While the job market has been stale for pretty much everyone, unemployed individuals with advanced degrees may struggle with finding work appropriate for their level of education or experience. In addition, finding even basic entry-level positions may be denied these job seekers because they are over-qualified.
Here are a few ways to jump-start the job search (and start bringing in some cash!) for people with graduate or professional degrees.
Use a Masters or Doctorate to Teach Online or at Community Colleges
Many local and online universities only require that their faculty members have a graduate or professional degree and a minimum of one year of experience in their field. This means that most people with an MBA, MA or MS, PhD, RN, or similar degree can use whatever experience they have in their field to begin teaching.
In many cases, these schools do not require familiarity with instruction methods or formal educational settings, and may even supply the course curriculum, meaning professors are only required to answer questions and perform the grading.
Online colleges in particular need professors on a regular basis, year-round, as they have rolling start dates or shortened "semesters" such as five-week sessions. Teaching a single course once a week for a little over one month can bring in up to $1000, so the income can be significant for the amount of time involved.
Narrow the Job Search to Professional Sites and Specialty Employment Engines
Instead of spending countless hours sifting through out-dated job postings on large, generalized job search databases, try more specialized job sites, particularly relating to your general area of expertise and run by professional society organizations.
For those with degrees and certifications in the public health field, for instance, the Association of Schools of Public Health runs a website with job postings for public health professionals. For unemployed individuals with considerable experience, there are several websites that cater to those with $100K earning potential.
Use an Advanced Degree to Start a Consultation Business
For those whose experience or expertise involves providing advice, training others, certifying standards, evaluating programs, quality assessment measures, or responsibilities of a similar nature, consider going freelance.
In between sending in resumes and spreading the word for old colleagues to send opportunities your way, consider creating some personal business cards and looking into creating a limited liability corporation (LLC). The time investment is minimal, and it allows individuals to pursue business interests with low personal financial risk.
By opening the doors to contract work or self-employment, people with advanced degrees can often shorten the time before they can start work again. Accepting short-term or part-time project work can help introduce workers to prospective permanent employers as well as fill in time between jobs with additional work-related experience.
With hard work and some of these tips, the time between jobs can be reduced for many people with professional or graduate degrees. For those with little or no experience, see these tips for those graduating without a job. Also, once the dates are set, be sure not to blow it by being nervous at the interviews!
Katherine Brind'Amour - Quality. Creativity. Professionalism. Writing you can trust, from an expert in the health sciences, creative writing, and academics.
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