Online Degrees – The New and Improved Normal

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Online Degrees|Online Degrees - The New and Improved NormalThe world has witnessed around 72,692,481 corona cases so far while encountering more than 1,619,801 deaths. These stats observed in a couple of months have changed millions of lives throughout the globe, calling it a pandemic situation.

So far, it has affected several families, businesses, professionals, and students to the core. While there are so many negative aspects, there are some positives of this pandemic too. And that’s the culture of online studies.

A news report by the U.S. News says that there are more than 6.3 million students in the U.S. enrolled in a type of online course. This number is accelerating in a blazing speed after the advent and excessive usage of virtual learning platforms and sites. Be it the workforce or the students; the present age is moving towards online mediums not to let any unpleasant circumstances hamper the work or studies respectively. This displays the increasing amount of passion and influence of online studies among students.

How can students still carve their career?

A mass majority of students have been considering COVID-19 global pandemic as the sign of ending up their careers and academic journey. But that’s merely a negative vision. The introduction and encouragement of online studies have given rise to many possibilities for students all around the world. With this, pupils can continue to learn and expand their vision of online learning.

So, here we have got you a string of some popular and highly-paid degrees to look upon and build a career with never-ending possibilities.

  • Petroleum engineering – This field is one of the types of engineering associated with the production of hydrocarbons. Generally, these are used in crude oil or as natural gases for multiple purposes. As the costs of crude oil (also referred to as ‘black gold’) is higher than usual, this increases the scope of getting better and higher salaries. A petroleum engineer makes $94,500 a year.
  • Computer science – This stream deals with the software development aspects of computer opening gateways for students to make their career as a software engineer or developer. Here, a student can enrol himself or herself in such programs via online courses and work in various fields like iOS, Android, Hybrid, mobile app development. An average experienced software engineer can make $88,000 per annum.
  • Psychology – Undergoing this academic stream comes with a lot of challenges but perks too. Suppose you decide to go for an online psychology degree. In that case, you open your gateway to multiple highly ranked designations like an educational psychologist, media role player, counselor, psychotherapist, researcher, and social psychologist. However, the actual pay scale depends on the stream you have followed.The last word –

The culture of online learning and studies have gone to the next level. This has resulted in an expanding number of online courses. Where some found it a dilemma to be a part of the online world, others fell in love with the concept of online learning as it introduces extreme flexibility and convenience.

Enroll Now: Job Roles after Masters in Management

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Masters in Management|Enroll Now: Job Roles after Masters in ManagementWith the growth of population and the advent of cutting-edge technology to the industrial world, business as a whole is growing massively and rapidly. As a result, the need for skilled workers in management and leadership has developed significantly over the ages and continues to grow even further. They are often the main reason for the industry’s growth, thus being an integral part of the business world.

Undoubtedly, with such employees’ absence, industries’ foundations would fall weak, and their growth would get stunted. With a master’s degree in management, you will help companies overcome their problems and secure your future. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, it’s the perfect win-win opportunity. After qualifying with a diverse variety of skills, such as excellent communication and leadership, there’s no doubt that many job opportunities can open up. Here are a few high-paying and in-demand jobs that you can get with a master’s in management to give you a more in-depth insight into this degree’s true potential.

Management consultant

Employers prefer high standards and qualified employees throughout all branches of business. For this purpose, quality education is of utmost importance; without it, it’s impossible to pursue any of the successful careers. So, before we jump to the main topic, it’s a good idea to secure this essential education by looking further into an online masters in management. It will equip you with the best skills.

Coming back to the topic, a management consultant is one of the most pursued careers by people with a master’s degree in management. The reason is its high-demand and salary in the competitive market. As the name suggests, a management consultant’s key role is to provide expert advice to companies in need. The strategic guidance provided by these managers is to increase the productivity and growth of the company. To develop the best plans and tactics, these managers research extensively and collect numerous data. They identify risks, and issues from their research, carefully creating an effective growth plan. To maximize growth and develop the best strategies possible, management consultants often work in teams, which requires excellent communication skills. They also can function with high authority and responsibility.

Business development manager

Suppose you have a deep interest in supporting businesses in the fastest and most efficient ways possible. In that case, a business development manager is one of the best careers to choose from so many options. In this job, marketing and sales techniques are combined with strategic analysis to generate effective plans to increase revenue. Business development managers usually prioritize increasing business partnerships to help the company increase sales. The task of dealing and negotiating with other companies necessitates them to have excellent communication and dealing skills.

