The Benefits of Career Pathways

We live in a big world full of endless possibilities where there is always something for everyone.  Just like a career pathway, it brings together a world of career possibilities into one place. It has helped everyone decide on what they really want to do and learn the most convenient and effective way to do it.

Career Pathways are a group of career specialties that share the same skills and knowledge therefore giving individuals wider career options. It is a series of study and training programs that prepares a person for a job in an “in demand” industry. It focuses on the transition of a student from college to a secure job after graduation.

Nowadays, most students choose career pathway programs because it is easier, faster and more convenient for everyone. Here is a list of the great benefits you can take advantage of from a career pathway education:

1. Preparation for your future- every education we receive prepares us for our future however the only difference with career pathway is that after graduation, you know where you are headed and you are fully-equipped with the right knowledge and skills for the career you have chosen. You don’t need to decide what to do after you graduate; you have a secure job in the workforce industry.

2. Time efficient – knowing exactly what to do, your teachers and school counselors will be able to direct you the classes you need to take that they think could help you have a successful future.

3. You can keep up with the world – as a student you are provided with the necessary learning skills to keep up with the technology and the demands of time. You grow together with the world.

4. Linked to the demands of employers –the courses being offered in the pathway are determined and based on the current and ongoing workforce industry. The employers then demand an analysis of the labor market to research on the skill requirements for different jobs within a particular in demand industry, making it easier for them to spot the right candidate and for the applicants to apply for the right job.

5. Job security – in a regular college or university, students take different classes which could still give an unclear idea on which courses are needed for a particular job or skill. In a career pathway program, you have a clear understanding of what you are expected to do after you finish the course and you are only given the units that are necessary for that particular skill or occupation.

It is not a wonder anymore why more and more students choose to take up career pathway programs and that is because they want to be successful and secure about their future. Time is precious and therefore everyone should start planning their careers as early as now .

Common Challenges In Reentering The Workforce

When you have taken a break from employment for a substantial length of time, it may not be always easy to get back to work. For some reason or another, you will encounter difficulties. These difficulties become more profound the longer you have been away from your job. Whether you reenter the workforce as a part of the previous job set you have worked for, or are entering a different trade or industry, there will be challenges along the way. Among these challenges are the following:

Skill Set
The world is in an ever changing loop and changes are constant, most especially in the field of technology. Unnoticeably, systems are upgraded almost everyday and by the time you've missed an orientation or two, you are significantly behind the latest version. So it follows that if you have been out of the loop in a year or two, your skill set is most probably outdated. Although there's still the option of undergoing retraining and upgrading courses, you need to take into consideration whether the company is willing to wait until your knowledge and skills are current or if they are willing to shoulder the expenses for such training. To hope for this concession, you will have to possess enough qualifications that will deem you indispensible or, at the very least, valuable to the company.

Justification of Time Lapsed
Depending on the length of time you have stopped working, the chances of your employability could either be good or bad. Obviously if you have gone for only a couple of months or a year at the most, you might still find it easy to get back on your feet in terms of being employed. However, being away for years, like women who took a maternity leave and decided to be a stay at home mom and raise the brood, it might take a little more than your CV to get employers to have a second look at your application. Tell the truth about why you went off the radar and highlight what you have accomplished in that period. Most of the time, your honesty will pay off.

Age
Advancement in age is definitely a challenge because of several factors. Not to discriminate against older applicants, but realistically speaking, unless they have the experience and qualifications to back them up, they might find it hard to get back to work. Some view older employees highly for their expertise, while some as liabilities for their gradually failing health. 

Preparedness
Having been away for a long time, you might find yourself in a very comfortable routine that you are used to. Breaking the habit will be a challenge when you decide to get back to work. Not only do you need to prepare your CV and cover letter, but you also need to condition your mind when you start to work again. You need to determine whether you are able to work full time or part time. Adjustments will be necessary as you may have taken up more responsibilities of the years that you did not used to have in your earlier employment. Your domestic duties for a start will need to be addressed as it directly affects your productivity at work. You need to come into terms with who will prepare the kids for school, who makes their lunches, who picks them up, or you might end up leaving work to frantically see to these things. Prepare yourself for your job, not just mentally but also physically.

The Challenges of Changing Jobs

A lot of people are lucky enough to have regular jobs. Such is the saturation of the labor market that everyone with almost the same qualifications is in a tight competition.Having an edge over the rest of the working class is definitely an advantage that will work on your favor when the time comes for you to decide to change careers.

It does not necessarily mean that you would have to go to school again. There are several ways wherein you can vamp up your résumé without having to go back to school. This includes attending seminars that are meant to enhance your skills. Training sessions are also valuable activities that could get you the abilities you need to move from field work to administrative work and vice versa.

Changing jobs is a decision that you have to thoroughly think through. It is not something you can decide overnight and do the next day. It takes a lot of planning and most of the time, you need to apply for it.
There are some hurdles you might have to overcome before you can successfully change jobs. These include the location, the pay, and the adjustment period, among many others.

Location
When you decide to shift careers, there are times that the new one will take you to a different place. You now have to decide whether the move is good for you and your family or if it will be more of a hassle than the positive adventure you are expecting it to be. Remember that you should include your family's situation and welfare in all your life decision. Your children's education and your partner's job are only a few of the most important things you have to consider.

Pay
If you find a new job, unless it is a position higher than your previous one, you might be looking at a paycheck that is not as attractive as your past ones. This usually happens to people whose new job is with a different industry or trade whereby they have to start from the bottom and work their way up. If you are willing to take the risk and have the patience to wait until you finally achieve your goals, then go for it. People who usually disregard the figures of their paycheck are the ones who find passion in the new kind if work they have decided to take up.

Adjustment period
There will always be a time when people who have shifted will wonder why they have ever dared to do the change. Worry not, for this is only temporary. People tend to give up easily when things get difficult. It is merely the change of environment that you need to get used to.

As long as you feel comfortable and contented with your current job, then there is no need to see why the grass is greener on the other side. However, if you do feel burned out, unhappy, and dissatisfied with your current job, then perhaps it's about time you went on a job search.