The United States Government routinely recruits building engineers for building maintenance operation positions at sensitive foreign locations, such as embassies or military bases. In addition, recent attention to the use of illegal immigrant labor in some building maintenance operation jobs has created demand for certified building engineers. If you have ever wanted to spend some time working abroad, a degree program in building maintenance operation can help you reach your goal. Individual units of the federal government regularly recruit experienced building engineers to handle routine tasks at foreign installations. With heightened emphasis on national security, department managers are reluctant to hire local workers for these jobs. Therefore, government agencies and federal contractors are willing to pay a premium for talented building engineers who are willing to travel for a few years at a time. In many cases, these overseas building maintenance operation positions include lodging and travel expenses, in addition to relatively high salaries.

Immigration Concerns Create Opportunities for Building Engineers

Meanwhile, at home in the United States, crackdowns on illegal immigration and tougher code enforcement standards create new opportunities for building engineers with training from accredited schools. Until recently, some building owners or developers could get away with using illegal immigrants to handle building maintenance operation positions. Other landlords found themselves duped by realistic forgeries of identity papers and degree completion certificates. Today, you can expect employers to check the credentials of anyone applying for a building maintenance operation job. Building engineers that have completed degree programs will enjoy a fast track to higher salaries and stronger job security in a field that has come under significant scrutiny.
Sources

• Boston Globe

About the Author
Author and business coach, Joe Taylor Jr. helps professionals change careers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ithaca College.

If teaching is your passion, there are many different types of teaching careers to choose from.  What is especially convenient is that you can learn the necessary skills to become a teacher by enrolling in an online education degree program.

Types of Online Education Degree Programs

There are several programs in the education field.  To name a few:

• Administration
• Training Continuing Education
• Kindergarten
• Elementary Educations
• Special Education
• Graduate Teacher
• Certification

Education programs in one of these chosen fields of learning include practice lessons to help you feel like you’re actually on campus, without leavin demand.

Many school districts offer higher salaries and relocation costs as an enticement to graduating students in the education field to fill in vacant positions in small towns. Teaching in these communities can provide deep personal satisfaction and can enhance your classroom performance, especially for K-12 teachers who have earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning. Improving student performance is the ultimate goal of all the available teaching degrees online, emphasizing in a comprehensive curriculum, and enhanced with an introductory program for understanding how the Internet can be integrated into your career and later into the classroom as an aid in teaching your students. Teaching degree programs are usually based on an overall field of study, before deciding a specialization on a level of teaching education. At such point of the course, students can choose to become an elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education teacher, and receive a training program accordingly.
Online courses are complemented with virtual practices and real classes to gain classroom experience close to the end of their corresponding education program, and often are invited to face other professional teachers, teaming up for guidance and mentoring techniques. Earning a Teaching degree online is also ideal for undergraduate students, whose actual activities limit their time to attend on-site classes. People who work full or part time, or those who left school many years ago and want to retake a career, are some of the most common candidates applying to get a degree online. The big deal with an Internet course is their flexibility; making is easy to change careers as well. Teaching degrees are affordable and enriched with multimedia features that otherwise cannot be found in distance learning courses.

Anyone applying for an MBA program should set a number of goals.  These goals should relate specifically to their personal and professional motivations. My motivations in pursing an MBA degree in organizational leadership include the following:

• A desire to expand my knowledge in business administration

• A belief that educational experiences can be invaluable to developing new business opportunities in the global marketplace

• A knowledge of my own potential as an administrator of business operations

• A need for greater educational opportunities and contacts in the business world.
  

How these Four Fundamental Motivations Help Me Determine My Goals

• The first of my motivations is educational in nature.  My goals around expanding my knowledge base include specific educational aims. First, I hope to experience a variety of educational programs and opportunities that will help me better understand business development and organizational leadership.  Whether these educational programs are offered through on-campus schools or through online schools, there are many programs that cater to one’s goals, as well as one’s personal and professional schedule.  Second, I have set a goal for academic performance, with the expectation that I will perform to my fullest potential and participate as an active member of the educational community. Finally, I will pursue educational opportunities that put me in contact with members of the business community in order to learn by example.