A good understanding of technology is also required by business development managers, which gives them an edge over the competition. Problem-solving skills and the ability to oversee objectives, changes, and goals are essential parts of this manager’s job. All types of companies look for help from this type of management to specialize in technology, finance, education, and many more fields. Besides requiring a master’s degree, this job can prove to be quite successful for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Project manager

When companies and organizations launch a project, they often hire a project manager to execute and develop the project. Therefore, there are chances that these managers are highly responsible. They can work under pressure and lead the project to a successful launch under the specified time. Along with general management skills, project managers possess a wide range of other essential skills, such as resolving conflicts, detecting issues, working in teams, and having excellent communication methods.

The ability to make quick decisions to improve the project is also an integral part of this job. Other tasks carried out by project managers include time management, budget management, risk analysis, and business partnering. To carry out these tasks efficiently, project managers often utilize management software. Thus, being familiar with technology is also required for this job. With a master’s in management, you can take advantage of this high paying and in-demand career.

Financial controller

A financial controller manages everything related to a company’s finance, including tax preparation, handling transactions, and payrolls. These workers must collaborate with all company sectors to understand all financial procedures happening throughout the company. They lead in the preparation of budgets and can prove instrumental in developing monetary policies and strategies. For this reason, they are often known as the lead account of the company. Financial controllers are well-equipped to handle all their tasks effectively, such as analytical, problem-solving, and numerical skills. According to the bureau of labor statistics, 30% of financial controllers get employed by the finance and insurance businesses.

Supply chain manager

Supply chain managers help companies with shipment, manufacturing, and storage of products. They identify risks and issues while assisting a company. Like all managers, they also use research to aid their work and thus develop helpful strategies. All aspects of the manufacturing process are affected by a supply chain manager. Therefore, these managers must know how to influence and communicate with other workers. Keeping a detailed record and generating frequent reports to present to the company are typical responsibilities of a supply chain manager.

Furthermore, they have the responsibility of dealing with external parties, such as suppliers and distributors. The knowledge of dealing with legal documents can be quite useful for this job, as many instances require contracts. With a quality master’s degree in management, you can start your career with a job in supply chain management, which is likely to grow by 9% in 2026.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that a master’s degree in management can help you secure your future, unlocking a vast majority of jobs that are snowballing in demand. It’s the right time to pursue an education in management to take advantage of this opportunity if you aspire to succeed in the business world.

Why Should People Consider a Career in Therapy During the COVID19 Pandemic?

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | Why Should People Consider a Career in Therapy During the COVID19 Pandemic?COVID19 has led to huge numbers of people seeking a career change, whether this is due to the loss of a current position because of redundancy or simply having time to reflect and put lives into perspective.

One increasingly popular question people are asking is ‘how do I become a therapist?. In this crisis, people are focussing on helping others in every way they can. While medical staff are proving their worth during this time and are incredibly valued, the long-term effects of the pandemic are predicted to impact mental health more than anything else.

How Many People Are Wanting To Become A Therapist?

One of the easiest and quickest ways to determine the demand for anything nowadays is by analysing Google searches. Research by RTT shows that the term ‘how to become a therapist’ and similar phrases have seen a 10x increase within the first 6 months of the pandemic compared to the same months of 2019.

What Is A Therapist?

Therapists are essentially a guide, they aid people with mental health disorders or someone who is struggling with their own mind, to understand their feelings on a deeper level and learn to manage these and cope.

It’s important to know that therapists do not ‘cure’ people. Instead, they provide a safe space for anyone who needs it to be able to talk through their problems and explore any underlying issues or repressed feelings.

Psychotherapists are specially trained therapists who deal with a severe mental health diagnosis but do not have the authority to prescribe medication.

Why A Career In Therapy Could Be For You?

There is never a definitive answer as to why people want to become a therapist but quite often is it because of previous personal experiences.

This could be having struggled with mental health yourself and witnessing just how much a mental health professional can positively impact your life and wanting to do the same for others.

Another reason is some individuals have seen a loved one suffer from mental health issues, whether they sought professional advice or not, many see just how valuable therapists can be.

However, some wish to become a therapist without any previous related experiences, the need to help others is ingrained within human nature and turning this into a career can be very rewarding.

With a lot more free time on our hands at the moment, training in a new career has never been more popular. While a career change can be scary and even risky, especially during the pandemic, the mental health crisis is just as imperative as the COVID19 one and therapists are rising in demand.

What Skills Do You Need To Become A Therapist?

Becoming a therapist doesn’t happen overnight, depending on the student, it can take a few years to be fully trained and practising. The most conventional way is to undertake a BA within a relevant field and then proceed to do an MA.

After this, internships within a clinical practice are done to then be able to apply and obtain a license.

