In Recareering, What You Learn Today, You Earn Tomorrow

I totally support life long learning, as information keeps life moving, keeps your brain churning and ready for change. But here's the thing that college recruiters dont tell you: Depending on your location? What jobs are "really" available and able to take someone with your experience and turn it into a new career? As a Career Developer and as a Microsoft Instructor for a few years I worked very closely with my state to re-train individuals to learn new skills, re-package themselves to go back to work. However, all the education recruiters in my area did not advise these potential students that particular backgrounds, circumstances, and work histories barred certain individuals from certain areas. For example, Im in a medical city, who used to be a manufacturing city. Well...recruiters dont necessarily communicate to many students that medical fields do not hire people with backgrounds here, nor are they very interested in manufacturing workers who have held employment with the same company for 5+ years. Here's another, a Heating and Cooling or trade school which costs thousands of dollars for education, cannot get "bonded" by the state with a background. Well they dont communicate this to the students until "after" they have completed the program and are in the Career Services office. To all who are looking to return to school, go for it...yet do your research, do not rely on recruiters to do the work for you. As my own mother is just about to complete a degree and has received a certification for a rehabilitation counselor, after working for manufacturing company for 25 years. But guess what? Opportunities are limited here for her to accumulate the required on the job hours, as agencies are closing up in the area do to funding restrictions. So thankfully, she is open and receptive to seeking work outside of our area and state. Word to the Wise: Change your Career + Be willing to Chang Locations (in Case)