instead, step away from the big picture and break down giant projects into more manageable tasks. If you have a major research paper due next month, for example, try not to let yourself get intimidated by the magnitude of the assignment. Make a list of smaller pieces of the project, such as brainstorming, finding references, creating an outline, writing a first draft, etc. Set deadlines for each task so you can check each one off when it’s done, giving you more accountability and an increased sense of accomplishment along the way.

>> Just do one thing.
Even if you’ve outlined a series of manageable tasks, however, you might still feel like there are too many to handle. Again, this is the trap of looking at everything you have going on and getting overwhelmed instead of taking action. This is where the “just do one thing” principle comes into play. Look at your to-do list and choose one thing to get started on – whatever intimidates you the least. Once you start working, you might find yourself actually getting into a groove and accomplishing more than you thought you would.

>> Celebrate every success.
It’s also possible that you’ll do that one thing and then feel completely spent. That’s OK, too. The key is not to beat yourself up about what you didn’t get done, but to acknowledge and celebrate what you were able to accomplish – no matter how small. Any studying or outlining or writing you get done now is one less thing you have to do later, so give yourself a pat on the back for your hard work. And remember that success begets success, which means that all your small successes add up and can help lift the anxiety that’s weighing you down.

>> Take a break.
Sometimes you’ll find yourself staring at your textbook or computer screen, eyes glazed over, totally unable to focus on the task at hand. If the words have been swimming in front of you for more than five or 10 minutes, it’s time to switch gears and employ the “come back to it” principle. Maybe you’re writing a paper and you just can’t seem to get the wording right, or you’re studying for an exam and the concepts aren’t sinking in. Take a brisk walk if you’re able to, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes. A change of scenery – not to mention a chance to get your blood flowing and clear your head – can do a world of good.

Anxiety happens to the best of us. And when you’re juggling work and school and family responsibilities, it can feel overwhelming. The next time you get stuck, try these tips to reduce academic anxiety so that you can enjoy your life – and start living it to the fullest.

-\-Robyn Tellefsen

Going back to school is not a solitary venture – especially if you’re taking the plunge as an adult. If you want to succeed in your academic adventure, make sure you’re not going it alone. Seek out these five people to keep you on solid ground and help you forge strong pathways for personal and professional success.

Mentor
When you’re going back to school as an adult, it’s so important to connect with someone who has successfully completed his or her own academic adventure and can point out the peaks and pitfalls of life as a nontraditional student. Talking with someone who has been in your shoes and has come out on the other side, degree in hand, can be incredibly motivating and remind you that it is possible to achieve your goals. If you don’t already have a mentor for your academic pursuits, ask your school to connect you with a successful alum.

Partner
It can be tempting to put your head down and plow through your classes, not making time to connect with the people around you. After all, your goal in going back to school is probably to learn and to earn credentials, not necessarily to make friends. But you’d be surprised how valuable it can be to find a “partner in crime,” a peer who’s going through the same struggles you are and who can commiserate and/or rejoice with you every step of the way. Look around your classes; there’s bound to be someone with whom you can relate and share your experiences.

Apprentice
If you’re just beginning a back-to-school endeavor, you probably feel like the low man on the totem pole. But remember that you still have something to offer. Keep a balanced perspective by finding someone you can mentor – it might be a younger student in one of your classes, a high schooler, or even someone you meet in a formal mentoring program. Your experiences can help them on their path, and can serve as inspiration for them to continue their education and never give up. Plus, just knowing that you’re someone else’s role model can help you persevere when the going gets tough.

Encourager
Everyone needs an encourager in their lives, and that’s especially the case when committing to going back to school. An encourager will listen to your stories, remind you that you’re doing a good job, and prompt you to keep on moving forward, no matter what. In the midst of your hectic schedule, you may forget to keep tabs on all you’ve accomplished, but your encourager is there to point out those successes and help your eyes stay focused on a bright future. An old friend – one who has seen you through the ups and downs of life and loved you through it all – can be an ideal encourager.