• The second source of motivation to attend business school relates to my need for educational experiences that expand my understanding of organizational behavior and business leadership. My goals, then, are focused on this motivator and relate to both educational and professional pursuits. My first goal in this area is to experience course work and learning opportunities that give me an understanding of changing business structures, cultural variations, relativism, social paradigms for business development and organizational communications.  I want to learn about the implications of all of these elements in directing business administration. Second, I will pursue active opportunities to view leadership in organizations, including organizational history and the context in the modern marketplace. Finally, I hope to experience a variety of different structural views of business organizations in order to gain insight into the successes and failures of major players. These goals, then, will serve both my professional and educational development.

• My third motivation is to expand my knowledge of my own potential as an administrator of business operations. I have already demonstrated an understanding of business structures and of elements of business administration, but I do believe I can benefit from a greater understanding of a variety of business theories. As a result, my central goal under this motivation is to experience different business opportunities and shape a personal view of different organizational climates as they impact my own assessments of business administration and business theory.

• My final motivation is a broad directive for both professional and educational gains: a need for greater educational opportunities and contacts in the business world. This motivation, then, can shape a variety of different goals.  These goals range from my pursuit of educational programming to enhance my awareness of business leadership, to concepts and administrative changes that need to be made. This range of goals, then, provides a means of developing personally and professionally.

My personal history supports my capacity to meet these goals and to support my personal motivations. For the past 6 years, I have worked actively to pursue a greater understanding of business structures.  I was exposed to a variety of different business elements and worked as a part of professional communities. As a result of my work experience, I have gained an understanding of the importance of leadership and the impacts of good leadership on organizations.

On the most basic level, a leader can be defined as “someone who occupies a position in a group, influences others in accordance with the role expectation of the position and coordinates and directs the group in maintaining itself and reaching its goal” (Raven and Rubin, 1976). But leadership within a collective organization must also consider the necessity of the leader to attain group, organizational and societal goals (Avery and Baker, 1990).

Brown (1996) supports the nine necessary behaviors of leadership, that include:

1. Developing people
2. Ability to influence others
3. Encouraging team work
4. Empowering people
5. Using multiple option thinking
6. Taking intelligent risks
7. Being passionate about work
8. Having a strong clear vision
9. Stretching personal capacity

These nine characteristics can not only be used to describe corporate leadership, but also to represent the concept of a leader as a whole. The most important role of a leader is to impact the people he leads and to create a link between the actions of the group and goals that are set (Avery and Baker, 1990).
By promoting the potential of others, leaders can affect the outcomes of actions through their behaviors as leaders. At the same time, a leader can not effectively develop others if he does not have the ability to influence others. In order to be an effective leader, it is necessary to be heard, to catch people’s attention, and demonstrate an understanding of the influences that can occur. Earning my bachelor degree has given me a greater level of confidence and awareness about my role as an emerging business leader. I believe that the continued application of what I have learned to my career goals and my experiences will enhance whatever I do. My improved confidence in my decision-making capabilities and my own belief in ethical problem-solving have improved my enthusiasm and personal pride.

Learning is a continuous process, one that should be embraced and celebrated. My undergraduate degree has given me the skills to continue some of my own learning outside of the classroom, but has also sparked an interest in continued educational pursuits, including the achievement of an MBA. Because of the constantly changing business climate, a positive attitude about education and the embracing of lifelong learning is imperative to success. 

Let’s be honest: When you pursue an associate degree, friends and family might ask you why you aren’t just going for the bachelor’s degree. It’s just a few months more, right? But there are many advantages to an associate degree that might not be evident at first blush.

Good Reasons to Earn Your Associate Degree
Your associate degree can offer a wealth of benefits and perks, not the least of which affects your bottom line. Here’s why an associate degree makes sense:

• Save time and money. Online schools offer a flexible schedule that can allow you to finish your associate degree quickly. You can also save money by going for your associate degree rather than opting for the longer and more expensive degrees.
• Have future flexibility. If you’re not sure what field of study you want to focus on, an associate degree can help you figure that out. It can also serve as the basis for future study if you decide you do want to pursue a higher degree.
• Boost your income. An associate degree can help you get that promotion or land that great new job. Many jobs require only an associate degree to get your foot in the door, and your new company might pay for your to further your education even more.

