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What Can I Do Now to Achieve My Career Goals?

By U.S. News & World Report

If you’ve been thinking about making a change to or advancing in your career and you’ve been putting it off, there are practical things you can do now to make it happen. You can think or talk about it all you want, but until you take action, you’re not going to get very far.

[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]

There are simple things you can start doing today to help you get where you want to go. From the ideas below, choose what you enjoy most so that you’ll stick with them, rather than things you dread because your commitment won’t last. “Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success” by Angie Morgan, Courtney Lynch, and Sean Lynch suggests some of the following approaches to help you act more intentionally to achieve your goals.

Company News. There are companies we are drawn to, perhaps because of their exceptional customer service or branding. Whatever the reason, get to know more about those you admire and want to learn more about. Subscribe to their news feeds or newsletters so you can get to know them better. This will help you understand their culture and corporate goals. If you eventually decide to apply to an opening, you’ll be able to better tap into their needs when you prepare your application and interview.

Industry News. Engage with sources from industries you’re not familiar with. Think of industries different than your own in which you might have a possible interest. Try reading magazines from those industries to find out what the current trends and issues are. It may ignite an interest in learning more about issues within an industry, or you may find a job you never knew about that looks like something you’d like to do. If so, reading such publications will help you understand what skills or qualifications you need to work in that field.

[See: The 25 Best Social Services Jobs of 2017.]

Follow Industry Influencers. There are a lot of industry thought leaders and CEOs blogging and putting content out there these days with all kinds of advice. While their word isn’t gospel, it can be inspiring to read about their challenges and successes. If there are particular people you admire, follow them on social media, subscribe to their blog or listen to their podcasts.

Talk to Successful Individuals. Many of us shy away from asking successful people for their guidance because we imagine they are extraordinarily busy and don’t have time for us. While that may be true, some of the most successful people enjoy hearing from people who admire them and offering advice. They will attribute their success to engaging with accomplished professionals early in their career, or having a great mentor. Many want to pay it forward. Ask to take the person to lunch or coffee to learn about their career. As long as you listen more than talk, it will be a fruitful conversation. These chats can trigger great ideas for you about what you could be doing in your future.

[See: 10 Ways Social Media Can Help You Land a Job.]

Keep a Journal. As you explore new areas and talk to successful people, write down all quotes and thoughts in a designated journal or file. Return to it often — on the weekend, when you feel down about your job or when you’re reminded of something you read or someone said. New ideas will generate over time as you make clear connections between what you’re reading and speaking about with others. Having all of the key pieces of your exploration on paper will enable you to connect those dots. It won’t happen immediately, but you will begin to see threads as time goes on that will help you figure out where you want to go next and how you can achieve those goals.

Taking yourself out of your normal routine is essential for innovation. Since we can’t be on vacation all of the time, engaging in activities that are outside of our usual realm inspires us to think differently and come up with new ideas for our future. The day to day can wear on us and cause us to not pursue goals. By taking steps to read and listen to new perspectives, we can get a step closer to making a change for the better.

More from U.S. News

The 100 Best Jobs of 2017

The 25 Highest-Paying Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree

25 Best Business Jobs for 2017

What Can I Do Now to Achieve My Career Goals? originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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