I'm sort of in the same boat you are except that I've been working toward my B.A. for the past two years. With the upcoming divorce I may have to put my plans on finishing it on hold. I would suggest looking at your state's goverment home page to see what they believe up and coming careers are in your state. For instance, the state of Michigan has this "No Worker Left Behind" program with a list of occupations that require 1-2 years of schooling to be certified/trained to do them, and the state is paying two years of tuition for people who qualify (losing jobs, etc.) One program I've been looking into is sonography (ultrasound techs). They begin at a decent wage...in the mid 40's to mid 50's, depending, and it's a job you can take to any state. But there were so many 'up and coming' careers that supposedly needed to be filled, I was quite amazed. Good luck to you.

I would also look at community colleges websites. Usually under Academics they will have a listing of their certificate programs, which are 1 to 2 year programs. As for how to pay for it, oh the options! haha! I'd consider student loans as they have low interest rates and you do not have to pay them back for 6 months after you graduate (time for you to find and secure a job). I'd also ask any institution about financial aid and if there are any little known scholarships for your program of choice or for non-traditional students such as yourself.

Thanks for the input free2fly. Greatly appreciated!

SHRM - Society for Human Resource Management prepares you and tests for certifications. Their certifications are highly regarded in the field of HR. Website: www.shrm.org will give you great information and job postings. It's a great resource for HR.

I encourage you to find an industry you're interested in working in, research the industry, read the trade magazines, post on job sites specific to that field and network.

I have been working on completing my B.A. in Business Administration & Management for the past two years and will graduate in December. I look forward to my next job search as I employ these tactics myself.

Your passionate about performing arts. Are you happiest when in this environment? What are your strengths? The place where these areas merge together is the perfect career, just waiting for you! Take some time to think about your strengths, they may be applicable to many careers. Sales, for example. Sales people are often performers, and the better they perform, the higher they get paid.

At this late hour, this is what came to mind. I hope it is helpful. Thank you for starting this group herenowfrog!

fastweb.com - great resource for many different scholarship opportunities