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5 Trends for Job Seekers in 2016

By U.S. News & World Report

With the new year comes renewed interest in changing jobs. If you want to move into a career poised for growth or one that is more stable, consider this first. While it may be tempting to drastically change careers, it may make more sense to switch companies within your current industry. You’ll be able to leverage your knowledge of systems, processes and customer behaviors within your field. Often, a change in company culture and management is enough to reignite your enthusiasm for the work you do. Plus, changing industries is more difficult. You’ll have to work harder to prove you have the relevant skills.

If it has been a while since you last looked, you may want to brush up on some job-search trends and what to look out for in 2016.

1. Mobile, analytics, automation and health care technology will continue to flourish. According to a statement from Dan Finnigan, CEO of Jobvite, this is true even though there’s been a decline in growth within some areas of the tech sector.

There is room for technical innovation within these sectors that touch upon some of the fastest-growing industries. Anything health care-related holds potential for opportunity given the aging population. And we are just beginning to learn to make sense of the reams of data collected on potential buyers and customers.

2. School is not as important as skills earned. According to Finnigan, “although a college degree remains essential, as time goes on, we will see increased acceptance of grads from modest, more inexpensive schools who have the key skills needed.”

This means you must take control of your skill development on a continual basis. Stay ahead of the curve and attend online classes to build the skills you’ll need to stay in demand. Everyone, not just those in technology, needs to pay attention to skills employers look for and often have difficulty finding. You will find community colleges starting to offer certificate training and master’s degree programs with more specific focus.

3. Talent communities are better than career sites. If you’ve ever been disillusioned by the generic job postings lacking detail on a career site, there’s hope. Talent communities are interactive discussions between human resources, employees and potential employees where real questions get asked and answered. Not only do talent communities save you from wasting time applying to jobs that don’t “fit,” they also serve as a platform to keep you in the pipeline for jobs that may come available in the future. These communities tend to play better on your mobile device, too, for an improved user experience. Most importantly, companies that create and use talent communities are seeing better and faster hiring results.

Established talent communities, such as Dice’s talent community for IT professionals or Mediabistro’s community within the communications industry, become go-to online destinations for professionals looking for almost any information related to their field. Look for a talent community in your niche.

4. Mobile solutions make headway. You rely on your mobile device to stay connected and get things done. This includes finding and applying for jobs. There were several mobile apps developed in 2015 for job seekers, and it’s conceivable that they’ll continue to grow in popularity. Switch and Jobr both work like Tinder, the online dating app, where you swipe through to the jobs that interest you. These apps still lack some of the personal interaction millennial job seekers crave, but the apps cater to the instant-gratification generation.

5. Virtual work is worth considering. Finding a new job gets easier if you eliminate the geographic boundaries. The technology exists, and more companies have embraced the idea of a virtual workforce. Managing remote workers requires more effort, but with improvements in collaborative tools and the reduced costs associated with a virtual workforce, companies are finally beginning to adopt this practice.

Embrace change. We all live in an ever-changing world. The best way to keep up with change is to stay current. Begin to acquire new skills, keep abreast of trends and learn everything you can about your current industry. Don’t become complacent or fall asleep at the wheel. Your career needs someone alert to drive it forward!

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5 Trends for Job Seekers in 2016 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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