Clock in, clock out. Repeat. Day in and day out.
If you don’t love what you do, that cycle can wear on you. Whether you’re looking to find a job, start over in a new career or move up the ladder in your current field, stacking more training, credentials and education on your resume is one way to achieve these goals.
Some fields require one specific certification, like earning a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), for example. But for other careers, the more credentials you have, the better chance you’ll stand out to potential employers.
Take Brittany. She works in the healthcare field, and after getting her phlebotomy credential and medical records credential, she went on to obtain a medical assistant certification to help her advance in her company.
Brittany was lucky that she had a job while she was earning more certifications, but if you’re unemployed, sometimes a quick training helps to get you on your feet before pursuing bigger goals.
“Especially for folks who do not have the current skills employers are hiring for and need to enter the workforce quickly, fast stackable certification training, like FastForward, is their opportunity,” said Adrianna Culbertson, a FastForward Career Coach at Southwest Virginia Community College. “Some of our programs can be done in a day. Others can be done in just a couple of weeks.”
Earning these credentials can help fast-track you into a full-time position with higher wages, giving you some stability while you work toward a degree or a future career move.
Expanding your qualifications can be done in a couple of ways. Virginia Career Works provides localized resources to help you network, train and find a career. Virginia’s Community Colleges also provide a variety of training and educational programs that can make you a stronger job applicant.
Interested in changing careers or upskilling in your current role, but not sure where to start? Fill out the form below and your local career coach will be in touch.