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HOMEADMISSIONS & FINANCIAL AIDDEGREE PROGRAMSVIRTUAL CAMPUSCONTACT USCLICK TO TALK January + February 2006, Issue 34
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Meet Linda Collins: Dealing with a changing job market
Linda CollinsLinda Collins spent 14 years in various management positions in the retail world until an injury kept her off her feet for nearly two years. Re-entering the workforce, she was shocked to discover that all of her previous experience meant nothing. At least, not without a college degree.

"I'd walk into McDonald's or Hardees and talk to them about a management position. They said they'd take me as a manager but that I had to have a degree. I was like, 'What? I already have 14 years of managerial experience.' They said they understood but that they still couldn't hire me unless I had a degree. It was so frustrating. Eventually, I realized the only real choice I had was to go and get a degree."

Linda filled out an AIU Online information request and waited, terrified, for the school to call her. "The first time AIU called was some of the most terrifying moments of my life. Here I was, a 51-year-old woman out of a job and not knowing what to do. I hadn't been in school in over 20 years and I knew schools had changed so much. It was obvious I needed a degree, but I was scared about going out there and actually getting it."

After AIU Online evaluated the classes Linda had taken in the past, she was told she was eligible for the AIU Online Associate Completion Program. "That was a deciding factor. I figured I could stick it out for at least that long."

Even though she was still recovering from her injury-a severely broken foot that had developed a painful nerve disease-Linda graduated with an Associate's degree in Business Administration a mere two months later. She had a 4.0 grade point average. But it wasn't all smooth sailing.

"I knew how to email and how to use the Internet and WordPerfect before starting, but that was about it. Trying to get into the online classroom for my first class, well, I couldn't. I called Tech Support, and they showed me how easy it was. Then my computer needed so many updates I didn't know how to do. So I called Tech Support, and again they showed me how easy it was. I thought it was going to be in class that I learned everything, but Tech Support taught me so much, too. They are fantastic. Once I got the hang of the computer thing, I realized campus was very student friendly. Now I look back at how little I knew about such basic stuff, and laugh. I don't think I would have had the patience with myself that Tech Support did."

Since she had such success in getting her Associate's degree, Linda decided to continue. She will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management in late September.

"At first I thought I was getting a degree so I could go back and get the same kind of job I had. I will still be able to do that, but I also have all of this new knowledge that I can use in an entirely different career. I'll have options now. It turned out better than I ever thought."

Instructor Quote I hadn't been in school in over 20 years and I knew schools had changed so much. It was obvious I needed a degree, but I was scared about going out there and actually getting it.
—Linda Collins
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