Going Back to High School to Switch Careers Is Easier than You Think

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In past generations, there were a great number of professional opportunities open to workers who did not have a high school diploma. Prior to the 1980s, quitting high school early was not a major issue because it was easy to enter the job market with very little education.

Obviously, this is no longer the case. If a person without a high school diploma loses their job, they will be hard-pressed to find a new career, or even get a part-time job, without one.

Others in middle positions at their current careers might find that pay raises and even promotions might be withheld due to a lack of a diploma.

This means that if you recently shifted jobs due to the precarious economic climate, or you're looking to get ahead in your current career, going back to earn a high school diploma could be the best option available to you.

The Solution is Online Study

Of course, to earn a diploma you don't have to actually attend a traditional high school. In the last 15 years, the options for online virtual study and the popularity of online classes for students of any age have grown considerably.  

Pursuing a high school degree from the right virtual high school will offer you an unparalleled flexibility of both schedule and pace. If you're still working, you can accomplish your assignments during the evenings or weekends, or if you're looking to fast-track, you can complete courses in as few as four weeks if you're truly motivated.

What Does Online Study Look Like?

If you're wondering what the process of e-Learning at a virtual high school looks like, it's actually simpler than you might think it first. All of your lessons are voice narrated and interactive high-quality videos by licensed teachers. Even though the teacher is not necessarily delivering the lesson live, teacher support is available via email at all times or through specific weekly office hours.

Pre-recorded lessons mean that students can proceed through the material at their own pace, taking as long as a year per course or even getting a credit in as little as four weeks.

You're Not in It Alone

If you're looking to enroll in a virtual high school, make sure that you will be supported as a student. Teacher support should come in the form of engaged conversation regarding study topics, but support should also come in the form of careful progress monitoring that includes built-in triggers to warn teachers if and when students have failed to log into the portal or are not submitting work.

This built-in failsafe means that even students who have not studied in many years will be guided and motivated to stay on track.

The best virtual high schools will have dedicated teachers who grade assignments and return them within a day or two, meaning that if your looking to graduate quickly, there's never a wasted minute.

You should also make sure that the virtual high school you attend has a dedicated guidance counsellor staff apart from the teacher support system in place. This will ensure that if you have any trouble with assignments, the portal or the platform, the problems will be resolved quickly.

If you are looking to complete your high school diploma in order to find new work, or to upgrade your current position, the right online high school will equip you with the tools you need for success.