Blog Posts by University of Phoenix

If you don't have the right 21st-century skills, you may have a hard time remaining employable in the future. Tomorrow's work success will hinge on mastering skills you might not currently possess or even realize employers want, according to the Future Work Skills 2020 report by Institute for the Future for Apollo Research Institute. Read on to learn about the five trends you need to stay on top of if you want to ensure future employment:

1. Knowledge in related fields
Imagine every worker is a T-shape, says Tracey Wilen-Daugenti, PhD, Apollo Research Institute's vice president and managing director. On the T's vertical line, the worker has deep knowledge in a specific field or a higher education degree in that field. On the horizontal line, the person must also have broader expertise in related areas such as business and have the ability to collaborate with specialists in those spheres. "In the past, a generalist or a specialist may have been the ideal candidate. Today's jobs require

No matter your age or career path, it's important to keep your finger on the pulse of current trends. In today's super competitive job marketplace, it pays to be cool. Here, experts offer five tips on how to stay relevant:

1. Redefine what it means to be on the cutting edge.
"I believe that no single industry is immune to trends," says Kathy Rodriguez-Abbott, MBA, an instructor in the University of Phoenix MBA program and a marketing manager. Rodriguez-Abbott uses herself as an example of why everyone should pay attention to trends, even those who don't work in "hip" industries.

"I do business development and marketing for home dialysis treatment," she explains. "This might not sound 'sexy,' but it's rewarding. For me, to be trendy from a business perspective means the willingness to be open to a new movement, idea or direction."

2. Stay in touch, but don't be a follower.
"To me, being 'trendy' has two connotations, one positive, one negative," says Cliff Lavin, a 40-year veteran

Forget the Chinese Zodiac calendar: This should be called the Year of the Working Woman. Case in point: In 2012, the number of women influencing the workplace, as both employees and business owners, is set to shoot up at a historic rate.

"Just like Rosie the Riveter, more women will tap into their skills and entrepreneurialism to redefine the leadership landscape, launch small businesses, pursue and apply education, and ultimately drive job creation," says Tracey Wilen-Daugenti, PhD, author of the new book Society 3.0: How Technology Is Reshaping Education, Work and Society.

She shares these top five predictions for working women in 2012:

More women will become leaders in the workplace.
The pipeline of female leaders "will increase quickly," says Wilen-Daugenti, who serves as vice president and managing director of Apollo Research Institute, a nonpartisan research group that studies trends in education and the workforce. This year, 18 women are leading Fortune 500 companies,

If you're already juggling a job and family, finding time to study might seem nearly impossible. Here are five tips from our experts to help you get the most from your study time:

1. Put it on the calendar.
"The best way to make studying a habit is to make it a normal part of your daily routine," says Pam Gordon, PhD, development faculty for the University of Phoenix College of Humanities. "Higher education is rigorous. You should always set aside time each day devoted to completing assignments and studying material. An hour a day is a good start, but more is better."

2. Know your learning style.
Different people learn in different ways, and there is no "one size fits all" study solution, according to Amelia Boan, product director for the Center for Writing Excellence. "Studying can happen in many different ways," Boan says. "Some people learn visually, others by listening, still others by hands-on methods. The trick is to find what works best for you and do it consistently.

Once upon a time, job interviews were simple and predictable. You dressed up in your best suit, carried a briefcase and went to an office, where you got asked standard questions such as "What qualifications do you have?" and "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Well, not anymore. In today's super competitive job market, Google® and many other top companies are famously shifting to nontraditional interview formats that can include everything from complex brainteasers to covert operations designed to test your adaptability.

Applicants can anticipate nontraditional interview formats by learning about the company and its culture, according to Allison Washington, a human resources executive who is also an instructor in the University of Phoenix MBA program. "Research all you can about the company ahead of time," Washington says. "Try to find out who is going to interview you if possible. And talk to current or past employees about their interview experiences, too." Check out these

Instead of diving headfirst into a new career, consider capitalizing on the traditional job interview's enlightening sibling, the informational interview. Informational interviews offer anyone entering a profession the chance to chat with people in their network about industries or potential employers before chasing down a career path.

Seek connections through your network.
Scheduling an informational interview relies greatly on whom you know professionally or personally, says Amy Klink, director of talent acquisition and operations at Apollo Group, the parent company of University of Phoenix. The key to preventing your efforts from falling flat, she adds, is getting a member of your network to guide you to the right contacts.

However, don't despair if connections don't yet exist - just broaden your network at local professional events.

"You just have to be really creative in terms of figuring out where professional people spend their time outside of work. You can attend networking

Office politics get a bad rap, but playing the game doesn't have to mean succumbing to cattiness or becoming an apple-polisher. Instead, by mastering the politics of your organization with professionalism and respect, you can spin situations to your advantage, says Donna Wyatt, PhD, SPHR, a human resourcesinstructor in the University of Phoenix MBA program who has worked in human resources for more than 30 years. The first step, Wyatt says, is to reconsider the definition of office politics.

"If I didn't use the word politics, but said 'Use techniques or tools to drive positive results for yourself or your organization,' most employees would agree that it's a good idea," Wyatt says. Another helpful way to think of office politics, Wyatt notes, is to focus on the fact that they use emotional intelligence and show your ability to have influence, which are good things.

1. Build multiple alliances.
Some offices can feel as gossipy and cliquey as high school. Instead of

It's time to stop believing the myth that females in business, including those with MBAs, don't apply the same career strategies as their male counterparts when climbing the corporate ladder. According to a recent Catalyst study, women do proactively negotiate salaries, prioritize family obligations and calculate career advancements just like their male coworkers. Unfortunately, the study finds that because of gender inequality in the workplace those same strategies don't prove as effective for women as they do for men.

But women should not despair, says Dr. Dulcelina A. Stahl, PhD, campus college chair for the University of Phoenix School of Business at the Chicago Campus. According to Stahl, a former executive and corporate business leader, women need to layer their advancement strategies with other ambitious tactics. "You must market yourself," Stahl says, "and this kind of marketing entails several other strategies." Here, her best advice for working women.

1. Step up.