A lot of people are happy that 2008 is over and done with so hopefully the economy will start to get better in 2009 and 2010. There were many job losses in 2008 and many more are expected in the coming months and maybe even the coming years as the economy continues to worsen.

Although no one knows the future there are things you can do if you are worried your job or career may be in danger. One thing is to upgrade your skills to make you a more valuable employee. This can be true whether you learn new skills in your existing line of work or trade or if you learn new skills for a new career.

Now can be an excellent time to return to school to learn needed skills for possible job advancement or to get the training needed for a new career altogether. If possible do not wait until it is too late to start figuring out your options. Since it is the New Year many people are in resolution mode and will be contacting or applying to schools and colleges to fill in some open class slots. If you wait it could push you back since some classes fill up quickly.

So sit down and make a list of careers you may be interested in. Then contact several different schools including both more traditional campus based trade schools and colleges as well as online or distance learning schools and colleges. Then find out all you can about the programs offering for a degree or career training.

Some questions to consider asking include when you can begin the program, how long programs take, how much they will cost, and what you can expect once you have completed the program. For example will you then have a degree, a diploma, or some type of certification? Not all programs of study take years, depending on your career interests some may be completed in just months.

Another thing to remember is some career fields offer both degree and diploma options. If this is the case with a career field you are interested in make sure to understand the difference in both length and cost of the programs but also in the different career opportunities available upon completion of the program. For example some job opportunities may not be available if you earn a diploma compared to a degree. The only way to know for sure is to do your homework during the process of talking with schools and to gain a full understanding of the career or job requirements and what employers are looking for.