In today’s fast-paced world we need to be at the top of our game in order to succeed financially - especially with rising inflation and wages that do not reflect increases in the cost of living. And unfortunately, not all of us have the financial resources to attend a four-year university. So how can we contend with rising inflation and job insecurity? Here are some ideas:
Earn your GED: First and foremost, complete your high school education if you have not already. If you did not yet earn your high school diploma, consider attending courses or tutoring to complete your GED (General Education Development). You can take your GED online and even complete GED courses online. The GED is comprised of four subject areas: social studies, math, science, and language arts. It will cost you around $40 to take. Employers and most training programs require either a high school diploma or GED so it is vital to have this completed when you enter the job market.
Job Training: To increase both your marketability and your wages consider gaining valuable job training. Fast tracks to good careers include: CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), truck driving, pharmacy technician, truck driving, and phlebotomy. These fields do not require a four year college degree and training can occur within a couple of months at a relatively low cost. Also consider on the job training. Learn skills, and increase both your salary and your marketability while earning an income on the job.
Internship: Consider a paid internship. Job placement with a company that will help you grow into a role with on the job training: earn while you learn. Many companies also hire interns. An internship is a great way to see if you are interested in working for a particular company, while earning on the job. Also, many companies also hire interns so it is potentially a terrific way to start out a new career.
Job Coaching: Most people know the phrase, “Dress for success,” but there is much more than having a great wardrobe that needs to happen in order to land a great job. Many people may not be sure of what career to pursue, or if they do, how to go about it. It is important to take career assessments and to use tools such as interest inventories and learn about various careers which you may find interesting.
Your resume needs to be updated and polished. You may need practice at acing an interview. Many people do not realize the importance of reaching out to social networks, or may not have a clear idea where to start. Additionally, people may not realize the power of a positive job reference. We can all use a leg up at times and a job coach is an incredible resource to increase your chances of landing that perfect job.
Mentoring: We all need someone to check in with from time to time. There are a lot of life skills which are involved in building your career from start to finish. Finding a job mentor is an excellent way of learning about the job from someone with the experience to share with you and help you to grow. Mentors can assist with learning life skills, financial planning, furthering one’s education, and embarking on a new career.
Come to AACF for all of the above. We will assist you with completing your GED and match you with job training in the area of your interests. We can place you in a paid internship where you will gain valuable job skills while you earn an income. And we can match you with a career coach and mentor in order to keep you on track to achieve all of your goals.
Contact us [https://aacfworks.org/youth-program-waitlist/] for more information and see if AACF is a good match for your career needs! Our services are free to those who qualify.