Outsider
As important as your education endeavor is, sometimes you will need to be reminded that it’s not the be-all and end-all of your existence. In other words, there is life outside of school. Keeping an outsider – preferably a fun-loving friend – close by can help you maintain perspective and keep a handle on what’s going on in the rest of world. An outsider can be supportive of your academic pursuits without being overly involved or invested in them. And an outsider can provide a much-needed outlet and diversion when you’re ready to take a break from the books.

Heading back to school as an adult is a significant undertaking – but with these key people in your personal and professional network, you can make it a resounding success.

-Robyn Tellefsen

It’s a puzzling predicament: people can’t find jobs, and employers can’t find people to hire. It’s called a “skills gap,” and it basically means that workers don’t have what it takes to get hired or to get the job done.

Some say the answer is to get more people go to college. This is certainly an important piece of the puzzle, since post-secondary training can impart the kinds of skills needed to succeed in today’s jobs. But just making sure more people get certificates or degrees isn’t the answer. The key is to get the right kind of training, the kind that is needed to keep our changing economy afloat.

The good news is that there are already some national and state-wide initiatives in place to help workers get up to speed.

Developed by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLAs) are employer-matched, portable accounts that workers use to finance their education and training. The Lifelong Learning Accounts Act of 2011 is still in the first step of the federal legislative process (if it passes, workers can get tax benefits from their LiLA), but several states have already launched these 401(k)-like programs for their workers. Maine was the first state to launch a state-based LiLA program, and Illinois was the first state to pass legislation for a pilot in the health care sector that provides matching dollars for LiLA contributions. Washington state has also adopted a LiLA program, and California has passed legislation to establish a LiLA program in 2014.

Michigan is bridging the skills gap with its very own “No Worker Left Behind” initiative, which provides unemployed or low-wage workers with up to $10,000 in free tuition for community college, university, or other approved training. Workers must pursue a degree or occupational certificate in a high-demand occupation or emerging industry (e.g., advanced manufacturing, health care, biotechnology, renewable energy) or in an entrepreneurship program. In an increasingly knowledge-based economy, Michigan is taking serious steps to get its workers up to snuff.

Exciting things are taking place at the federal level, too. The Aspen Institute, an international nonprofit, is spearheading a national campaign specifically designed to close the skills gap. Through Skills for America’s Future, a nonpartisan initiative, employers are connecting with community colleges in order to train students for 21^st century jobs. In one of its most recent endeavors, Skills for America’s Future joined forces with the National Association of Manufacturers to give students the training and industry credentials they need to make it in today’s advanced manufacturing workplaces.

If you don’t live in an area that’s offering special skill-building opportunities like these, all is not lost. It just means you have to be especially proactive and take your career preparation in your own hands. Going to college is an important step, but what you do there is more important than just showing up or getting a piece of paper at the end. And one of the best experiences to incorporate into your education is an internship or apprenticeship. Internships offer a great opportunity to determine and hone the kinds of skills employers really need. That way, once you have your coveted piece of paper in hand, you’ll already have real-world experience and demonstrable skills.

With opportunities like these in place, we’re hoping the “skills gap” goes the way of the dinosaur.

-Robyn Tellefsen

With the “Twilight” and “The Hunger Games” series over, let’s face it, we all know enough about vampires and postapocalyptic worlds and can focus on some career reading this summer.

Slip one of these books into your beach bag this long holiday weekend, and get inspired about your career or furthering your education.

These authors make it easy to soak up both the rays and important information about earning a first-time degree or advanced degree to move up the ladder professionally. Just imagine what were to happen if Katniss was to combine her Hunger Games experience with a college education – she would be even more unstoppable!

How to Get Any Job: Life Launch and Re-Launch for Everyone Under 30 (Or How to Avoid Living in Your Parents’ Basement) by Donald Asher (Ten Speed Press)

Asher, a career consultant who is author of several books, encourages people to think about their “top five issues in this world” as part of considering a career path and gives the low-down on education options, recognizing that career paths can change over time. Plus, there’s a special chapter on summer jobs.

