Re-educating After a Job Loss

In today's economy we are seeing more and more businesses closings as well as lay-offs. Finding yourself out of a job can be overwhelming at times. Depending on what type of work you were involved in you may be able to get another job without much trouble. But, often the type of job you have been trained to do may not be available in your area any longer and this is when things may get difficult for you.

If you find yourself needing new skills in order to find a new job opportunity you are not alone. One of the ways to gain new skills is going back to college. Depending on your age this undertaking may seem out of the question. But, trust me you can do it. I have seen proof of several non-traditional students ranging from 25-65 years of age. Don't let your age be a deciding factor. Usually, you can learn a new skill at a community college in one to two years. I know what you are thinking I just lost my job and I can't be spending money on going back to school. It is possible to afford going back to school.

Advance Your Career in 2009 with a degree in a Growing Field. Start Here!


Your first step is researching the available program classes that are offered in area colleges close to you. Once you find a program that you would like to pursue talk to someone at the college. There are many staff members that will give you all the information that you need to get started. They will cover things from how to enroll to how to apply for financial aid.



Next, after deciding if a program is right for you, go ahead and take the next step and apply. This is sometimes the hardest step to take. This is when you tell yourself this is something that I need to do to better myself.

After you apply and receive that acceptance letter from the college then it is time to figure out if you can receive financial aid. There are several grant opportunities offered by the federal government. There is a Federal application called FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). You can apply online or do a paper application. It is a relatively easy application process and you get almost instant feedback from them if you do the application online. Some colleges offer help with filling out the FAFSA form if you do not want to try and do it by yourself. Usually if you qualify to receive Federal Aid it is more than enough to help with the expenses of attending a community college.

Advance Your Career in 2009 with a degree in a Growing Field. Start Here!


Many community colleges offer scholarships that will help cover the cost of tuition and books as well. Therefore, if you do not qualify for federal grant money you may still be able to receive some of the scholarship money that is offered through the community college. You should fill out the FAFSA first and then check with the college you will be attending to find out how to apply for those scholarships that are offered through them. These scholarships can range from $500 to $2000.



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If you research the cost of attending a community college you will see that it is not as expensive as you may have thought. Some programs can be less expensive than others can and some may require additional purchases beyond books. However, when you have lost your job and the job opportunities are looking bleak you may find that going back to school to learn a new trade is a workable solution.