Education is one of the best investments you can make. If you have not finished your degree, you should seriously consider it. A good friend of mine has started her education recently with one of the Online Degree Programs at a local community college. She is a single mother working a full time job and she finished her first semester with a 4.0 GPA. It can be done. And it really should be. Below are some possible benefits:

• Personal Pride. You will get a since of self pride from accomplishing something significant. From setting a big goal and seeing it through.
• Better Pay. Starting salaries for employees with a degree are much more and potential earning power is great that without one. And you won’t even get a foot in the door with many places without a degree.
• Job Advancement. You will stand a better chance of moving up the corporate ladder with a degree. Also, employers love to see an employee taking the initiative to improve themselves and often times will reward that.

These are but three ways in which you can see benefits of completing your degree. I am certain you can think of more. And don’ be afraid of the cost or time it takes to complete. Go to your local community college and look into it. There are programs and grants to help. It is the job of the financial counselors at the schools to help you. After all, they don’t make money if students do enroll. So take the first and most important step in investing. Get an education.

Every Job I have ever gotten was through a friend. Networking is the single biggest factor in finding a new job. All too often, a small or medium size company that is looking to hire someone will look and hire from a network of friends before a stranger.

So, how do you go about establishing a network of friends? It is not always simple, and it takes time. Relationships grow over time. But, you must be ACTIVE in your pursuit. First, call some of your old friends. Have lunch or dinner with them. Make a habit of becoming social. Second, find local groups that interest you. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people. Also, look up a local Toastmasters group. This is a great organization and can help you get over some social phobias you may have. Also, consider online sources. Linkedin is a great website for this. However, don’t rule out Facebook and Myspace. You can reconnect with a lot of old friends on these sites. You would be surprised by how many people you probably already know on there.

Finally, going off of some advice my dad gave me. Never burn bridges with previous employers. Always try to leave with good feelings, whether you hated the job or not. Stay in contact with former employers and friends from former jobs. Bottom line, keep all doors open.

If you start networking and building these social interactions, opportunities will open. But, something even great will as well, you will have a ton of friends. You will develop some great relationships. Who knows, if you are single you may even find a spouse. But, at the very least you will grow as a person.

-rebel