Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer
Job security has become a bit of a professional artifact. It existed at one time, and your parents or grandparents can attest to it. You probably didn't witness it firsthand, but the stories they tell are fascinating. If you showed up on time, worked hard and delivered results, you didn't worry about your job. And if you had a college education? Well, you could pretty much bronze your nameplate because you weren't going anywhere.
As any worker knows, juggling a job, family and your personal life is hard enough. Add going to school to the equation and it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
Going back to school, especially in a tough economy, can be highly beneficial for people of all ages. In 2008, the unemployment rate for people over 25 with an associate degree was 2 percent lower than for those with only a high school diploma, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For those with a bachelor's degree or higher, the unemployment rate was 3 percent lower.
The Internet has revolutionized so much of our everyday life in the last two decades, and how we attend school is no different. More and more students are taking classes online, sometimes as part of a traditional school-going experience, and sometimes as part of an online-only program. If you've considered earning a degree online and weren't sure if it's the right decision for you, read the experiences of these nine people who earned their degrees the virtual way.
It's no secret that in this market, jobs are hard to find. The secret is picking the right kind of job to look for, so that if the economy stays in the tank, your new job won't.