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  Online Degrees And You:  Perfect Together? [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] October 16, 2001  [IMAGE]       [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] Unsubscribe or change newsletter options   [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]   In This Issue  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] The B-School Decision: Reader Reaction  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  What Employers Think Of Online Degrees  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  On Vault's Message Boards: A Less Than Traditional MBA Background  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] Career Opportunities  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  New at Vault  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] Companies have struggled with diversity issues for years.   Those who understand the need for diversity in their workplace are working to find ways to hire and retain talented women and minority candidates.     Many of Vault's clients have asked us to help them tap into our membership to find these candidates - because they know that they're on Vault. To help these firms reach their goals, Vault is adding diversity information to our VaultMatch resume profiles, and creating a way for employers to search for candidates this way.   If you're a VaultMatch member, update your membership information on your profile . Log in (if you're not logged in already) and click on "VaultMatch Profile".  Not a member yet?  We invite you to submit your application .   Do well, do good  Have you ever thought about being a social worker or teaching our nation's children?  Vault has two top job opportunities for your review.  Be a social worker  or find out more about the New York City Teaching Fellows  program.      [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]  Letter From The Editor [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Wow! We didn't realize so many of you liked Weekly Career Update so much that you wanted to write for us.  To all who responded, thanks muchly!  If you're interested in writing for Vault, drop us a line at editors@staff.vault.com .     Fall is back to school time, so it's no wonder that the Vault community is a-buzzing about degrees, both online and not.  Read on for the lowdown.   Have a good week!   Vault   [IMAGE]   Advertise in this newsletter Reach the targeted job seeker and professional audience you want with Vault Newsletter press releases and advertisements. For more information, contact Gerry Ferrara at gferrara@staff.vault.com .    [IMAGE]      [IMAGE]  Advertisement  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] ADVERTISE  [IMAGE] Increase your market value!  Oracle University will teach you everything you need to know to become an Oracle Database Administrator in only 12 weeks! Click to learn more.  www.oracleu.com   [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]      [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] [IMAGE] The B-School Decision:  Reader Reaction [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE]  Our article on the decision whether or not to go to business school hit home for many Weekly Career Update readers.  Here's what some of you had to say.   To see the original article, The B-School Decision, go here.    ...  I just wanted to point out that there are a few aspects of seeking an  MBA that you neglected to mention in your "B-School Decision" article.   I am a 15 year IT veteran who returned to school to obtain an MBA in  Technology Management from The University of Phoenix Online in 1997.  I took a one year break for the birth of each of my two dughters, but am  finally about to finish. I've been around long enough to know that an  MBA is not an instant ticket to fame and fortune, but I also know that  an MBA can pay off, even if you aren't planning to look for a new job  as soon as you graduate.     First, employers are often highly supportive of employees who wish to  return to school to obtain advanced degrees.  Many employers will pay  anywhere from half of tuition up to the entire amount of the degree,  plus books and lab fees.  With incentives like that, the FIRST place  you should look in financing a degree is with your current employer.   Some employers seek a contractual obligation that you will stay with  them after you graduate, but even with this clause, if you are set on  leaving you should still be able to leverage a better salary or  position for the stay.  Another option would be to negotiate with your  prospective employer to pay part of the obligation to your past  employer.  It's a long shot, but worth a try.    Another thing you neglected to mention is that many schools now have  programs that are geared to adult, full-time employees.  I chose the  University of Pheonix specifically for this reason.  Class in the  evening or, better yet, online, allow the student to return to school  with a minimal impact on work.  Sure, an online degree is not an MBA  from Harvard (yet), but an MBA from a school like UOPHX is still an MBA and, unlike the small college down the street, UOPHX is pumping out  enough MBA graduates on a national level to at least be recognized by  employers.     And lastly, when considering whether to obtain an MBA, you have to  consider the cost of NOT pursueing one.  As you get older, credentials  are not as important as experience, but most employers have bought into the idea that learning is a life-long activity and they look favorably  on anyone who demonstrates that they want to keep learning, regardless  of their age or position.  And the percentage of employees who are  seeking some kind of certification or degree is increasing all the  time. The truth is, if you are not making some effort to continue your  education in some form, chances are you are at a disadvantage to those  who are when promotion time comes.     ...   I thought that the MBA article made a good point: don't go back to school simply to "hide out".    