As adults, we may grow out of the careers we chose early in life. The world evolves, life changes, and so do we. If you’re not the person you were a decade ago, and you’re not happy at your job, it’s not too late to change careers. It’s a new day, and vocational schools offer retraining opportunities too good to ignore.
Is it Too Late to Change Careers?
It’s never too late to explore career options. Decades ago, people stayed with the same employer for a lifetime. But today’s workplace is dynamic, meeting the changing needs of companies and workers. Changing course can be challenging, but with thoughtful planning, preparation, and training, you’re never stuck doing work you don’t enjoy.
Why Do People Change Careers?
People change careers to:
Pursue Their Passions
Life’s too short to spend a third of your time at a job you don’t like. People are increasingly embracing the value of personal satisfaction over other perks, even salary, to do what makes them happy.
Achieve a Better Work-Life Balance
Marriage, parenthood, and health issues change the daily dynamics of life. If long hours at your current job are overwhelming, it makes sense to seek a more flexible career.
Avoid Layoffs
Global economists estimate that millions of jobs will disappear in the coming decade, replaced by technology. Once popular careers are now obsolete. If you work in a vulnerable industry, the only way to secure your future is to retrain for a more relevant field.
Make Ends Meet
Some jobs are a financial letdown. If you’re at the top of the career ladder in your current field with no place to go and no hope of a raise, it pays to explore other fields. Money isn’t everything, but your financial future matters.
What Are My New Career Options?
Some careers are evergreen while others may have changed over time. College catalogs don’t look like they did in the 80s, 90s and 2000s. You can pursue pathways from healthcare to computers. Whether you are interested in medical assisting, licensed vocational nursing, HVAC or network engineering, CyberTex has you covered.
Medical Assistant and Licensed Vocational Nurse
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a soaring demand for healthcare workers, through 2031. You can break into the field in a year or less as a vocational nurse or medical assistant.
Vocational nurses provide direct patient care in hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities and more.
Responsibilities include:
- Administering medication
- Wound care
- Tube feedings
- Urinary catheterizations
- Assisting with activities of daily living
- Safety monitoring
- Patient education
Programs teach:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Pharmacology
- Human development
- Nursing skills, from personal care to complex treatments
Practical nursing is a rewarding occupation for compassionate people who want to serve the sick and their families.
Medical assisting is a less hands-on role with both clinical and administrative components.
Duties include:
- Scheduling
- Rooming patients
- Performing diagnostic tests
- Stocking shelves
- Assisting with procedures
- Sterilizing instruments
- Phlebotomy
- Managing inventory
- Billing and coding
If you have interests in both business and medicine, medical assisting is a flexible career with opportunities for employment in a broad range of healthcare settings. The curriculum covers:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Medical terminology
- Pharmacology
- Infection control
- Clinical, office and laboratory procedures
- Medical law and ethics
Network Engineer
Careers in technology aren’t necessarily bulletproof, things change fast. However, network engineers are always in demand.
The network engineer role involves:
- Designing computer networks
- Implementing data security measures, including firewalls and virus protection
- Managing backup systems
- Maintaining network equipment, including servers, routers, and VPNs
- Troubleshooting network performance issues
Network Engineer programs cover wide-ranging topics, including:
- Network architecture
- Routers and switches
- Data security
- Wireless networks
- Performance optimization
- Cloud applications
Graduates are prepared to work for most companies, network vendors, and IT providers.
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Cooling)
HVAC technicians manage heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in homes and businesses. HVAC work entails:
- Installing new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment
- Repairing HVAC systems
- Performing regular maintenance, such as duct cleanings, refrigerant recharging, and filter changes
- Retrofitting aging HVAC systems to improve efficiency, there’s a golden opportunity in the green energy field
Students in this HVAC program learn about:
- Boilers
- Air conditioners
- Heat pumps
- Refrigeration units
- HVAC design and cost estimating
- Environmental regulation
If you enjoy working outside the office, a career as an HVAC technician will take you to homes and businesses where you’ll keep clients warm in winter and cool in summer.
What Are the Benefits of Attending a Vocational School?
Vocational school programs offer many personal, practical, and financial benefits, including:
Career-Focused Learning
Vocational school programs prioritize practical skills, preparing students for the workforce in months, not years. You won’t waste time taking elective courses that won’t make you better at your chosen occupation. Vocational training is ideal for people who can’t spend years in a classroom. You’ll graduate in half the time as your college peers and be qualified for similar jobs.
Relevant Programs
Vocational schools are workforce-focused, training students for in-demand careers. Choose from many different programs in intriguing fields with genuine opportunities.
Small Class Sizes
Going back to school feels awkward for adults. But the smaller class sizes at vocational schools create a more relaxed learning environment. Peers are free to interact, and instructors can spend more one-on-one time with each student. The result is a more personalized learning experience and better educational outcomes.
Certification Preparation
Certification in any industry demonstrates proven skills. Vocational school programs cover the topics graduates need to obtain essential certificates and licenses in their field.
Job Placement Services
Vocational schools partner with local businesses to design programs that meet their needs. They then leverage that relationship to find jobs for their graduates. It’s a win-win for employers who gain access to qualified applicants and for students who want work. Career counselors won’t quit until you get hired.
Final Thoughts
Making a career change is never easy, it’s scary leaving the familiar behind. But vocational school training is an ace in your pocket, a swift and secure transition to a brighter future. It’s never too late to invest in yourself.
CyberTex offers short-term technical training programs at our Austin and Killeen campuses. Medical Assisting and the Network Engineer program are offered at both campuses. The Licensed Vocational Nursing program is exclusively offered at our Austin campus. While the HVAC program is offered at our Killeen campus. We are a student-centric institute that equips students with workplace skills for initial employment, paving the way for desired and financially stable careers.
Contact us today to learn more about our CyberTex campuses in Austin and Killeen.