However, there are other routes for those who can not attend university for whatever reason. Training and qualifications within the following sectors do not require a degree:

  • Hypnotherapy
  • Rapid Transformational Therapy
  • Life Coaching
  • Neuro-Linguistic Programming

All of these can be just as rewarding.

However, even the most qualified professional won’t be successful if they don’t have some key personality traits to begin with, such as:

  • The want to help others and give advice
  • Being a good listener
  • Putting others before yourself
  • Compassionate, non-judgemental and empathetic
  • Strong-minded (you may hear many upsetting things every day)

What Do Therapists Earn?

The average earning for a therapist in the US is $48,000 but this can vary between states too.

Opening your own practice can lead to substantially more earnings and you can earn upwards of $82,000.

In the UK, the average wage for a mental health therapist is around £32,000 but those in the industry report anything from £25,000 to £41,000.

If you are a compassionate individual who strives to make a difference in people’s lives, why not consider looking into the best avenue for yourself to become a therapist? While it isn’t deemed as the easier of jobs, it is certainly one of the most rewarding.

Personal Development: Help Yourself and Your Employees Grow

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Personal Development|Personal Development: Help Yourself and Your Employees GrowPersonal development is crucial in building a holistic workforce made of leaders and employees who have the skills to succeed in all areas of life. This is because it looks beyond just job qualifications to include mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical development. This can be achieved by encouraging activities that build skills to reach the goals and full potential for you and your employees. The result- better, fulfilled and satisfied individuals, with improved strengths and talents for career advancement and personal and career goals achievement.

There are many benefits to gain from pursuing personal development in the workplace. You all are happy when you feel accomplished. When your employees know that you value their personal development, they become more engaged and committed, which leads to a low turnover rate and high productivity. You also become a good leader who can lead a team to achieve high results.

Here are ways that you can help yourself and your employees take on a personal development journey.

1. Encourage learning

Continued learning of new skills is very crucial in the journey of personal development. You can encourage your employees to learn new skills by offering incentives to sign up for classes or reimbursing part of their tuition fees. You can also plan for training such as the latest technologies in the industry. Invite key speakers in different facets of life to give talks in the workplace. This can be a good place for you and your employees to spot opportunities that can be beneficial to your lives. This should be inclusive of all employees. If you have employees in other countries, in Japan, for instance, hired through a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), such as NH Global Partners, or other providers, be sure to use their services to extend the incentives and training opportunities.

2. Allow flexible schedules

The traditional 9-5 work schedule is one of the biggest hindrances to personal development. People have to wake up early to beat the morning traffic, work throughout the day with little time to rest, and get back home late and tired to do anything else.

Allow a more flexible time where all of you can work in your most productive hours. You can also allow them to choose their best place to work from. This way, you all have the rest of the day to carry out personal development activities like attending a class or hitting the gym.

3. Encourage healthy lifestyles

Leading a healthy life is crucial in improving the physical fitness of a person, which is part of the larger personal development. You can encourage healthy meals at work by offering healthy snacks and drinks. If you have given a contract to a restaurant to provide lunch, ask them to serve healthy meals. In addition, encourage physical activities for you and your employees. For instance, you can start biking to work so that your employees can follow suit. Help them pay for gym subscriptions or even have a mini-gym at work complete with showering facilities.

4. Work on more challenging tasks

If a person spends a lot of time in his or her comfort zone, it can be very hard to move forward and grow to the level that one desires. Mostly, it is fear of the unknown that keeps people at the place that they feel comfortable. However, you can break this cocoon by encouraging your employees to take up challenging tasks. Be there to help them through by giving them timely and honest feedback. You can also assign another employee who is skilled in that area to help others through such tasks. Be sure to also take up such tasks from time to time.

5. Foster open communication

People thrive in places where there is open communication. This is because they are able to express themselves without fear of intimidation or punishment. They have no room to bottle up negative feelings, if issues or concerns come up in the workplace, they are able to table them and solve them amicably.

For starters, you can start by encouraging interactions in the workplace. Everyone in the office becomes confident with one another when they know each other better. During meetings, encourage everyone to participate in airing their ideas, opinions, or concerns. This goes a long way in developing public speaking skills.

Conclusion

A lot can be done to encourage personal development for you and your employees. Be sure that your workplace is built on a positive culture. Positivity yields so many other good results, and that is how you will have you and your employees shining all through.

