Hitting a career plateau can be unsettling and disappointing. You know you've hit a plateau when you've gone as far as you can in your job and you find it unchallenging and well below your earning expectations.

Continuing education can be a real tonic. By adding a certification or advanced degree in your field, you can become more competitive for advancement or find fresh interest in a profession that has gone stale. Online career training or college degree programs can take as little as a year, while some educational pathways take a little longer. But the flexibility of online learning means you can meet your work commitments or family obligations while injecting fresh energy into your professional life.

If you love your field, take a look at these fast-growing careers and advanced training that can boost your challenges, responsibilities, and earnings.

Your boss is furious about the abuse of the company's resources. You're facing disciplinary action because of an e-mail that made the rounds over your name.

You're being sacked for breaching corporate security. How could this happen?

WORKPLACE HAZARDS

The use of computer technology in the workplace has created a virtual minefield of potential pitfalls for employees who do not adhere to their corporation's computer usage policies.

Computer hardware, software and Internet access provided by an employer are intended for business use. The system belongs to the company and there should be no expectation of privacy on an employee's part. The company could engage in surveillance of your access and usage, including web surfing and e-mail content.

Here are some of the areas where you might be at risk and some tips to ensure that corporate security doesn't threaten your job security.

"Quit playing those video games! You'll never accomplish anything that way." If anyone has ever said this to you, here's your chance to prove them wrong: video game design is a rapidly growing field in need of talented individuals.

A game designer can be compared to a movie scriptwriter: the person who has the initial idea and then writes a document describing every detail of their artistic vision. Game designers are creative, methodical, and communicate well. They have strong technical skills, enthusiasm for video games and sound gaming knowledge.

A job in video game design offers a casual work environment, a high salary with lots of perks, and the freedom to create entire worlds and see them come to life. If you think you're ready for a career that is limited only by your imagination, follow these steps to break into this exciting career.

1. Learn about the industry

Like any business, the video game industry has its big players and its lingo that you have to be familiar with in order to succeed. In addition to playing a variety of video games (including ones you would normally never even look at) to familiarize yourself with the market, check out the various industry magazines, both online and print, to get yourself in the know.

Make sure you get a wide breadth of knowledge — across multiple genres and multiple platforms so you are able to adapt your knowledge to a rapidly changing market.