The numbers tell all: More than a third of workers are unhappy and dissatisfied with their jobs, according to a recent survey by CareerBuilder.com. The report finds an increase of 20 percent more stressed-out and downbeat workers since 2001, not to mention that 6 out of 10 plan to leave their jobs for other pursuits within the next two years. So what does this all mean?

Sad to say, but the majority of workers in the United States are stuck in jobs they dislike, or even hate, and many are unsure how to escape dead-end positions. Those who have found an educational escape route can't wait to share their secrets.
According to Kristen Sosulski, director of New York University Online and Virtual College Programs, the escalating interest in furthering one's education via distance learning comes as no surprise. "With the growing value of advanced degrees in the marketplace, many working pros are going back to school to stay competitive," says Sosulski.

It's all about finding your academic fit, says Robin Bond, a legal workplace expert and counselor to Fortune 500 companies. "Sometimes being in the traditional academic atmosphere can be reaffirming, making you feel like you are getting a second chance."

Life changes
For Maureen O'Crean, hitting the books at the University of Albany's MBA program gave her another lease on life. After working for ten years designing one of New York's welfare-to-work programs for disadvantaged women, and then becoming a stay-at-home mom, her marriage ended, leaving her with a low family income. Scraping by while juggling three part-time jobs, O'Crean knew furthering her education beyond her undergraduate sociology degree (even though it was from Harvard) was the only exit from the part-time-job cycle.

"I knew I had to do something drastic or my life would be horrible," the Ivy Leaguer explains.

And while the management information systems program she took on wasn't a walk in the park--she failed economics, which was quite a departure for this former straight-A student--O'Crean learned to face failure and find strength within herself to earn a B the second time around.

"The MBA gave me independence," she proclaims. "I do not think I would have had the success I have today without it." She has since embarked on a successful career as a public speaker, life coach, and co-author of a book, "I Am Diva! Every Woman's Guide to Outrageous Living. "

The MBA 'stepping stone'
As with O'Crean, the MBA is just the stepping stone to the new opportunities that Michael Yetter was hoping for. The full-time MBA student anticipates his degree will help him achieve his goals. After working as an IT consultant, he is ready to pursue another area of consulting, this time in a field parallel to his aviation hobby.

Currently on leave from his full-time job, the Lehigh University student notes one of the most valuable aspects of taking classes in the corporate entrepreneurship program: networking. "I'm meeting a lot of people I plan on staying in touch with well after the program is done."

His advice to career-driven colleagues? "Individuals considering an MBA to accelerate or change a career should not put it off. I have seen others put it off and then get too far into job and family responsibilities to commit the time."

Hitting the wall

For Jennifer Dove, an online student at Strayer University, Yetter's philosophy rang true, as returning to school provided a jump-start to an otherwise stalled career.

Dove had attended a private college for three years upon high school graduation, but left to start working before completing her degree. Although her career advanced quickly over six years in various capacities at Infinity Insurance, a Birmingham, Alabama-based auto insurance company, she suddenly hit a brick wall.

"I became fascinated with product management and I wanted a career there," she notes. The only obstacle was the four-year degree requirement, a challenge that propelled Dove into action. "The fact that I had never finished school had always been in the back of my mind. Now, I had even more reason to go back."

"My career path has so much more promise and potential than if I had remained complacent where I was," she continues. "During my first attempt at college, I was a young person who had never really experienced the real world. Now, I'm able to take what I learn and apply it." Plus, she already knows that when she completes her degree at the end of this month, a promotion awaits her.

Dove has good relationships with upper-level management at work, and informed them of her endeavor. By working as a trainee until her degree is completed, she'll be ready for promotion at that time. And she's not stopping there. "I look forward to advancing in the field of product management, eventually becoming a product manager and possibly even an executive," she says.

After the dot-com bust
Unlike Dove, some learners look to completely change careers through online learning--like Lawrence B. Reiss. A survivor of a dot-com bust, Reiss sought to change careers and industries. However, companies weren't hiring people unless positions were an exact fit, so he knew an MBA was his only solution to making transitions during a tumultuous economic time.
As a Syracuse University alum, Reiss was familiar with the school's iMBA program, and felt it would be a perfect supplement to his undergraduate education. "I wanted to be able to take what I learned in class, and apply it to my job in real time," says Lawrence.

Studying subjects like radical marketing and high-performance project teams, his goal is to become a department head at a midsize media or technology company, or start a consulting firm helping small businesses establish a Web presence. Another perk of his studies: The opportunity to network with his classmates provides various entries from his old job to his new career.

"Whether you are an entrepreneur or working in a corporate situation, careers today have to be self-guided," says Barbara Thomas, president and CEO of the National Black MBA Association. "Our members and corporate partners expect new hires to come with a certain level of training and expertise already in place." For someone who is stuck and looking to change fields or careers, she explains, the key is to "be creative and aggressive about how you prepare yourself for such a big move."