Dallas Recruiter Suggests Master's Degree Can Facilitate A Career Change
Chad Lawrence is vice president of recruitment for Lakeshore, a recruitment and staffing firm in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He earned his bachelor's degree from Oral Roberts University in philosophy and a master's degree in organizational management with an emphasis in human resources from the University of Phoenix.
Lawrence started off in sales but didn't care for it. He wanted to transition into human resources and decided to earn a master's degree from the University of Phoenix.
"The companies that I have worked for have been start-ups and entrepreneurial so the education I received from the University of Phoenix fit me well. My program was tailored for working professionals. Each week, I had an individual assignment and a group assignment. It forced me to work in groups, which was very good and it helped me solve problems in a team environment," said Lawrence.
While pursuing his master's degree, Lawrence also went to massage therapy school and was working approximately 50 hours a week for a new start-up venture. This hectic schedule was a challenge for Lawrence who said it was worth it.
Lawrence was diagnosed dyslexic during his undergraduate studies, and, for him, the big reward was accomplishing the goal of earning his master's degree.
In regards to going back to school to earn a master's degree, Lawrence said, "It is going to be harder than you think but it's worth the reward. Don't plan on reading anything for pleasure for the next two years. Focus on what you want to do with your master's degree before you graduate. If you want to make a career change, start looking a year prior to graduation. Start making those connections by networking, build or improve your LinkedIn profile while you are working on your degree. It is true that the best time to find a job is when you have one then you are not making a decision based on desperation. You are making a decision based on what you want. Is it a job that will help you have upward mobility? Is it a job that offers you want you want?"
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com