It just makes sense and it could add to your bottom line. Unfortunately in an article in CNN I read that companies are not hiring people that are unemployed but seemed to be picking the ones who have jobs!  It is not against the law for companies to exclude the unemployed when trying to fill positions, but Judy Conti, a lobbyist for the National Employment Law Project, said the practice is a bad one.

“Making that kind of automatic cut is senseless; you could be missing out on the best person of all,” she said. “There are millions of people who are unemployed through no fault of their own. If an employer feels that the best qualified are the ones already working, they have no appreciation of the crisis we’re in right now.”

Judy Conti; added that firms that hire unemployed job seekers could also benefit from a recently-passed tax break that essentially exempts them from paying the 6.2% of the new hire’s wages in Social Security taxes for the rest of this year. It’s a neat and attractive bonus for companies to begin to do what’s right for the economy and the unemployed!

Have you been thinking about going back to school and finishing your degree?  Are you considering a career change?  Do you need new skills to advance in your current job?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above questions, then going back to school is probably in your future.  With so many colleges and universities offering online courses and degrees; how do you know if it is right for you?

Here are some questions you should ask yourself before choosing online courses.

• Are you self disciplined?  Going to school online saves you the trouble of having to drive to the school.  Are you disciplined enough to do the work at home?
• How are the courses taught?  Do you have to log in at a specific time to listen to a “live chat” with a professor or can you log in and get the lecture anytime you want?
• How do you contact the professor if you need additional help?
• Can you switch to a traditional classroom setting if the online courses are not working for you?
• Is your computer capable of downloading / viewing the necessary course material?

Whether you choose online classes or the more traditional bricks and mortar setting, the most important thing is that you select the option that will work best for you.

Have you already taken classes online?

Do you have any tips / suggestions for someone considering taken classes online?