If you just graduated from a traditional or distance degree program, you’re probably ready to write - or update your resume. How do you know what to include - and what not to share? Here are a few tips to help you get started.

First, leave out any personal information such as your age, height, date of birthday, weight, etc. Don’t, however, omit any contact information that may be helpful to the potential employer - such as address, telephone number, cell phone number, etc.

Use bullet points to highlight resume information. Start with an Objective, which clearly indicates your career goals. Then, list your education. Be sure to list the full name of your traditional or online degree university, as well as the city and state in which it is located. Include the college degree program in which you majored, and the year that you graduated.

When discussing your experience, include past positions that are relevant to the current position for which you are applying, but don’t list every job you ever held, especially if your first job was a paper route when you were 14. While this can be helpful in showing responsibility when you are 22, it does nothing to highlight your degree when you are 44.

List your jobs in reverse chronological order. If you have work experience that is significant to your distance learning degree program, be sure to use words that draw attention to this information. Many employers don’t mind a second page for your resume, but don’t exceed this.

Finally, never lie on your resume. You worked hard to finish this distance education degree, don’t tarnish it with falsehoods. Be careful to spell-check everything thoroughly; mistakes don’t help graduates of traditional or online university degree programs get the job. Give your resume the professionalism it deserves - even consider asking a family member or friend to read through it to be sure that everything is exactly the way you want it. You won’t regret spending the extra few minutes on these important details.

Have you graduated from, or will soon graduate from, a traditional or distance learning degree program? Do you know what you’re going to say in response to the interviewer’s questions? Here are a few ideas on what NOT to share with your prospective employer:

First, when asked why you left a previous position, or want to leave your current job, don’t talk about how much you dislike your work, the people with whom you work, and most especially, don’t diss your boss! Businesses are looking for employees who demonstrate respect for authority and management, and showing disloyalty to a former (or potential former) employer won’t endear you to them.

Alternatively, don’t tell your employer that you have no questions for him or her, or that you know nothing about the company to which you have applied. Employers prefer candidates who have done their homework and know a little bit about the business. Find out enough to ask a few intelligent questions just to demonstrate your interest if you do feel you already know all the answers to your questions.

Finally, be able to talk about what motivated you to complete your degree program, and the added benefits your college degree program can bring to your place of employment. If you graduated from an online degree university, share the motivation, dedication, and hard work that it took you to earn a degree online - these qualities are highly desirable in new and experienced employees.

Are you comfortable with the interviewing process, but unsure about what to include on your resume? Stay tuned . . .

Imagine a 12% return on your investment. In today’s struggling economy, that kind of return is something like financial wizardry. Distance learning degree programs, however, are continuing to experience that kind of phenomenal market growth.

The latest distance learning degree program surveys, conducted by the Sloan Consortium, however, concluded that enrollment in online degree courses throughout the country had in fact increased by 12 percent during the last year. As a result, more than 4 million people nationwide are enrolled in distance learning classes.

Increasing fuel costs, job losses and economic uncertainties have contributed to these rising figures, according to the survey. As more people struggle to replace lost jobs during this recession, they turn to online degree universities to find distance education degree programs to help them gain an educational edge over their competitors.

In addition, many people find themselves working harder, or working more than one job, in order to meet the financial demands of their family members. Graduating from a traditional college degree program is almost impossible for these people, who turn to distance degree programs to help them achieve these objectives. And in the end, those who are motivated and dedicated do find what they are looking for - undergraduate and graduate degree programs that provide family and job security.

If you are going to attend a university degree program after graduating from high school, you may be planning to attend a four-year traditional college degree program and earn your diploma. What if you’re not one of these students, though? Should you just try to find a good job and earn a steady income?

The latest research shows that people who complete a university degree program earn significantly more than those who do not.  If you think you have the discipline and motivation to succeed, you may be someone who would be able to successfully earn a degree online. Distance learning degree programs such as these are designed specifically to meet educational needs without all the extra distractions offered by traditional college campuses.

If you want to earn a college degree at home in computer science, many universities will allow you to do so without ever setting foot on a college campus. You can earn a degree in network security, computer forensics, website design, software development, or many other specialties. Take a moment to browse the distance degree programs listed here. You won’t be disappointed.

Don’t let your education be sidetracked by outside concerns that make attending traditional campus impractical or impossible. Get your distance learning degree now and start to enjoy a successful career - you’ll be glad you did!

Recently, researchers did a survey to determine which university degree programs were most respected by American citizens. They found that survey results differed from those performed 30 years ago. Not surprisingly, like the rest of American society, our values and attitudes towards different careers and professions have changed somewhat.

The results showed that pastors and teachers still received more respect from the majority of American citizens than any other degree program. Firefighters, doctors and nurses also received high rankings. Surprisingly, though, people who graduated from universities with many other degrees receive less respect today than they used to receive.

Scientists, for example, received less respect than they had in previous years, as did sports figures. Is it possible that recent controversies in science research has affected this? Likewise, the behaviors of many star athletes, including the recent steroid scandal in Major League Baseball, probably hasn’t helped.

Before you enroll in a traditional or distance learning degree program, take a moment to consider your personal beliefs and requirements. Is earning money important to you? Is respect more important? Make sure that when you earn a college degree, you can be proud of who you are and who you will become.