Sometimes the degree we went to school for, and the reality of the job market clash and leave us feeling empty. You begin to question if you chose wrong when you selected your major. You may even fantasize about going back to school.

It’s a tempting prospect—whether you’re longing for the carefree days of college or a brighter future (or both). But is going back to school really the answer?

Here are four questions you should ask yourself before making your decision:

What do you hate about your current career/job?
One of the first things to consider is your motive. Think about why you are unhappy with your current job. If it is simply your work environment that has you down, it may be time for a job change—not a degree change. If it is just your job—apart from quitting, Cathy Goodwin offers these ten suggestions.

What will you major in and why?
Going back to school is a major commitment. Mostly because it’s requires time and money. You need to make sure your new degree is something you want to major in, as opposed to simply being something other than what you’re doing now. If you aren’t sure, you could end up right back in the same position, once again regretting your choice of major. If you’re unsure, you can explore your interests at bigfuture.org.

How you pay for it/How much will it cost?
You may not want to think about money, but you should seriously consider how you are going to pay for school. Don’t just think about tuition- think about where you will live and how you will pay for food. You may find that keeping your day job and going to school at night is the best option. Also, be sure to check with HR at your current job and see if your company offers tuition reimbursement.

What job opportunities does the degree offer?
The whole reason you’re going back to school, presumably, is because you are unsatisfied in your current career path and/or your current degree. In order to be sure you won’t wind up in the same place again, consider the opportunities that the new degree provides. If you will be taking on debt in order to go back to school, you’ll also want to know the average salary so you can repay that debt. In other words, make sure your new degree is worth it.

In the end, whether or not you go back to school is up to you. Think about why you’re unhappy. If a degree change is in order, be sure your new degree is right for you. Consider how you will pay for your education and the opportunities and average starting salary in that field. This is your second chance—go for it, but be realistic.

By Julia Richardson – Technology has revolutionized the way we search for jobs. Gone are the days where you went to businesses to request an application or poured through the classified section of an actual physical newspaper, circling top contenders. Now, you can search for jobs from the comforts of your own home and on the go.

With that in mind, here are the six best job search apps:

Monster Job Search
The Monster app is very similar to their online job search engine, and is meant as a companion to the main site. Users can sign into their monster account to apply for jobs using previously uploaded resume and cover letters, and view job postings and previous applications. The app also integrates with Dropbox and Google Drive for those that do not have a resume or cover letter stored on Monster.com’s main site. Users can also opt to receive push notifications, alerting them to new job postings that fit their criteria.

• The Monster Job Search app is available on Android and iOS devices.

LinkUp Job Search
Unlike many job posting boards and apps, LinkUP pulls job postings directly from company websites. This helps to eliminate the scam job postings users typically must filter through on other sites. All listings are current and updated frequently. Users can favorite jobs and save listings, and get alerts when relevant jobs are posted.

The LinkUp Job Search app is available on Android and iOS devices.

Indeed Job Search
Users familiar with Indeed.com’s main website will find its job search app similar in functionality. Indeed gets its job listings from a multitude of sources, such online job boards, classifieds, and direct company listings. Users can favorite a job posting they like and apply immediately or later using Indeed’s main site. In order to apply directly from the mobile app, however, users must have their resume and cover letter uploaded and attached from their account.

•  The Indeed Job Search app is available on Android and iOS devices.

JobCompass
With the JobCompass app, users are able to search for jobs available in their area via GPS and not by zip code alone. This is especially helpful for users trying to cut their morning commute. Once jobs are found nearby, the app plots their location on a map in proximity to you. Once users find a job they like in their area, they can email it to themselves and apply, or apply directly via the app.

• JobCompass is available on Android, iOS, as well as on the Amazon Appstore.

Snagajob
If you’re looking for hourly work in retail, restaurant, or customer service—Snagajob is the app you’ve been looking for. Like other job search apps, users can search for jobs using specific criteria, such as location and type. The app has an integrated map, allowing users to view a job’s specific location. You can apply to job postings directly via the app and can sign up for email alerts to notify you of job openings.

• Snagajob is available on Android and iOS devices.

While many of these apps have the same features, each has its following. The good news is that they’re all completely free, so try a few out and decided which one works best for you.

By Julia Richardson – For most of us skipping work is risky business. Many companies, like Wal-Mart, have no-call policies. This means, if you miss work, you need to call in. Failure to do so will result in termination of employment.

It’s pretty standard. No matter what the individual company policy is on the number of absences in relation to termination, if you’re sick, you call. And if you miss too much work, you’re fired.

Of course that’s all in theory. It doesn’t always work like that. In fact, USA Today recently reported about a man in India who had skipped work for 24 years. Let that sink in.

AK Verma is his name and he was a Central Public Works Department senior engineer. His paid vacation started in December 1990. Unfortunately for Verma, he was fired last week.

As it turns out, India’s labor laws are pretty strict. While this may seem like a good thing, the law makes it really, really hard to fire anyone. Add in a little bureaucracy, and you end up with an employee missing work for 24 years before anything could be done about it.

In the United States, however, immediate termination is a thing. As in, it exists and happens all the time. Apart from not showing up, here are a few “just cause” for how to get fired from a job:

• Inappropriate Use of Company Resources
• Theft
• Leaking Sensitive Information
• Providing False Information on Resume
• Harassment
• Vandalism
• Drug and Alcohol Use
• Safety Policy Violations

Setting apart federal employment laws, you can legally get fired for misusing company resources (which includes perusing adult websites), theft, leaking sensitive information, lying on your resume, stealing things from work, harassing others (sexual or otherwise), vandalizing office property, using drugs, drinking on the job, and compromising the health and safety of others.

While most of these seem like a no-brainer, rules usually exist for a reason. Taking a 24-year vacation sounds fabulous, but even in India; you’ll eventually get fired.