Short-term training is quick and flexible, meaning you don’t have time to plan out or invest in a multi-year academic program to start reaching your career goals. That said, even programs with the quickest turnaround require a little bit a planning to ensure the training fits…
Right now, there are 131,000 Virginians who are behind bars or are otherwise subject to the criminal justice system, according to data from PrisonPolicy.org. As incarcerated individuals get released (around 12,000 per year), it can be hard to find jobs or pathways that allow them to…
Brad, a student in the FastForward power line training program, became interested in power line work after speaking with friends who participated in the program and had positive reviews, as well as others who work at co-operatives and Dominion Energy. Helping his community and keeping the…
Brandon is a 31-year-old veteran who is no stranger to the workforce. After bouncing around higher education institutions, he ended up leaving all together to join the workforce. He worked as a correctional officer for two years, but he realized he wanted to do something outside…
Our FastForward Career Coaches come from all walks of life. Some were career switchers, who always had a passion for helping people but never found the right opportunity to do so. Others were lifelong educators bound to be leaders, mentors and coaches for their students and…
Having knowledge and experience is one thing, but it doesn’t do much good without the opportunity to use it. For Jason, a heavy equipment operator at S.W. Rodgers, opportunity was the deciding factor when it came to enrolling in the FastForward program at Lord Fairfax Community…
From behind her desk at a clinical family practice, Ashley would greet and check-in patients with a smile, but there was something inside her that wanted more. Ashley was good at what she did, but she had a drive and an interest in healthcare that caught…
Clock in, clock out. Repeat. Day in and day out. And 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 position,…
For some of us, when we see an opportunity to help someone in need, we jump right in and give it everything we have. Adrianna Culbertson, the FastForward Career Coach at Southwest Virginia Community College, is one of those people. Culbertson came to SWVCC as a…
Some people were born to help others. Whether it’s through military enlistment, volunteerism or working in the service industry, some of us were made to lend a hand. For David, he’s made a career out of serving, first his country in the U.S. Navy, and soon,…