It's 10 a.m. on a Monday morning. Your boss is gearing up for a day of assigning mundane, thankless tasks when you stride towards his desk, papers aloft. "I'm handing in my two weeks' notice," you say. "Also, I don't like your tie." Career training can get you there.
Career training for self-employment success
Sure, this career change scenario might not exist outside the realm of fantasy. But wouldn't it be nice to give your notice with a new, exciting job waiting in the wings? Career training bridges the gap between you and your goals.
Whether you have an idea for a new product or the drive to open your own business, working for yourself is an attractive idea. Pick a degree or certificate program that matches your career goals, and you may be working on your own before you know it. Take a look at these popular degrees for self-starters.
1. Business
The mother of all self-employment degrees, business training gives you the skills you need to operate with skill and confidence, no matter what your interests. A typical business course should include basic training in management, marketing and even business writing.
- Recommended degrees: Get started with an associate degree or certificate program, or pursue advanced knowledge with a specialized M.B.A. degree. A bachelor's degree offers a solid foundation.
- Suggested careers: Varies by degree and interest. Use entrepreneur training to start a small business, or management training to enter the franchise world. You could even pair a business certificate with one of the degree suggestions below to strengthen your business training.
2. Criminal justice
Work for yourself and benefit your community at the same time with a degree or certificate in criminal justice. If you have experience working as a patrol officer or correctional facilities officer, you already have the work experience you need to back up your education.
- Recommended degrees: An associate or bachelor's degree in criminal justice offers basic legal training. Look for targeted degrees in investigative forensics, administration and homeland security.
- Suggested careers: Work as a private investigator, a career that earned workers mean annual wages of $42,660 in 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3. Accounting
What's the benefit of a degree or certificate in accounting? Just ask any small-business owner that has to run his or her own books. Even a short course in accounting gives you practical training you can use. As an added bonus: when tax time rolls around, you'll be indispensable among family and friends.
- Recommended degrees: Fully licensed accountants need a bachelor's degree plus a CPA license. An associate degree or certificate can get you started.
- Suggested careers: Work from home as a freelance accountant, or put your skills to work in your own business. Accountants and auditors earned $63,180 in 2007, the BLS reports.
4. Culinary arts
Your recipes for strawberry jam and peach cobbler are the envy of the neighborhood, but nothing could be sweeter than owning your own business. Training in the culinary arts means a combination of technical training and business education. A healthy salary awaits: The BLS reports that food service managers earned mean annual wages of $48,660 in 2007.
- Recommended degrees: Depending on your career goals, a degree or certificate in hospitality management, event planning, catering or chef training could be ideal.
- Suggested careers: Take your recipes to a professional level by opening your own catering company, or consider restaurant ownership or franchising options.
5. Child care
Kids are a lot of fun to work with. The hours on your feet chasing around these energetic clients is worth it for the joy you'd find in a career in child care. And anyway, you already feel like you're surrounded by children at your current job; why not make it official?
- Recommended degrees: An associate or bachelor's degree in child care or development offers training in education with a focus on younger children.
- Suggested careers: Open your own daycare and work with a large group of kids, or work as a private nanny for just a few. Either way, you enjoy a challenging, rewarding career.
6. Nursing
This caring profession means a lot more than a paycheck. If you choose to return to regular employment, a healthy salary awaits: Working as a registered nurse meant mean annual wages of $62,480 in 2007, according to the BLS. The options available for this growing career mean good things to your working future, even if you don't strike out on your own.
- Recommended degrees: The path to becoming a registered nurse requires either a diploma, associate degree or bachelor's degree. Choose the bachelor's degree if you hope to later specialize.
- Suggested careers: Put your skills to work as an independent home health care aide or a freelance forensic nurse.
Online degree training programs
While no career training program can guarantee success in the small business world, training for the careers above is highly recommended. Whether you want to open a catering company or head an accounting firm, you need the practical skills that back up your interests and abilities. A degree or certificate program connects you with the training you need.
