6 Secrets to Career Happiness Through Education

by Amelia Gray

Stressed at work? You’re not alone. Job problems are one of the top stressors in many people’s lives. The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recently found that health care expenditures are nearly 50 percent higher for workers reporting high levels of stress.

A stressful job can make you sick, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Training for a new, less stressful career could lead to a happier and healthier work life. More education could even make your current job less stressful.

Learn more about the top secrets of career happiness and the training you’ll need to unlock true contentment at work.

Secret #1: Do what you love

It seems like a no-brainer, but people often find themselves seemingly trapped in jobs they hate. Things may seem even more frustrating if you’re an adult trying to support a family in a dead-end job. The good news is that changing careers may be easier than you think. A 2008 news release published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that baby boomers held an average of 10.8 jobs from ages 18 to 42.

If you have an idea of what kind of career you’d enjoy, an online education program can shorten the distance between dream and reality. Even knowing a general industry can help narrow your choices. If you want to work in law, an associate degree in paralegal studies can get you there in just two years. If you’re interested in health care, physical therapist assistants also require the 2-year degree.

Secret #2: Build on what you know

You’ve built up years of work experience in your current job, and you’re understandably wary to let that go in favor of a brand new career. However, related careers are everywhere, and a little creative thinking can work wonders. Say you’ve worked your whole life as a salesperson. Combine those valuable communication skills with an advertising or marketing degree, and you have proof of real-world experience to back up your educational skills.

Consider a teaching career. Your real-life work experience can be valuable for school systems hoping to hire teachers willing to counsel students about their life choices. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, becoming a teacher could be a matter of completing a short certification program.

Secret #3: Dare to dream, but stay realistic

Say you’ve always wanted to own your own catering company, but you don’t know how to get there. One secret to realizing your career happiness lies in determining exactly what that career requires. Think about the general skills you would need to run your own catering business:

• Finance and accounting skills
• Safety and health policy
• Culinary and gourmet food preparation
• Employee management

While your natural cooking and communication skills will certainly come in handy, a degree program can give you the technical knowledge you need to build upon your existing ability. If you wish to own a large business with many employees, a master’s degree in hospitality management or an M.B.A. may be preferred.

Secret #4: Refine your educational palette

Are you great with numbers? Do you have a natural ability for communication, or is design more up your alley? You’ll never know your true strengths if you don’t test them. Enrolling in a general course of study allows you to try multiple courses while you discover your strengths.

For example, you feel your calling is in business, but you’re not sure where. A bachelor’s degree in business administration would have you taking general courses in finance, accounting, management and other key aspects of business operation. Once you determine your path, you simply take more advanced courses aligned with that path.

Secret #5: Learn what you can earn

You may have already guessed that a degree can mean a big earnings boost. But do you really know how much you can (and perhaps should) be earning? Check out 2007 weekly earnings by degree, according to the BLS:

• Less than a high school diploma: $428
• High school graduate: $604
• Associate degree: $740
• Bachelor’s degree: $987

On average, bachelor’s degree holders earn about $20,000 more per year than those with just a high school diploma. That’s big savings in the long run, and a lot more happiness once you find a career that suits your skills.

Secret #6: Talk to the experts

Feel like you’re starting from scratch? Academic and career counselors at potential schools can give you the answers you’re looking for. Whether you’re concerned about the cost of an education or you simply have questions about the requirements and time commitment, these experts can help you along every step of your journey. Check out a few common non-traditional student profiles:

• The single mother aspiring to live a more comfortable life with her children
• An adult ready to make the leap into a more satisfying and lucrative career
• The sole family provider realizing future financial needs may outpace current salary

While no college degree or certificate program guarantees career success, the training you receive may prove invaluable to hiring managers across industries. As an adult enrolling in career training programs, you’re proving that you have the desire to make a permanent career shift. Pursuing an online education helps you unlock the secret to true career happiness.