| Conventional wisdom among professional recruiters | | | | opportunity to experience a different kind of |
| holds that a typical American changes jobs between | | | | professional training while still earning an income from |
| seven and ten times during his or her lifetime. | | | | her full time job. After two years of attending law |
| However, a growing number of professionals have | | | | school during nights and weekends, she transitioned to |
| started to change their careers entirely, not just their | | | | a full-time law degree program for the final year of her |
| employers. In fact, with career lines blurred by | | | | training. Whether she opts for a job with a health care |
| technology and market demands, some working adults | | | | facility, a pharmaceutical company, or a law firm, Dr. |
| have even discovered happiness by pursuing two | | | | Brooks can expect strong job offers from companies |
| different careers at the same time. | | | | eager to hire a rare MD/JD degree program graduate. |
| While career transitions are still too subtle for | | | | Advice for Law School Students with Active Lives: |
| government statisticians to measure precisely, | | | | • Part-time law schools offer stronger career paths |
| researchers like author Marci Alboher and advocate | | | | for attorneys with niche interests. |
| Marc Freedman collect stories of working adults who | | | | • Executive law degree programs cater to |
| have successfully shifted between often-contradictory | | | | professionals, such as doctors and MBAs, who wish to |
| career paths. In some cases, economic factors pushed | | | | gain critical legal knowledge without passing the bar |
| these professionals to make the leap to new careers. | | | | exam. |
| However, as these case studies illustrate, a growing | | | | • A growing number of specialist law firms hire |
| number of Americans have discovered that the right | | | | paralegals with credentials from online law schools or |
| training and motivation can help them trade boring jobs | | | | part-time legal degree programs. |
| for passionate pastimes. | | | | Degree Program Builds a Dentist's Business Skills |
| Culinary School Graduate Trades Park Ranger Green | | | | Without Drills |
| for Executive Chef White | | | | In his own official biography, Dr. Ira Wolfe confesses |
| While earning an undergraduate degree in natural | | | | his concern that he was known for "drilling and filling" |
| resource management, Radhika Desai's classmates | | | | instead of for his broader interests in community and |
| often referred to her as "our friend who likes to cook." | | | | professional development. As he invested time in hiring |
| Later, as a park ranger stationed in sweltering Death | | | | staff for his dental practice, he found himself speaking |
| Valley, colleagues would visit her trailer for home | | | | to other business owners and managers about how to |
| cooked meals. As she told India Currents magazine in | | | | hire quality employees. Before long, Dr. Wolfe started |
| a recent interview, the more she delighted in seeing | | | | writing scholarly articles and conducting paid |
| how friends and family members reacted to her latest | | | | workshops for employers and for job hunters. |
| culinary creations, the more she considered switching | | | | Making a shift from dentist to consultant required |
| careers. | | | | returning to the classroom, as well. As he told |
| A visit to relatives in India helped Desai reconnect with | | | | BusinessWeek during a recent interview, he first |
| the basic comforts offered by food, inspiring her to | | | | pursued a master's degree in leadership and ethics |
| enroll in culinary school. Restaurant visits and a field trip | | | | before deciding to enroll in a formal MBA program. Just |
| to the opulent Burj al Arab Hotel in Dubai convinced | | | | as he discovered during his own professional |
| her to focus on fine dining. Though her park ranger | | | | development, he advises his coaching clients to take |
| days are behind her, Desai's undergraduate degree | | | | strong, honest self-assessments. Citing his own career |
| gives her a broader understanding of organic produce | | | | change at age 44, Dr. Wolfe reminds clients that the |
| that helps her uncover sources for the freshest | | | | prestige of a professional job doesn't always |
| ingredients. Since completing her culinary degree and | | | | guarantee personal satisfaction. Following a dream |
| working in kitchens at some of the world's finest | | | | might sometimes mean earning less money, but can |
| restaurants and resorts, Desai has returned to Chicago | | | | often lead to true achievement. |
| as the Executive Chef at Between, a trendy boutique | | | | Tips for Prospective Business Consultants: |
| and lounge. | | | | • Success coaches advise students to enroll in |
| Advice for Aspiring Culinary School Enrollees: | | | | business degree programs that emphasize |
| • Look for programs that offer quality internships or | | | | professional communication skills. |
| work experience programs. | | | | • Internships and work experience projects |
| • Short courses and "boot camp" culinary programs | | | | conducted during MBA programs can form the basis |
| offer a glimpse of professional life. | | | | of strong professional networks. |
| • Choose between culinary degree programs that | | | | • Students with previous job experience and a clear |
| focus on hospitality and food science--students with | | | | career path in mind can choose specialized MBA |
| little interest in restaurant life can perform more | | | | programs to round out overall skill sets. |
| effectively in catering kitchens or in research labs. | | | | Online Degree Programs and Executive Education |
| Part-Time Law School Helps an M.D. Become a J.D. | | | | Appeal to Quick Change Artists |
| Four years of undergraduate training, followed by | | | | Until recently, working adults looking for career |
| another seven to eleven years of medical school, | | | | changes endured long wait periods followed by |
| usually keeps most doctors in the exam room and | | | | semesters of sacrifice. Today, a growing number of |
| away from the classroom for the rest of their careers. | | | | colleges and universities understand the urgency of |
| However, Vietnamese-American surgeon Jasmine | | | | switching job tracks. Therefore, many part-time degree |
| Brooks felt something was missing from a career that | | | | programs now offer rolling admission and other flexible |
| any parent would crow about. As she told U.S. News | | | | enrollment options. Likewise, online degree programs |
| & World Report, a health care system that | | | | give students a choice between real-time interaction |
| rewarded poor patient care led her to become | | | | with professors and peers or "asynchronous" learning |
| frustrated about her career path. At the same time, | | | | through discussion boards and recorded lectures. In |
| the 39-year-old reflected on careers that could afford | | | | both cases, schools provide more options than ever |
| her more time to raise a family. | | | | for professionals who cannot afford to halt their |
| Enrolling in law school part-time gave Dr. Brooks the | | | | current jobs before starting their new careers. |