It's March Madness, and if your one shining moment during Saturday's Final Four is a phone call to the local pizzeria, it might be time to give up the dream of being a professional athlete. But that doesn't mean you can't make a living in the sports world. These off-the-field jobs may not offer the same seven figure salaries of the pros, but they still pay reasonably well and offer lots of opportunities to be close to the action.

Even as the job market appears to be turning around, it's still important to stand out from other job seekers, as you compete for those new openings. Here are some surprising skills that career experts say will help you get noticed.

Unhappy in your career? Struggling to find opportunities in today's economy? You're not alone. The good news is, whatever your age, there's always room for a change. Take it from three vocation adventurers whose back-to-school trek led to an extreme career makeover.

Although it can be to daunting to transition into a new career after decades in a different field, some professions are actually looking for experienced workers with well-rounded knowledge and experience.

Choosing a career based only on expected job growth or making big bucks could leave you as disappointed as being stood up on a blind date. Instead, turn your loveless career search into one infused with passion and excitement this year. Here is what it takes.

If you're looking for a career with a bright future, you may want to shine a light on the solar industry. The National Solar Job Census 2011, recently published by the Solar Foundation, shows job growth in the solar sector at 10 times the national average for all industries. The solar industry's 6.8 percent job growth, which netted more than 6,700 new jobs between August 2010 and August 2011, is in sharp contrast to the national average of just 0.7 percent growth, and the decline of 2 percent in jobs in the fossil fuel electricity generation industry.

Often it's a wedding or birth that truly defines a year. But in 2011, the three adult learners profiled here chose to make education their notable accomplishment of the year.

A new year is upon us, and it's time to get serious about those career resolutions you've made. Is your current skill set where it needs to be to get the job you want? Consider these skills as you work to launch the 2012 edition of yourself.

A new year is upon us, and it's time to get serious about those career resolutions you've made. Is your current skill set where it needs to be to get the job you want? Consider these skills as you work to launch the 2012 edition of yourself.

Comedic films don't attempt to masquerade as instructional material full of life lessons, but occasionally you learn something from them, even about how to get into college. The movies featured here provide a few laughs along with some helpful hints on what not to do. Let Hollywood help you ace your college apps.

Ever glance at a home or car repair bill and think to yourself, "I'm in the wrong line of work!"? If so, it's with good reason. Skilled tradespeople who can build, repair or maintain equipment that most lay people cannot do on their own can rake in the big bucks, especially if they build their talents up enough to take the entrepreneurial small business route. What's more is that despite the high unemployment rate, skilled workers are hard to come by and therefore always in high demand.

You've been out of the classroom for a while, so your study skills may no longer make the grade. But before you get down on yourself, remember: It's not necessarily a reflection of your intelligence... even the smartest students struggle as they work their way back into the school groove.

When you're going back to school as an adult, you won't have the cushion of your parents' income to help you foot the bill. On the other hand, you also won't have to worry about as many "hidden costs" faced by traditional students, including meal plans, sorority and fraternity fees, and dorm room essentials. But the bills still have a way of adding up. Ask these questions from the get-go to get a better handle on how much college will really cost you.

You're all grown up now, which means no one's giving you cash for doing your chores, minding your manners, or losing your teeth. But you're not completely on your own -- especially if you're going back to school. Check out these six grown-up-friendly scholarships that can help you make your own education dreams come true.

If this lagging economy has taught us anything, it's that jobs aren't as secure as they once were. For many, that means carving out a whole new career path. The good news is that you can launch a healthy career in two years or less, and even out-earn many who enter the workforce with four-year bachelor's degrees!

If you waited a few years to go to college, or are just now about to finish your degree or enroll in grad school, you might have discovered that more life experience doesn't necessarily guarantee that you'll be a natural at college or financial aid applications.

Transcripts and test scores aside, admissions counselors and financial aid officers are noting some glaring errors in application packages -- and they're not all from "immature" high school students, either.

Whether you're getting ready to return to the work force as your maternity leave winds down, or you're a longtime stay-at-home mom who wants to get her creative juices flowing again (and earn some extra cash for those college funds!), flexibility is everything. Finding a job that allows you to fit in soccer games, pediatrician appointments, Lego time, or PTA fundraisers is possible if you know where to look. Here are 10 careers to consider.

For every great reason people have for returning to school to finish their college degrees, their busy lives seem to offer up a discouraging excuse. While adult students often have many more family and career responsibilities than their younger counterparts do, the good news is that even the busiest of people are finding success at going back to school -- and that includes men and women in the military.

By Dawn Papandrea, special to AOL Jobs

People who serve in the military make so many sacrifices to protect our nation, so it's refreshing to know that at least in the educational realm, Uncle Sam does his part to say thanks. As of December 2010, the Veteran's Administration provided more than 425,000 veterans and/or eligible family members with close to $7.2 billion to fund their higher educational pursuits via the Post-9/11 GI Bill. And 270,666 active duty member students used the Montgomery GI benefits in 2009-2010.