The official unemployment rate paints a pretty rosy picture these days. But the jobless stats don’t count the number of people who WANT full-time work, but who must cobble together several part-time jobs to make ends meet. Those folks are called “underemployed,” and in spring of…
While unemployment in Virginia is at an all-time low, there is still a significant need for skilled workers to fill the open positions within Virginia’s businesses. But getting a foot in the door isn’t always easy. We’ve talked about how important building a network can be…
Melissa Marcus knows what it’s like to struggle finding work. After she graduated college, she took some time to have a family and stay at home to raise her daughter. But when it was time to enter the workforce, it was difficult to find a job….
Ed Breeden makes 10,000. Just last month, Virginia’s Community Colleges recognized Breeden as the recipient of the 10,000th workforce career credential generated through FastForward. Thanks to his training and new industry recognized certification, Breeden is leaving behind the life of laborer in a scrap metal yard…
Constance Peay has been working with students at Rappahannock Community College for almost 10 years. Currently a FastForward Career Coach, Peay helps students connect the dots between their habits and behaviors and how that can apply to finding a career that’s right for them. Peay enjoys…
Chuck Rodgers means it when he says that he’d hire someone with an industry recognized credential over someone without a credential. Rodgers is operational superintendent at S.W. Rodgers, a site development contractor in Northern Virginia. Rodgers needs a workforce that’s serious, focused, and safety-conscious because operating…
Sometimes, it’s all about who you know. You can have the best resume, the highest grades and all the right skills for the job – but once in a while, what you really need is to know is the person on the other end of the…
With 15 years of career coaching experience, it’s safe to say that Lisha Wolfe knows what she’s talking about. Wolfe is a FastForward Career Coach at Paul D. Camp Community College. She comes to work every day with a purpose: to help people figure out their…
If you’re on the hunt for a new job, you may notice a handful of “soft skills” alongside specific technical skills listed in a job description. These soft skills, including work ethic, interpersonal skills and accountability, can be just as important to an employer as the…
There’s a lot at stake when it comes to hiring a new employee. Will they have the skills required to do the job? What’s their workplace attitude like? Will they reliably show up to work? These are the realities businesses across the country are facing when…