You’re excited about taking the first steps toward a new career. Your education is helping you learn the skills you’ll need to successfully navigate the duties of your new job. But, there’s the question of actually finding that job. Searching for, and landing, the job of your dreams will take time, research, and skill. Here’s what you need to know to prepare.

You’re the hero of your own story and it’s time to write your future, the one you want. Being your own back to school hero means taking everything you already have going on in your life, like work or family responsibilities, and making it work. Even further, a back to school hero (like you), can add furthering your education to that list. You know what you want to do, you’re driven to get it done, no excuses. It’s making the decision then taking the steps needed to be as successful as possible. Being a back to school hero is about jumping all in and making sure you achieve your goals no matter what stands in your way. It starts here.

Gaining confidence is not something that develops overnight, but through years of stumbling through difficult situations. You slowly become aware of your strengths, but even then, you’re still unsure if you’re good enough and doubt the life-changing decisions you want to make. You put your dreams on hold because it’s easier to stay where you are than risk failure. But you know that mentality is getting in the way of your happiness and you need to overcome that fear. Here’s how two Penn Foster grads took the first, difficult step toward their goals and built their confidence.

You’re in the process of building your future. Or, at least, in the process of deciding how to actively work toward the future you’ve been dreaming of! But knowing where to begin creating the foundation you need to move to the career you want, can be frustrating. You may not even know exactly what you want to do yet! Earning a new credential or furthering your education can be the first step on your journey to the career you want. If you’re new to online education or if you’ve been out of school for a while, you might be nervous about getting into the swing of things. Here’s how you can work on strengthening your foundation and continue building yourself — and your skills — up!

Coming back to school after being away for a while can be tough. You’re out of practice when it comes to studying, taking notes, and staying on top of classwork. Add in trying online education for the first time and you may feel overwhelmed. Here’s how Penn Foster can help.

Life is what happens when you’re busy making or breaking plans Life gets busy when you’re having children, working, and maintaining your relationships and Deanna LeVito, recent Penn Foster college graduate, knows first-hand how hard it can be to make your academic comeback happen. Once she set her mind to focusing on her needs in addition to her day-to-day, there was no stopping this woman on a mission.

Thinking about what you value most is important to prioritize your life. As your career and where you live are two key factors regarding your overall happiness, it’s important to consider how they complement one another. Certain jobs are more prominent regionally. Here’s how to find out what industries are thriving where you live as you think about your long-term career path.

The healthcare industry is one of the most stable for job growth. It makes sense. With a continuously aging population, the occasional illness, and preventive care, the need for doctors, nurses, medical assistants, and others is on the rise. Those in the medical billing and coding field are as vital to patient care as the doctors and nurses, but what does this career involve?

Wondering if learning about 3D printing will help your manufacturing career? Stop wondering. The answer is yes. Here’s why.

Do you wish you could turn the hobby you love into the career that you love? You’re amazing at your craft and people always tell you how much they love your work, but you’re not sure that turning this hobby into a job can be practical. But guess what? Other makers like you have made it work; why can’t you? Here’s how to turn your hobby into your career.