4 Career Training Mythbusters
4 Career Training Mythbusters
If you’re thinking of pursuing a career-focused education, don’t get confused by misinformation. Learn the truth about career training programs so you can find one that’s right for you.
Start by busting these career education myths:
Myth #1: Career training is inferior to a college education.
Today’s career schools offer high-tech, hands-on, and innovate programs of study. The main difference between getting a traditional college diploma and pursuing career training is the latter is much more focused on helping you build the skills you need for a particular line of work. So while you might be required to take an array of liberal arts courses in college to develop a well-rounded knowledge base, career training is more skills-based.
From coding camps to electrician programs to construction management to aviation maintenance, career training programs are comprehensive and technical.
Myth #2: At career schools, you’re buying a diploma that’s worthless.
Career education has gotten a bad reputation, and unfortunately, it’s because just a couple of them engaged in some shady practices. But the vast majority of career institutions are hard core, requiring a high level of competency and training hours. Many programs actually prepare students for certification exams needed to begin work in a particular industry.
Myth #3: Career schools take anyone that applies.
It’s true that career training programs might be less selective than an Ivy League colleges, but don’t expect that you can just walk in without meeting a set of basic requirements. Most programs require at least a high school diploma or GED, and some even expect you to take the SAT or ACT. Specialized programs may also have their own entrance exam. It really depends on the type of study you’re pursuing, and the school. If you’re considering the career school route, be sure to inquire about entry requirements–don’t just assume.
Myth #4: Employers will trash your resume if you went to a career school.
Although there are some types of career for which a bachelor’s degree is required, for many skilled trades, that’s not true at all. In fact, if you work in a specialized field, many employers prefer that you’ve had the focused hands-on training required to get right to work. For instance, a technical school might be the ideal place for someone who wants to work in telecommunications. If you want to be a plumber or HVAC tech, employers will value a training program more than a bachelor’s degree in history. It’s all about perspective.
So many pursue a college degree just because they think they should, when in fact, career training is really more in line with their career goals. If you’re someone who wants to learn a trade, enjoys repairing things, or can’t stand the idea of sitting through a required philosophy class when you’d rather be troubleshooting an electrical outage, then career training might be right for you.