By John Rossheim
Monster Contributing Writers
For tens of millions of underemployed, unemployed or insecure workers, a return to education has become a viable option in escaping their current job lows. Community college – or cegep, if you are a Quebec resident – is now a popular recourse in a stalled economy. With distance and part-time education, and a focus on technical skills, community colleges offer a slew of interesting opportunities for those looking to switch careers.
Challenges and Opportunities for Community Colleges
With their budgets severely strained and more students than ever knocking at their doors seeking superior educational value, community colleges are under stress in 2010. Some community colleges will be forced to increase class sizes; others may be forced to turn away some students temporarily. When you’re checking out community colleges in your area, it’s important to find out how they’re coping.
But regardless of economic strains, the curricular focus of community college is unlikely to change: They’re particularly strong in fields of study relevant to careers in local industry. And in 2010, they’re emphasizing fields like allied
health, public safety and alternative energy.
Community Colleges Offer a Range of IT Certification Courses
Information technology is one area of special strength for community colleges. For the IT certifications that can give aspiring technologists a toehold, many community colleges offer unsurpassed training. Certifications in areas like desktop PCs and networking help career changers enter the field at a substantially higher pay level.
Off shoring of jobs and economic volatility notwithstanding, bread-and-butter IT jobs will continue to be created, and community colleges train thousands to fill these openings each year. There will always be a need for help-desk professionals, computer technicians, network administrators and Microsoft specialists.
Industry-standard certifications are the goal of the best-focused community college IT programs. There might be some community colleges that offer a generic networking curriculum, but those that offer industry certifications are really setting up their students to find jobs. Look for institutions that offer instructor training and networking equipment for student computer laboratories.
Going Back to School for Mid-Career Workers
For workers who have lost hours or suffered a layoff, even the modest tuition at community colleges can be an obstacle to career change. Fortunately, help is widely available. Provincial loans exist for just these situations, and many outside
scholarships can be found online.
It’s important to evaluate the quality of education offered by a specific community college before staking a career change on its programs.
“All community colleges are striving, but not all are achieving,” says Susan Stafford, author of Community College: Is It Right for You? “So you should go there and visit. Talk to people who have attended community colleges you’re interested in. Ask people in business about their experience with graduates of specific programs. Research how your community college is partnering with industry, how it’s participating in workforce development councils.”
Finally, expect a years-later return to school to pose substantial personal challenges. The first step of walking in the building is difficult; so is getting into a study routine. But older students are serious about what they’re doing and they tend to succeed. Most colleges have an association for mature students and other clubs that can offer support and companionship on campus. And remember this: going back to school is a courageous undertaking. But even the bravest need a loyal support system and a few pats on the back every now and again.