Certificate Programs, Jobs and Careers

Career Pathways Initiative awards 8 certificates to August 2015 program graduates

In August 2015, NOVA, in partnership with the Fairfax County Department of Family Services (DFS) Employment & Training Program Career Pathways Initiative, awarded 8 certificates for Career Pathways’ Administrative Professional and Medical Administrative Professional Training Certification programs.

This graduation ceremony marks the 5th time that NOVA has provided this targeted training for DFS clients in a group setting at a DFS office site. To highlight the program’s success, Job Developer Warren Smith read an email from a program graduate who is now employed by Fairfax County.

Career Pathways Initiative

Fairfax County DFS:
a history of helping careers

The Virginia’s Initiative for Employment, not Welfare (VIEW) Program is one of several employment programs operated by Fairfax County DFS. In October 2013, VIEW partnered with NOVA to run the inaugural Administrative Assistant Training Certification Program at the VIEW Job Center, located in the Pennino Building in Fairfax. The class was filled to capacity, and all 10 students graduated.

Due to the success of the first cohort, a second class began the next month, in November 2013. This time 8 students received certificates. The third cohort, held in February 2014, issued 7 new certificates.

The fourth cohort was held in February 2015. This was the first offering of the Administrative Professional and Medical Administrative Professional Training Certification. 12 students participated and graduated.

DFS Career Pathways

During the latter part of 2014, DFS Employment and Training staff researched in-demand occupations in the Northern Virginia area with the goal of establishing targeted certification training to assist our job-seeking participants.  The VIEW Program had partnered with NOVA in the past, but offerings were limited to VIEW program participants only.

We wanted to make sure opportunities were available to all program participants, so representatives from the following organizations gathered to discuss how to make this happen:

  • VIEW
  • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult
  • WIOA Youth
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAPET)

We worked out the details and determined which occupations we wanted to target, and decided to add a medical administrative professional component to the training. By adding the medical administrative piece, students would be able to sit for an exam that would award them an industry-recognized credential.

DFS once again reached out to NOVA to develop a curriculum, which was taught in February 2015. This class had participants from several of our employment programs, not just the VIEW Program.

 

Contributors
Rick Garrett is Manager for the Fairfax County Department of Family Services Employment and Training. Amy Miller is a WIOA Supervisor for Employment & Training. Read more about Employment and Training services at fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/ss/employtraining.htm.

Ilene Danforth (idanforth@nvcc.edu) is a Business Program Developer for NOVA’s Workforce Development Division. She develops customized training programs for NOVA’s corporate training clients and community partners. 

About Us, Jobs and Careers

STEM of Consciousness for Career Changers

We hear a lot about the high demand for workers to fill STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers. What’s less clear is what actual jobs are available, and how you, as a career changer, can leverage your experience to enter these fields.

NOVA Workforce Development Division | STEM jobs

Interested in a STEM education?

Consider the realities of today’s job market:

STEM Advantages

  • High pay. STEM education isn’t just a path to a job; it’s a path to a high paying One study indicates that STEM majors will earn a minimum of $500,000 MORE over their lifetime compared to non-STEM majors, even if they don’t work in a STEM career.
  • Job availability. STEM jobs are found in numerous different fields, ranging from research to education. By 2018 there will be 3 million NEW or replacement jobs in STEM, so as a STEM graduate, it’s unlikely that you’ll have trouble locating a job in this field.
  • Less competition. Every year 2 million jobs in the STEM fields go unfilled, mostly due to lack of qualified applicants.
  • Basic skills are always needed. Yes, technology is ever progressing, but the basics stay the same. We’ll still need math and research. If you have basic knowledge of the scientific method, computers, and report writing, you’ll be valuable, no matter how things innovate.

Potential Hurdles

  • There’s no guarantee. STEM education doesn’t guarantee that you will walk straight into your dream job on a high salary. Without necessary “soft- skills” (see below), it’s unlikely that your technical skills will get you a long-term job or promotion.
  • What’s “hot” varies. It’s almost impossible to predict what the job market will look like years after you graduate. As a result, it’s difficult for educators to develop a curriculum to best fit the material that will be “hot” in the future.
  • Most STEM careers require a degree (often an advanced degree). By 2018, 92% of STEM jobs will require post-secondary education and training.
  • Career advancement may be limited. STEM is continually evolving, and only those who frequently update their skills will move forward in their careers.

NOVA Workforce Development Division | STEM jobs in science

The good news for career changers

No matter what you studied in school or your work background, employers will value your critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. The trick is to demonstrate that you have these key skills through your cover letter, résumé and interview.

  • Collaboration: Employers look for workers who possess “soft skills”, like being able to collaborate on teams and interact smoothly with clients.
  • Critical Thinking: According to a 2013 study by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, 93% of the survey respondents said, “a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than [a candidate’s] undergraduate major.”
  • Communication: Successful managers communicate well, build relationships, and create an environment where employees can do their best work. In other words, they practice the skills most closely associated with a liberal arts education, where emphasis is placed on participation, community, and functioning as part of a team.

