| u have recently completed an academic program at | | | | A final consideration is opportunity cost. Unfortunately, |
| college or university, it can be difficult to translate your | | | | the old adage is true. Time is money. If you can finish a |
| academic work into the skills and experience needed | | | | program in one year instead of two, you will be able to |
| to land your dream job. Many academic programs, | | | | start building your career and collecting a pay check |
| especially those in the arts and humanities, do not | | | | sooner. Look for programs that allow you to study |
| traditionally include experience based training and | | | | year round. Look at the number of in-class and direct |
| employment skills development. This leads to the | | | | instruction hours. Ask how the program you are |
| classic post-graduation dilemma. You can’t get | | | | considering gives you the skills you need to succeed. |
| the job you want without experience. You can’t | | | | Keep employability in mind. Try to look at potential |
| get the experience you need without the job. | | | | programs from the view point of potential employers. |
| In order to get the experience and skills required to | | | | What Should You Look For? |
| land your dream job, you need to become | | | | What is experience and skill based education? Rhodes |
| employment ready. The first step is to learn what | | | | Wellness College, an industry leading coaching, |
| experience and skills are needed to succeed in your | | | | counseling and wellness college, is a great example. It |
| dream job. Next, determine whether an internship or | | | | is a pioneer in experiential education. Students build |
| volunteer position will help you land that job. If you need | | | | critical coaching, counseling and wellness skills by |
| additional certification or qualifications, or can’t | | | | applying the tools and theories they learn to |
| find the right internship or volunteer position, look for an | | | | themselves and others. Students become great |
| experience based educational program that will give | | | | coaches and counselors by engaging in hands-on |
| you the experience and skills you need. It is common | | | | training. Students with diverse backgrounds coach and |
| for college and university graduates to obtain practical, | | | | counsel each other, helping other students while other |
| skill based education. Invest in yourself and what you | | | | students help them. This unique process builds skills, |
| offer to potential employers. | | | | experience and confidence. It also leads to |
| Evaluating Your Options | | | | tremendous personal growth. Students learn how to |
| The best experiential learning opportunities are found | | | | succeed personally and professionally. |
| outside of traditional academia. Private colleges and | | | | Rhodes Wellness College also maintains relationships |
| technical institutions offer many attractive experience | | | | with employers and continually updates curriculum and |
| based programs that promise employment readiness. | | | | teaching methods so that graduates are employment |
| The best programs often include strong practicum and | | | | ready from day one. All of their diploma programs |
| industry support for students and new graduates. | | | | include an applied practicum, utilizing a strong network |
| Try to find a program that minimizes overlap with your | | | | of employers within the coaching, counseling and |
| previous education. Look for programs that give you | | | | wellness fields. All of this translates into post-graduation |
| concrete skills and experience. Take the time to | | | | employment rates consistently higher than 80%, and at |
| review the potential curriculum. Make sure that you will | | | | times greater than 95%. |
| be investing in building new employable skills, rather | | | | Best of Both Worlds |
| than rehashing old academic experiences. This is | | | | The great news is that students and new graduates |
| especially important if you are considering a program | | | | that have a traditional academic education, as well as |
| at a technical institute, as many students enter | | | | industry specific skills and experience, are highly valued |
| technical programs out of high school and require | | | | by employers. They offer the best of both worlds. By |
| some amount of academic polish to accompany their | | | | consciously investing and building your own skill set and |
| experiential training. Research your options and ask | | | | experience, you will land the job of your dreams and |
| tough questions. This will save time and money in the | | | | succeed! |
| long run. | | | | |