Expert: Torski Dobson-Arnold - 10/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Torski, I would love some suggestions on deciding my educational goals. I´m a 30 year old American girl living in Mexico. I really like the concept of working through my computer for an American company (Telecommuting). This allows me to live here and not work for the local wages. I have decided on 2 degrees, accounting and finance. I don´t have any specific job goals. More like which opportunities are presented to me that pay well, allow me to work from home %26 interest me. Accounting for a company sounds nice, financial advising, stock market, bookkeeping etc. I have a broad range of interest in this field. I am starting my bachelors degree in accounting monday. From there I am unable to decide my next step. Should I get my bachelors in finance next or masters in accounting, then pursue the finance degree or due to age and money a bachelor in accounting and bachelors in finance is enough? I worry about my age as well as student loans building up and not being able to pay them off. Thanks for your advice.:-)


ANSWER: Katelin,

Congratulations on setting your sight high in completing both a bachelor and master degree.  I think these will benefit you well and make you very marketable in your professional aspirations.

In regards to your interest in working from home, again, this is a great way to maintain an exceptional work/life balance.  Please though make sure you that you seek out reputable companies that offer this type of work.  There are many opportunities out here that appear reputable and are not.  Through social networking sites like Linkedin.com seek out people that already work from hom and ask about opportunities with their companies to be able to identify "valid" companies that offer this type of work.

Finally, in the questions about what type of major to pursue with your degrees, go with a subject matter that you are most interested in and one that you have identified a sincere passion for.  Appears as though you are very interested in the accounting and finance fields.  Talk to others who have majored in these fields and find out what type of work that they are in.  With many companies, a finance degree is very similar to a accounting degree.  It truly depends on what type of work you want to do.  Continue in your due diligence in gathering more information and I am certain you will find a major and career field suited just for you.

Claiming nothing but success in all of your career endeavors,

Torski

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Torski, thank you for getting back to me and the kind words. I was truly trying to decide on how far I should go with the education. I know I will defiantly be going for a bachelors in accounting and in finance. I am trying to decide if it’s worthwhile to obtain a masters in one or both. I know I do not enjoy being in school. However, I am forcing myself, so I can get a good job. I am wondering if 2 bachelors are sufficient these days with giving plenty of opportunities or should I go to masters for sure? If I truthfully should get masters should I complete my 2 bachelors first or finish one up to a masters and then move onto the next subject? Sorry it is difficult to explain. I have done a lot of thinking, since I asked this question and think I will go for the two bachelors only. However, I would love and appreciate your opinion still. As I mentioned before I worry about being 30 now and no longer in my 20s and also student loan bills adding up. I also want to make sure I get a sufficient amount of education to get myself a job that I am able to from a home office as I live in Mexico, and I am an American, by the way. I hope to work for an American company from here. I know it is not as simple, however I need to do what I can to better my options. Thanks Torski :-)

Answer
I don't think you can accurately make a decision today as your direction and career interest may change.  It doesn't matter as much that you pursue two bachelor degrees or a bachelor followed by a masters degree.  The key here is to identify what area you want to go into and match your educational pursuits to that goal.  Otherwise, your guess and mine would still be simply no more than a "shot in the dark" in hitting that target.

As I mentioned before, you've got some homework to do.  This is not a simply "do this" and then "do that" answer.  Unfortunately, there aren't even any guarantees that a degree will "get you a job".  I know that use to be the case some time ago, but we are living in a challenging economy right now and education does not equal job security...and that goes for everybody.

Claiming nothing but success in all of your career endeavors,

Torski