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According to a recent survey, nearly 60% of middle-income workers are considering a job change. Are you among them?

If you want to change your career, it may be good to find academic resources to help you get there. Sometimes, switching paths is as simple as interviewing in a different department within the same company or seeking opportunities outside your current company. Other times, you might consider specialized certifications and perhaps even an associate’s degree to qualify for the position you want. 

If that’s the case, you might wonder where and when to start. Do you have to wait until admissions open up in the fall or spring semester, or can you join a class any time? If you find the right institution, you can plan your new career around your timetable.

Today, we’re sharing how year-round admissions can make all the difference in your search and how you can get started.

Why Change Your Career?

There are a few different reasons why people may decide to switch careers. Even if you’ve held the position for years, you might begin to feel the itch to make a new move. Here are a few of the top catalysts that lead employees into new fields, according to recruiters:

• Lack of opportunity to use skills
• Toxic workplace or company culture
• Poor management
• Burnout from too much work
• Boredom from too little work
• Inadequate salary
• Lack of rewards, recognition, or benefits

Since March of 2020, there has been another issue wearing at even top-performing employees: pandemic fatigue. A new report shows that 76% of U.S. workers feel burnt out, with 57% blaming anxieties triggered by COVID-19. 

With so many changes and protective measures put into place, familiar workflows are altered. This alone can lead to resistance, frustration, and disengagement among employees. This is especially true for those whose physical work environments look different today than they did a little more than a year ago. 

Benefits to Making the Switch

Worried that entering a new job field will mean starting from scratch? If you’re feeling stressed over the idea, it helps to understand the many benefits you can gain from going this route. 

Whether you’ve earned a promotion to a more senior-level position or you’re going back to complete a degree program in an entirely new industry, you’ll grow by leaps and bounds throughout the shift. Here are a few of the reasons to move in this direction:

• Learn new skills
• Become a more marketable employee
• Grow your network of professional connections
• Achieve more interesting and fulfilling roles
• Earn a higher salary

You don’t have to stay in a stagnant position simply because it’s comfortable or familiar. Especially if you’re already feeling dissatisfied at work, it’s time to pursue your passions and find a career you truly love. 

Explore New Options

Not sure if a particular career is right for you? A field might sound attractive in theory, but the reality could be much different. Or, it could be the other way around, and you might be pleasantly surprised!

As you explore your options and consider your next move, you can look at our ProSeries videos to learn more about a few of our top training programs. Available at no cost, these informative videos take a close look at what goes into top trade professions, including substance use disorder counseling, cybersecurity, and electrical training. 

By checking out these videos, you can discover more details about the career you’re pursuing. It also may be helpful to reach out to other professionals who are already working in that field to understand what to expect. 

Why Year-Round Admissions Matters

Whatever your impetus for switching careers might be, you’ll need to clearly understand the job requirements for your new role before you dive headfirst into it. 

Many trades and professions require employees to attend training programs to obtain the necessary skills to succeed. This may be true in the following sectors, among others:

• Trade programs
• Healthcare programs
• Business programs
• Mental health 
• Addiction counseling 

You could become a certified HVAC technician, medical assistant, cybersecurity specialist, or even entry-level alcohol and drug counselor with the proper education, clinical internship, and registration. 

If you are searching for training programs, you might begin to research local trade schools, colleges, and universities in your area to see if any institution will allow you to enroll, even if you’ve already missed the official application deadline for the spring or fall semester. In time, you’ll likely find that the list of schools accepting new students year-round.

At InterCoast, we allow year-round admissions for our extensive list of certificate programs. Once you click on each program to learn more, you’ll find a complete breakdown that reveals the title of each class included, as well as the total coursework required. 

With open enrollment, you don’t have to wait until a fall, spring, or summer semester is available.  At InterCoast, you can apply and attend throughout the year, with minimal delays in starting your education and training. 

Completing the Online Application

Remember the days when signing up for academic courses required extensive, time-consuming paperwork? That time is long gone, replaced by an online application process that’s quicker and easier than ever before. 

The first step in changing your career is to visit our website application. Here, you’ll enter your details, along with the program you’re interested in and the campus you’d like to attend.

All of our physical InterCoast campuses are located in California, though we also provide many online programs for California students who do not live near one of our locations. Soon after you submit your application, one of our admissions representatives will contact you with all of the details you need to know, including:

• Information about your program
• Curriculum content
• Course length
• Total costs
• Admissions requirements
• Graduation requirements

At this time, you’ll also learn about the other services that InterCoast provides to help our students succeed, including academic services.  You will also have a chance to speak to someone about available financial aid programs if you are interested.  

Flexibility and Convenience You Need

When it comes to achieving further education and changing your career, it may be wise to maintain your current job until you’ve secured the new position that you desire. Depending on your work schedule, you may consider online education or hybrid courses that will help you with flexibility. Online classes often allow you to participate in online activities at different times of the day or night, depending on your schedule.  Convenience and flexibility may be what you need to take that next step. 

InterCoast offers both online and hybrid programs. Although not all programs are offered entirely online, some programs do offer weekend classes in addition to an online component for the ultimate flexibility! Hybrid options are available for many programs that allow you to learn on-campus once or twice a week to complete in-person labs while attending online during the rest of the week. 

These options make it easy to continue at your current workplace, all while making strides toward the new career you’re envisioning. They also help you uphold your time, so hopefully, you will have more time to spend with your family.  

Another benefit of choosing a trade and vocational school like ours versus enrolling in a four-year university program? You can finish quicker, so you are available to start working as sooner. Especially if you’re feeling burnt out or disenfranchised with your current job, the idea of attending classes for four more years might not be what you want to do. 

On the contrary, our certificate programs are designed to be completed in 32 to 88 weeks, max. You’ll be able to enter the job field and start making money faster than you thought possible. 

Your Guide to InterCoast Career Services

InterCoast has a dedicated Career Services Department. Once you’ve completed your field of study, our Career Services Coordinator will work with you one-on-one to help you find entry-level employment in your field of study. 

Do you need assistance with your resume or cover letter? Want to attend a mock interview so you can prepare yourself before the big day? Looking for job leads and employment search support?

Our department offers precisely that. While we can’t guarantee job placement, we can work with our graduates to find training-related employment.  This effort is a partnership with our graduates and requires working together for success.

Change Your Career, Change Your Life

One of the most important lessons that the pandemic has taught us is that time is of the essence. It’s never too early to start living the life you envisioned for yourself. 

If you’re ready to change your career, then our team at InterCoast is prepared to help. You can learn more about our available programs online and complete an online application when you are ready.  And, what’s better, InterCoast does not charge a registration fee for any of its programs! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.