It Matters to Your Bottom Line
Earning your degree can have a direct impact on your bottom line. According to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the level of educational attainment is directly related to higher income potential. In most cases, the degree you earn is also directly related to unemployment rates.
Those who earned an associate degree made an average of $761 per week in 2009, compared to the average of $626 for those who had only a high school diploma. The unemployment level dropped as well; those who had a high school diploma saw an unemployment rate of 9.7 percent, while those with an associate degree saw unemployment drop to 6.8 percent.
It definitely pays to earn your associate degree from online schools. Why not start today?

Self-discipline. Motivation. Determination. These words describe someone who is ready to tackle online degree programs as the next step towards pursuing that dream career. But how do you cultivate the self-discipline you need to excel in online degree programs?
The Unique Challenge of Online Schools
Online learning allows you to work at your own pace and set your own hours. However, that freedom presents a unique challenge to online students. There is no set time for class, no teacher standing over you, and no attendance taken. When that traditional classroom structure is taken away, you must find ways to stay accountable to your classwork.
Complete Online Degree Programs with Plenty of Discipline
The discipline to complete those online degree programs might not come easily. But there are plenty of ways to trick yourself into staying accountable. These are just a few tips that might help:

• Set a firm schedule. Plan on working online at a certain time every day. Consider it your required classroom time, and focus completely during that time, just as you would if a teacher were in front of you.
• Get active on school message boards. If you are having trouble with a certain subject, say so. Get advice from peers and teachers. The more you understand a concept, the more likely you should be to tackle it with vigor.
• Reduce distractions. Move to a quiet room, turn off the radio and television, and avoid interruptions. For a set period of time, give all your attention to your classwork. It might be tough to find that quiet time, but it is necessary–even if it happens to be in the middle of the night. Take advantage of the flexible scheduling of online schools to find the time to study without distractions.

Online degree programs can be the perfect opportunity to start a new career–but you have to want it badly enough to get motivated! Self-discipline could very well be the key to your success.

Podcasts were once the realm of tech geeks and digital gurus. Today, podcasts are available for anyone who knows how to click a mouse and use the Internet. In the world of online learning, podcasts have transformed the educational experience.
What is a Podcast?
A podcast is a file of digital media, or a group of several related files, transferred over the Internet. Podcasts are downloaded onto your computer or hand-held device, such as an iPod or mp3 player. The podcasts can be saved and listened to at your convenience. A podcast can include everything from music to lectures, and in the case of online schools, might be accompanied by other materials to form a well-rounded course of study.
Why Podcasts Are Popular Tools for Online Schools
Podcasts are a popular way for professors to communicate with their students. The professor can record a lecture, class instruction, or other important information in a podcast. The podcast is then uploaded to a secure server, where students can download it and listen at their convenience.
Podcasting has become popular with many educational institutions, not just those based online. In fact, Duke University started a trend in 2004 by giving all incoming freshmen their own iPod to help them with their studies. The use of podcasts means you can work with a flexible class schedule, even listening to lectures in the middle of the night, something you could not have with a traditional college experience.
If you are earning your degree through online schools, invest in a good mp3 player, iPod, or good set of computer headphones to listen to podcasts on your own time and at your own pace. The podcast can be a great enhancement to your written materials and can help you better understand the professor’s point of view on the subject at hand.

There’s no doubt about it: communications and media professions help make the world go ’round. Earning your communications and media degree through online schools can launch your career in an occupation that is on a steady growth curve.
Careers in Communications
You might not realize it, but communications majors are everywhere. Those who have earned their degree in communications and media work in all kinds of professions. If it involves information, you can bet there is a communications major behind it.
Great careers for communications and media majors include:

• Public relations expert
• Broadcaster or radio personality
• Journalist or reporter
• Technical writer
• Public information officer
• Marketing and advertising specialist
• Communications director

Where do communications majors work? You can find them in almost every type of business and industry, including health care, politics, educational institutions, and even on your television screen. In order to get their message out and their point across, businesses large and small will rely on communications majors to get the job done.
Online Degree Programs in Communications and Media
Online schools can be your perfect door to launching a new media career. When you choose to take your communications courses online, you are honing your computer skills, not to mention your time-management ability, and that can provide an extra boost for your future career needs.
For a better chance of advancement down the line, place emphasis on courses that allow you to shine in more than one area; for instance, those who plan to work in public relations for a major financial firm might take courses in finance and business as well as communications and media. Regardless, bachelor degree programs in some field of communications are often enough to start on the path to your budding media career.