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About Cynthia Wolfe
Expertise
Let me help you with questions about adult education and continuing education programs. If you are looking for a program or have questions about adult education in general, I can guide you. If you are a teacher looking for new ideas or methods, I can help. I have resources and ideas to share. I am a member of the National Business Education Association (NBEA), a professional organization devoted to the recognition that business education competencies are essential for all individuals in today's fast-changing society.

Experience
I am an instructor at the University of Phoenix, working in online and classroom modalities. I am also a student at Northcentral University, where I am working on a PhD in Business Administration, with a specialty in Management. My MBA is from Troy University, 2001, and I have a BS, Environmental Science, from Troy University, 1980. Read about my experiences as an online student at my blog thinkPhD .

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You are here: Experts > Education > Adult/Continuing Education > Continuing/Adult Education > Should I return to school to retrain?

Continuing/Adult Education - Should I return to school to retrain?

Expert: Cynthia Wolfe - 10/11/2009

Question
I graduated back in May of 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and eventually got my current job working in customer service. At times I feel that with my generalist education and my current type of job I really have few concrete job skills. I may as well be unskilled labor and am concerned about my future. What should I do to improve my skill set? I enjoyed the accounting courses I took in college and have wondered if I should go back to school to get a major in that. What would you recommend?

Answer
Hi Seth,

Thanks for asking a question. You have only been out of school a short time and considering your options for the future. It sounds to me as though you are not satisfied with you job in customer service; are there other opportunities at your place of business? Don't interpret job disatisfaction with desire to go back to school. Going back to school will take several years, while you are still employed in a job you don't like. It is tough to be successful in school if your regular job stinks - it affects your psyche!

A BA in Mgt is a basic degree, and honestly, there are many with the same degree competing for jobs. I suggest that you explore opportunities to earn the next level - a masters' degree - rather than simply go back to school for a BS degree. Have you considered a masters' degree? If you enjoy accounting, I suggest that you explore a masters in accounting or MBA with an accounting specialization. You may need to take some finance or accounting courses to be considered, but that is better than ending up with another bachelors' degree.

Keep in mind that accounting and finance courses build on each other so you will have to have a good foundation in both to be successful.

Another choice available to you is going to work for a CPA as a bookkeeper. If you can prove that accounting is a strong point for you, who knows? You may get a job. I once worked for a CPA as a bookkeeper (before we had many computers)...and I had a science/math bachelor degree at the time. I was "good" at numbers!

Good luck with your schooling. I am excited to hear that you are looking forward, and making plans for your future success.

Kind regards,
Cindy Wolfe
www.thinkPhD.com

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