Five Ways to Positively Disrupt Your Career During COVID

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Disrupt your career|Five Ways to Positively Disrupt Your Career During COVIDEconomists and entrepreneurs often tout economic recessions as an optimal time to launch a new business. When markets are down, they become ripe for disruption and roll out the red carpet for innovative services, solutions, and products. Which makes me wonder, do these same truths hold true for individuals (and their careers!) during an economic downturn? My answer is an unequivocal yes! The recipe is simple: a little reflection and a dash of connection, sprinkled with objective, expert guidance will allow you to positively disrupt your career trajectory before the market, or burnout, disrupts you. Take a peek below for some foundational strategies to launch your new career path:

1. Reflect on Your Strengths, Values, and Interests

I can feel the collective eye roll of folks reading this article as they say, “Reflection, really?” Yes. Reflection. Really. I encourage you to carve out five minutes every day to reflect on your values, interests, and strengths. At the intersection of these identity components and what the world needs, is the career path you are meant to start walking. Unsure when and where to start? You are not alone. The next time you find yourself mindlessly scrolling on your phone, set a timer for five minutes and pick a prompt below to get curious about:

  • When I am experiencing joy, what am doing? Who am I alongside? Where am I?
  • Consider your most successful moment(s). How did you get there? What skills did you leverage? Who lifted you up?
  • What gives you energy throughout the day? How do you positively utilize that energy when your tank is overflowing

2. Get Acquainted with the Informational Interview

After a few days of reflection, begin looking for emerging themes. Does your joy seem to stem from a particular set of activities? Do the folks that lift you up embrace similar values or work in a particular industry? Have you rediscovered new interests, but are unsure where to start? This is your chance to acquaint yourself with the informational interview. Start by identifying folks that work in a field that piques your interest or hold positions at places where you’ve considered submitting a resume—then reach out and ask to buy them a virtual cup of coffee. Nervous to make that connection? Here’s a little secret: people love talking about themselves and feeling like their helping someone along. Just be sure to prepare a solid set of questions to ask and be ready to answer some questions about yourself too. Remember, be both interested and interesting! These folks may have an opportunity available for you one day—wouldn’t it be great to be on top of their mind?

3. Cultivate Your Dormant Network

Remember your high school and college friends? The former colleagues at former jobs you commiserated alongside? The super cool professors, bosses, and acquaintances you always wanted to get to know better? Now is the time to reconnect. Our dormant network, comprised of folks we knew in another season of life, is one of the best places to begin expanding and building the community that will support your next career step. Not convinced? Take a peek at this article by Adam Grant, Wharton Faculty and world- renowned organizational psychologist.

4. Revamp Your Resume (and Create a Functional Resume)

When was the last time you updated your resume? As a Board Certified Career Coach, I encourage my clients to update their resumes constantly. Learned a new skill? Add it to the resume. Met a workplace benchmark? Add it to the resume. Began supervising employees? I think you get the picture. When we wait to polish our resumes until we choose (or are forced) to leave our current role, so many of our accomplishments get missed, forgotten, and ultimately left of the resume. Start this process today so when the time comes for you to disrupt your career, you’ve already captured the very best of you! Additionally, if your reflection, informational interviews, and network cultivation have you ready to make a 180-degree career pivot, consider building a functional resume that showcases the transferability of your skills. Take a peek here to learn more about the functional resume.

5. Engage with a Career Coach

Feeling overwhelmed by the previous suggestions? You are most certainly not alone. Exploring our strengths, identifying our values, and creating a new professional path is work that often requires support. Engaging with a Career Coach not only provides an objective lens to see your career in a new way, but ensures that you will have champion and thought partner in your corner throughout the job search process. Updating your collateral materials (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn, etc), searching job boards, and preparing for interviews becomes much more tolerable when you have someone holding you accountable and cheering you along! Want to get started? (en)Courage Coaching would love to meet you! Learn more about us here and connect today!

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor |Katie O’MalleyKatie O’Malley, M.Ed., BCC, is Leadership Coach and Educator with fifteen years of professional experience serving the nonprofit, corporate and higher education sectors. Across these workplaces, Katie noticed her strengths and values consistently steered her toward the support and development of others. In 2013, Katie translated this observation into action and pursued a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Board Certification in Executive and Career Coaching.

Currently, Katie works full time as the Senior Associate Director of Leadership Development at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In this role, Katie designs developmental workshops, provides team and leadership coaching, and contributes to the creation and delivery of leadership education curriculum for students in the Full-Time MBA Program. In her spare time, Katie serves as a Coach and Mentor for start-up businesses through the Polsky Center for Entreprenuership and founded (en)Courage Coaching Chicago, a private coaching practice specializing in career and leadership development for underrepresented populations in the C-Suite. Prior to these roles, Katie served as a coach in leadership development offices at The University of Texas at Austin and DePaul University.