Whether you’ve completed a FastForward certificate program or earned an associate’s degree in a healthcare field, understanding how to navigate the job market is crucial to starting your dream medical career. The good news? The demand for trained healthcare talent continues to grow, and there are…
Across all ages and abilities, the freedom to work and learn can be life-changing. The Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services (DARS) works diligently to make these experiences a reality for everyone, regardless of their age or background. David Leon, director of workforce programs at…
Learning doesn’t have to be confined to the walls of a classroom. In fact, on-site learning experiences like internships and apprenticeships can give students valuable, industry-specific skills that can go beyond what is learned at a desk. Barry Richmond, apprenticeship coordinator at Danville Community College (DCC),…
Hindsight is 20/20 for many adults who may spend the first few years (or more) after high school hopping from major to major, or job to job, because they didn’t have a chance to explore what path was right for them earlier in life. But, thanks…
When students have questions, Jennifer Merrill has answers. As the student services manager at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA Workforce Development), Jennifer and her staff of Student Support Specialists help students narrow down broad career goals into attainable steps toward a FastForward credential. Whether students need…
Changing careers can seem intimidating. For so many people, routine and predictability is comfortable, and it’s nice to stay in the comfort zone! On the other hand, change can be unfamiliar and uncomfortable. When changing careers, more times than not, that feeling is temporary, and the…
Sometimes, all it takes is having a positive attitude, working hard and connecting with a good leader to help you accomplish your goals. While higher education can be intimidating, career coaches from community colleges across Virginia shared their best advice for getting started back at school….
It’s hard to believe that another summer has come to an end, but here we are right on the edge of a new semester. With change often comes nerves. But there’s no reason to feel worried. We spoke with some of our career coaches about how…
To our employers out there, you know better than us that a lot of employee learning takes place on the job, getting their hands dirty and seeing how things are done. As a business owner, you might want to fast forward an employee right to the…
A FastForward credential from your local community college is an easy way to become a more competitive job applicant. FastForward programs are short-term workforce trainings, so you can be in and out in weeks – trained and ready to jump right into the job search process….