For the first few years of FastForward, we wanted to make the case for exploring workforce training offerings by connecting individuals with a career coach. In doing so, students discovered which career pathway was right for them. But over time, we started to see more and…
If you’re desperate for a job, we know how hard it is to navigate dozens of applications at one time. When you’re juggling that much, it’s easy to make a mistake. While some mistakes are forgivable, others may cost you the job. “One of the biggest…
As K-12 schools across the country and Virginia continue to face significant teacher shortages, Virginia’s Community Colleges’ Career Switcher Program, EducateVA, is helping fill the vacancies with new teachers who have previously worked careers as doctors, lawyers, pharmacists and everything in between. To better understand how…
It’s a pretty straightforward notion: to advance in your career, you need more skills and certifications to justify the move up the career ladder. There are many training programs within the FastForward programs at your local community college that are natural building blocks within a career….
So, you successfully earned a workforce credential from one of Virginia’s 23 community colleges? Congratulations! Now, it’s time to switch gears and begin your new full-time job: applying to jobs. Job applications can be daunting; there are often many steps, tedious questionnaires, and every employer has…
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….
As the spring semester rolls to a close, some “traditional” students may wind up lying by the pool or taking a trip to the beach. But for adult learners and those who work and have a family, that is a luxury you may not be able…
Recognizing and developing soft skills is an important step in preparing for a new job, but it shouldn’t stop there. It’s important to continue gaining and building upon relevant soft skills throughout your career, making you a more well-rounded professional. A recent FastForward career coach survey…
It feels surreal to be publishing a 2022 New Year’s blog post when 2019 felt like it was yesterday. If the past year has felt like a blur to you, 2022 is the perfect time to pause, take a breath and reset yourself for a new…
Looking to go back to school for a short-term training program or your associate degree? The idea of paying for it can be daunting, especially if you are juggling a family, debt or any lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But bettering yourself through education can…