Bossypants by Tina Fey (Reagan Arthur Books)

It’s your typical career book, but Fey’s hilarious memoir shows what it’s like to succeed in a male-dominated industry, working at SNL and having her own Emmy Award-winning show, “30 Rock,” and how she balances being a mom in show business. You get all that, and be prepared to hide under your oversized beach hat because you may be embarrassed at how much Fey’s essays are making you laugh.

The MBA Reality Check by Evan Forester & David Thomas (Prentice Hall Press)

If you’re considering earning your MBA, you probably need a summer vacation from all of that research. This book presents the MBA pursuit from the mindset of how you can be a compelling candidate to a college, written in a way where you feel like you’re chatting with a friend – albeit a very experienced, knowledgable friend who is an educational consultant. Forster’s insider’s look into getting into a business school is fueled with stories of applicants, making it an easy summer read.

Let us know if you’ve found other career- or education-related books or biographies that have inspired or informed you to take your next career step!

-Lori Johnston

When weighing the decision to go back to college and finish your degree, adult workers often wonder if life experience will count.

Taking some of the classes in a subject area you’ve already spent years working in will meet the degree requirements, but will it shed any new light onto the subject and just prolong your college years?

Well, on-the-job experience and life knowledge you have gained actually could serve you well in college.

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that two services are seeking to establish national norms to give credit for “experiential learning” – skills you have gained outside of the classroom – and possibly could help hundreds of thousands of individuals earn degrees. The programs also recognize that it’s a time-consuming and labor-intensive process when faculty members at individual colleges evaluate portfolios of students seeking to receive college credit for career experience.

More than 80 public colleges and universities, community colleges and technical schools, Christian colleges, and for-profit online schools are participating in the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning’s new program, Learning Counts.

On a smaller level for now, there is KNEXT, which is affiliated with for-profit Kaplan University and also has agreements with New England College of Business and Finance and Grantham University.

There is a cost for students to participate. The Chronicle reports that the portfolio-creating course from Learning Counts costs $500, plus an extra $250 for each portfolio that a student wants evaluated. KNEXT has an all-inclusive price for $999.

Students get credit from participating colleges for completing the course where they learn to create a portfolio about their workplace learning. The portfolios are reviewed a national panel of subject-matter experts, which determines whether the student should earn credit, the Chronicle reported.

So while considering heading back to school, think about your career experience could boost your college experience. Depending on the degree you’re pursuing, it may allow you to bypass some courses and even finally grasp that diploma a little faster.

Donning that cap and gown soon? Here’s another reason to smile: Your chance of getting hired is greater than those who earned their degrees last year.

The good news comes from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, whose recent survey found that employers plan to hire 21 percent more recent college graduates this year than they did in spring 2010. That’s up from a 13.5 percent increase in college hiring that employers said back in August they expected.

Maybe you’re seeing more recruiters on campus, a sign of hiring activity. And if you get an offer, it might be more than your friends were being offered last year. Pay is rising, with the average salary for all 2011 graduates at $50,462, up 5.9 percent from last year, according to NACE’s Spring 2011 Salary Survey.

Engineering majors are going to have a better chance of finding a high-paying job upon graduation. The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Spring 2011 Salary Survey reported that the 10 top-paid majors for the class of 2011 were:

Chemical engineering
Average salary offer: $66,886

Computer science
Average salary offer: $63,017

Mechanical engineering
Average salary offer: $60,739

Electrical/electronics & communications engineering
Average salary offer: $60,646

Computer engineering
Average salary offer: $60,112

Industrial/manufacturing engineering
Average salary offer: $58,549

Systems engineering
Average salary offer: $57,497

Engineering technology
Average salary offer: $57,176

Information sciences & systems
Average salary offer: $56,868

Business systems networking/telecommunications
Average salary offer: $56,808

Now that you’ve gotten the encouraging news, do something about it! Pursue jobs and network with potential employees knowing that many are on the lookout for well-educated workers to help their companies grow.

-Lori Johnston