The article however failed higher education in a major way by mostly presenting a short term cost benefit analysis. The most important benefit of a graduate level education is the development of the cognitive abilities of the student. This accomplishment is opens then mind, last a life time, and can positively affect many generations within the graduate's family.    While financial factors are reality and should be considered carefully, they should not be the primary deciding factor when determining whether or not to obtain a graduate degree. I hope that you did not discourage too many people with your article.   ...  I enjoyed your article on making the B school decision.  I was one that decided not to do it several years ago.  Mainly because I did not see where the curriculum really prepared you for practicing management in the real world.  (My undergraduate degree was in Business Administration).   More importantly, proven experience almost always out weighs the MBA.  I consistently volunteered for projects at work and always tried to continuously improve myself and the organization.  This led to me becoming a Vice President by age 34.   My recommendation is if you need the knowledge of how businesses work, look into an MBA but realize practicing management is much more powerful than studying it.  An MBA will not teach taking risk, overcoming adversity, resiliency and making decisions that has powerful impacts on people.  Those can only be learned through the school of hard knocks.   Regards, Paul    [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]          [IMAGE]  Advertisement  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] ADVERTISE  [IMAGE] At Capella University you can earn your Master's in Human Resource Management at a time and place convenient for you. www.capellauniversity.edu   [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]      [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] [IMAGE] What Employers Think Of Online Degrees [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE]  Since many of our readers wrote in to point out that our article on MBA degrees last week failed to mention the decision to get an online degree.  Hence, we bring you the results of a Vault survey on employer perceptions of an online education.   Vault surveyed 239 HR professionals on their opinions regarding candidates with online degrees.     The following are the results from the survey:   30% of HR professionals or hiring managers have encountered applicants with online degrees.   Selected quotes: - "The candidates that I've spoken with seem to be self-dependent, eager and very abreast of the latest technologically." - "I still view this as close to the equivalent of earning a GED through a Sally Struthers correspondence course." - "There may be some value to online degrees, but in order for them to be truly worthwhile, they need to overcome the stigma of being just another 'degree mill' or correspondence course advertising on matchbooks." - "I usually like these candidates more than those from traditional universities;  most of them have been working in the industry and have some years of experience and accomplishments to their credit."  77% of HR professionals or hiring managers believe that an online degree earned at an accredited institution (Duke, Stanford) is more credible than one earned at an Internet only institution (Jones International).   Do you wish to read more?  But of course you do!  Get thee hence to Vault  now.   [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]          [IMAGE]  Advertisement  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] ADVERTISE  [IMAGE] JobDirect specializes in matching college students and recent grads with jobs and internships. And it?s free, free, free ? so what are you waiting for?  Activate your resume at www.jobdirect.com  today ? you could end up with a fortune 500 job!   Active job hunters need maximum resume exposure ? the more companies that view your resume, the better your chances of landing your dream job! ? so go to www.jobdirect.com  right now!   TIP: Highlight your communication and computer skills for a better paying job.  Click here www.jobdirect/com  for more resume building tips.   Click here to get a job! www.jobdirect.com !  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]      [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] [IMAGE] On Vault's Message Boards: A Less Than Traditional MBA Background [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE]  Industry to MBA  Yes, along with geese migration, 'tis time for obsessions with MBA programs.  One poster on the MBA board wonders whether a non-consulting and/or investment banking background (specifically, in industry) will float his MBA boat.   What do you think?    A career change into consulting  Many Vault members want to explore a career change into consulting.  Yes, we know it's not a good time to make a career change.  Then again, when is it easy to make a career change?  Consultants, we implore you, give these folks your sage advice .   Bond questions  No, not James.  Finance interviews are here, and candidates are turning their brains into knots.  Not literally, mind you.  Interested in finance careers?  Follow the discussion .  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]    [IMAGE] [IMAGE]    Mgr , Int'l (TV) Business Dev-Channel Operations   Career Links New York, NY [IMAGE]  Ad Sales Associate--Home Based  PLATINUM MEDIA WORLDWIDE Miami, FL [IMAGE]  Marketing Associate  The Bradford Group Niles, IL [IMAGE]  Product Development Associate  The Bradford Group Niles, IL [IMAGE]  Music Consultants  Fortunate 500 Atlanta, GA [IMAGE]  Computer Products Sales Manager  Densitron Corporation Santa Fe Springs, CA [IMAGE]  Talent Recruiter  Fortunate 500 Birmingham, AL [IMAGE]  Vice President, Human Resources  Pawlik/Dorman Partners Chicago, IL [IMAGE]  National Director of Assistance Sales  Noel Group Fort Lauderdale, FL [IMAGE]    [IMAGE]   	


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