Originally published on January 25, 2017
By now you have heard time and time again how the unemployment rate has been declining and continues to do so. You have heard that Arizona’s unemployment rate is lower than the national average. You may have heard that the Phoenix unemployment rate is less that Arizona’s. BUT…DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE IT? Drive around our metro area and judge for yourself…
How did we get here?
For decades, Americans have been lulled into a false sense of how well the nation is doing because the reports–regardless of the political party in control of the White House or Congress–have only told a small part of the story. The numbers are taken from the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)–and state and local equivalents–only for the number of first-time filings for unemployment (see https://www.bls.gov/cps/). These numbers ignore some very important statistics, including long-term unemployed, those ineligible for unemployment, and those who are underemployed. Aggregating those figures with the first-time filings results in numbers that show that over 60% of working-age Americans–which includes a growing population of older citizens who continue to work by necessity–are either unemployed (about 20%) or underemployed (about 40%).
So, what are the options for people who need to find a fresh start, a new career, or need to find a way to maintain relevancy in their current careers? In many cases, people who have been laid-off from their career positions have car payments, rent, house payments, and/or families for which they must provide. In most states, unemployment insurance does not even begin to cover the necessary costs for people who have families and, in the long-term view, many of these qualified people end up working two or three minimum-wage jobs just to make ends meet, making prospecting for a real career position difficult…at best.
Certification: Your Ticket to the Future
In addition to getting you out of the starting blocks and into a meaningful career quicker, certification training does not impose upon your future with years of student loan debt! instead of taking two- to four-years of study to acquire a degree from a community college or four-year higher education institution where the learning is rich in theory but includes little practical application work, you can attend certification training in a fraction of the time and a fraction of the cost. In as little as three weeks you can attend focused certification training, study, and pass an industry-recognized, proctored examination that provides the credentials you need to elevate yourself above other candidates for good, professional positions in many industries.
The Information Technology (IT) and medical industries are in dire need of highly skilled professionals. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, technology professionals working in the medical industry will continue to be a growing market for the next 15 years…at least! Nearly ALL industries are in need of project managers, professionals with Six Sigma training, and trained managers and leaders to optimize business and organization operations, as well as providing superior service to clients, customers, and patients.
Potential for Career Growth
If you are certified, you are the kind of professional who managers and prospective employers look to with trust and confidence. It says you have proven skills in your industry; you have a proven commitment to professional excellence; your knowledge is validated by industry standards, not just someone’s endorsement.
Here is a synopsis of what hiring managers and HR professionals had to say about the meaning of certifications:
55% consider certification as a hiring criterion
57% consider certification as a criterion for promotion
63% feel that certified individuals are more productive
But what did individuals who have been in a career search say about the meaning of certification in their careers?
40% indicated that certification helped them get a job or promotion
43% reported salary increases as a result of gaining certification
53% believe that certification makes them more marketable as a professional
Training in the Classroom–Real-Time, Worldwide
One of the benefits to certification training that Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants (DWWTC) revolutionized nearly 10 years ago is the ability for students to attend class in real-time, with secure high-definition audio and video links, from anywhere in the world with a high-speed Internet connection. on December 27, 2016, DWWTC instituted a new era of high-definition, cloud-based remote education that enhances the student experience and interaction with instructors and other students. Now the classroom experience is crystal clear from wherever you are attending!
We’re Here to Help!
Well, you have heard that line before, right? Still, there are government grant programs that are designed to get unemployed people the opportunities they need to attend approved certification training programs and accomplish certification examinations that will help them greatly to gain the career or advancement that they need. Although these programs require prospective students to meet defined criteria to qualify, there are two federal grant programs–administered at the state, county, and city level–to provide the funding needed to again gain meaningful employment, pay and benefits, and boost self-esteem and confidence.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Grant
If you have been laid off, are unemployed, underemployed, or receiving unemployment benefits, you may be eligible for a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) job training grant. This grant program can pay up to 100% of your tuition and fees up to a cap of $4,000.00. Recent changes in this grant program have also enhanced the ability of Workforce and other offices that administer the grants to help unemployed and underemployed people with job placement services.
The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program
The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program is a federal program that assists US workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade. The TAA program seeks to provide these trade-affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, resources, and support they need to become reemployed. TAA offers a variety of benefits and services to support workers seeking reemployment: job training, income support, job search and relocation allowances, and assistance with healthcare premium costs.
How Can I Get a Federal Grant for Certification Training?
In addition to places like state agencies and workforce offices, some certification training centers have staff members who are trained to screen and assist prospective grant recipients for going through the grant process. You can check to see which sites have these services–as well as job placement assistance–by exploring their websites. For example, at Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants (www.DWWTC.com) in Phoenix/Tempe, Arizona, the center has a Continuing Education Department with staff who are trained in grant procedures, have connections with grant-awarding authorities, and train regularly on changes in the grant systems. These advisors are available for a free, no-obligation consultation and tour of the training facility.
Education Benefits
Certification training centers like DWWTC are certified by the respective state’s private post-secondary certification board to provide adult and continuing education leading to certification opportunities. Unlike regionally accredited higher education institutions (such as colleges and universities) these centers cannot accept Title IV funds (federal student loans) unless they offer training through an accredited institution as a partner and such training is offered through the accredited institution’s catalog of courses.
Tuition Assistance
Some companies and organizations cost-share the tuition and fees of employees taking certification training when such training and certification fall within the mission and vision of the company/organization. Certification training centers such as DWWTC can process tuition assistance from both public and private sector companies and organizations, including those on active duty in the US military.
Post 9-11 GI Bill
Once a certification training center has submitted the required documents and been approved by the Veterans Administration, active duty personnel and veterans who have GI Bill education benefits may obtain their Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA and then pursue certification training at the approved center. The process is nearly identical to when GI Bill benefits are used at colleges or universities; however, attending certification training programs augments your military experience and gets you on the way to your new career in far less time, while reducing the number of GI Bill eligibility days being used to complete certification. Coupled with job assistance that is offered by full-service training centers such as DWWTC, this package gives military and veterans more bang for the buck–simply put, the most value-added option!
At Dynamic Worldwide Training, we have staff members who are trained to administer and walk you through the GI Bill process, standing by you every step of the way! Do you have a spouse who desires training? We can help them go through the process for MyCAA benefits, designed to assist military spouses who have moved frequently and not been able to have enduring employment with companies, as well as those who have had experience and may be new to the area.
Beyond Training…
At DWWTC, our continuing education students have access to one of the area’s experts in LinkedIn–an essential tool in your career persona, whether moving on to a new career or moving up in the one you have now. Resume review and mentoring are also available to students. A learning lab provides students with comprehensive tools to study, practice for, and pass their certification examinations, with a PearsonVUE and Certiport certified testing center on premises. Finally, as well as a comprehensive job search assistance system to organize and optimize your endeavors, DWWTC is partnered with 9 different recruiters and placement offices, where your credentials can be presented before you have even completed your training so that you get a head start on the future!
Military and Veteran Students
Are you active duty military or a military veteran? We are fortunate to have a trained Military/Veteran Resource Navigator on site, who can assist you with other needs, such as medical benefit processes, counseling services, spouse job assistance, local veterans organizations, and other available resources.
To Summarize…
Certification training provides a viable option to college degrees that put you on the road to your next career more quickly and without piling up student debt in the process. With comprehensive services to enhance the training experience and the move into your next career–or your move up the ladder in your current career–certification training centers like Dynamic Worldwide Training (DWWTC) and others provide the most cost-effective, hands-on environment to help you achieve your goals!
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