NOVA Workforce Development Division | STEM jobs in tech

Whether you decide to pursue a STEM career or not,
here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Work experience trumps degree. When asked what they look for in new college grads, a recent survey shows that employers are overwhelmingly interested in experience outside the classroom. A few specific classes and some real-world experience, even if as a volunteer, may be enough to get a job – whatever your field.
  • Core skills can be developed in fields other than STEM. Critical thinking and analysis can be honed in the Humanities and Social Sciences as well as STEM fields. Many experts agree that as a society, we need better STEM literacy overall – not just more STEM graduates.
  • Thought about Teaching? As demand for STEM workers has increased, so has the need for teachers who can prepare students to pursue STEM careers!

NOVA Workforce Development Division | STEM jobs in engineering

Final Thoughts

If you don’t like the STEM majors, you won’t be happy pursuing a STEM career. Students who are not happy are far more likely to switch majors, losing time and money, or to drop out altogether.

 

About the Author:

Edythe Richards is a Career Counselor who specializes in working with mid-career adults in transition.

Events, Jobs and Careers

September 2015: STEM Career Fair and workshop

This month NOVA’s Workforce Development Division is hosting a STEM Career Fair featuring 20 area companies involved with advancing technology and job opportunities—and they are seeking new talent! Attend our pre-event workshop on September 14 (details below), and come prepared to start or evolve your STEM career with some of Virginia’s cutting-edge companies!

NOVA STEM Career Fair, September 2015

Pre-event workshop

Do you know how to navigate a Career Fair? Do you need to brush up on your interview and resume skills?

A pre-event workshop will be held on September 14, from 1-4 PM (also at the Ernst Cultural Center, NOVA-Annandale). Registration is required: call 703-323-3281, or email NOVA_CustomizedTraining@nvcc.edu to reserve your spot. The workshop is led by Edythe Richards, a Career Counselor who specializes in working with mid-career adults in transition.

Featured companies

Companies will be hosting on-site interviews at the STEM Career Fair on September 30 for pre-qualified candidates. Hiring companies include:

Veterans are encouraged to attend!

A Mobile Vet Center will be on site for veterans attending the Career Fair. MVCs, provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, are mobile offices that provide readjustment counseling and information resources to veterans across the country.

Mobile Vet Center | STEM Career Fair at Northern Virginia Community College STEM Career Fair

To register for the Resume and Interview Workshop,
or for more information on the STEM Career Fair:

 

 

NOVA Workforce Development Division | Blog
Northern Virginia Community College’s Workforce Development Division is dedicated to improving Northern Virginia’s economic development and business landscape with a comprehensive variety of training options, including Professional Development, Certificate Programs, Enrichment Courses, Continuing Education, and Customized Training. Visit us online to learn more.

Events, Jobs and Careers

Educating Youth Through Employment

NOVA’s Workforce Development Division attended the recent EYE (Educating Youth through Employment) Appreciation and Awards Ceremony earlier this month. Held by The SkillSource Group, the event celebrated the youth and the employers who participated in the EYE program – a summer initiative that recruits, screens and matches youth ages 18-21 with professional opportunities in the private and public sector, and with other local businesses. SkillSource, in coordination with Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services, has successfully implemented this employer-driven summer employment initiative since 2006.

These young adults are required to attend intensive training workshops before and during their work experiences. The EYE program offers local youth more than just a summer job, but rather an exciting, professional opportunity with training that will allow them to explore a career path that matches their interest. (SkillSource Group)

It was pleasing to see the number of employers who chose to give back to the community by hiring youth this summer. A considerable number of the EYE program participants will be attending Northern Virginia Community College. NOVA Workforce Development representatives met with the students and provided insight into courses and programs available to help the students meet their future goals.

Congratulations to SkillSource, the EYE Program employers, and all the community partners, but most importantly congrats to this year’s EYE Program participants.

 

SkillSource Group EYE program | Educating Youth through Employment

Joe Matope is a Business Development Manager with NOVA Workforce Development Division, and works with employers to develop and deliver customized training solutions for their staff. For more information about NOVA Workforce Development Division’s collaboration with SkillSource Group, contact Joe at jmatope@nvcc.edu.

Events, Jobs and Careers

STEM Career Fair: September 2015

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) is on everyone’s minds these days, since cybersecurity is at the forefront of technological trends and our area is ripe for IT development.

Great things are happening both in the government and private sector in northern Virginia, and Northern Virginia Community College is pleased to answer the demand for well-trained IT professionals. This September, NOVA Workforce will be holding our second STEM Career Fair, aimed at students, veterans, and both entry-level and experienced IT professionals.

Prior to the career fair, career counselor Edythe Richards will be holding a free workshop for those interested in polishing their resume and interview skills in preparation for the Career Fair.

Save the date:

September 14, 1-4 PM: Resume and Interview Prep workshop

September 30, 10 AM – 2 PM: STEM Career Fair
(Registration is required; call 703-323-3281 or email NOVA_CustomizedTraining@nvcc.edu.)

Both events will be held at NOVA’s Annandale Campus, at the Ernst Community Cultural Center.

STEM Career Fair, Northern Virginia Community College