hired-hero

THEY
GOT HIRED

Meet some local grads
defining success for themselves.

Alan Hidalgo-Lobo

Student at Central Piedmont Community College

The Longleaf grant has changed my life. It has not only helped me out [financially]—but has also motivated me to keep doing better in school. And now I’ll have my associate degree in a year and a half.
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Jon Ferguson

Chief Operations Officer at Chick-Fil-A Wilson

Wilson Community College Grad

My roles at work started to change. I started going into leadership and saw how beneficial school was going to be in my near future.
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Chad Robinson

Assistant Apprenticeship Manager at Siemens Energy

Central Piedmont Community College Grad

The networking I’ve been able to do has been incredible. I’ve had amazing opportunities that I never thought I would be able to have.
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Alexander Blanco

Dental Hygienist at Triangle Family Dentistry

Central Carolina Community College Grad

The opportunities are always there. But it’s up to you to take them… You can definitely improve yourself from where you are now.
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Jared Ballew

Government & Industry Liaison at Drake Software

Southwestern Community College

To have control over my career path over the long haul was a definite advantage for me, starting at a community college.
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Shantal Grullon

Business Transformation Specialist at Lenovo

Wake Tech Community College Grad

I was able to do this. I went to school. I worked. I was able to help my family… The flexibility of it is something that can’t be beat.
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WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING

“Starting your higher education at a community college before transferring to a university is a smart choice that can save a lot of money. What matters to us at APCO is finding talent with relevant skills and experience. It’s not about where you went to school. It’s about bringing an inclusive, empathetic and curious mindset to our team.”

– Courtney Crowder, Managing Director of APCO Raleigh

“North Carolina Community Colleges have helped many of our REALTOR members advance their education. Community Colleges are an invaluable resource for real estate agents and people who want to get into the real estate industry in communities all across the state.”

– Maren Brisson-Kuester, 2020 NC REALTORS® President

“So many of our health professionals have invaluable backgrounds that prepared them to take on the challenges of health care today. When we hire community college grads, we know they have the training and skills that will make them integral to the success of Mission Health.” 

– Sheila Meadows, Regional Vice President of Human Resources, Mission Health & HCA Healthcare North Carolina Division

“North Carolina’s community colleges are essential to train the workforce that businesses rely on. As we partner to bring more companies to North Carolina and build a smarter energy future, community colleges are critical to upgrade workforce skills to meet new job demands.”

– Stephen De May, North Carolina President at Duke Energy

“Despite the pandemic, the construction industry, as an essential business, continues moving ahead with its building, highway-heavy and utility work and there are thousands of great jobs and careers available now. We know at Carolinas AGC that we can depend on the community colleges, including the high bar set by the NC Community College System, to help provide the real-world skills we need.”

– Dave Simpson, President and CEO, Carolinas AGC

“The Siemens Energy Charlotte Hub Apprenticeship Program, in partnership with the NC Community College System and Central Piedmont Community College, are producing some of the most qualified and well trained people in the industry. With the combination of related instruction from the community college, and the on-the-job training at Siemens, we are innovating our workforce for the careers of the future.”

– Roger Collins, Apprenticeship Manager at Siemens Energy

Let’s find the right path for you.

Answer a few questions to see what your best route to getting hired might be.

Have you completed high school or an equivalent?

Nope. I’ve got a few years left.

Do you want to work toward earning a degree?

Yep.

All signs point to you getting a head start on your higher education while you’re still in high school.

That’s because the Career & College Promise program allows you to have duel enrollment, so you can work on both at the same time. And since this program is also tuition free, it’s a real money-saver.

Maybe.

All signs point to you getting a head start on your higher education while you’re still in high school.

That’s because the Career & College Promise program allows you to have duel enrollment, so you can work on both at the same time. And since this program is also tuition free, it’s a real money-saver.

Nope.

Your answers suggest on-the-job learning might be a great way to get your foot in the door.

This type of training combines hands-on learning with related classroom instruction. Apprentices earn money while learning a highly-skilled trade from an employer. State and federal certificates as well as other credentials can also be completed through an apprenticeship.

No.

How do you see community college benefitting you?

By helping me grow my skills.

Looks like your top priority is getting the skills you need fast—so you can land a good job quickly.

Short-term training, sometimes called continuing education, comes in various forms and are all focused on helping you gain the real-world skills you need to get into—or move up in—a number of fields. These courses often lead to state licensure or a certificate upon completion.

By preparing me to start a new career.

Your answers suggest on-the-job learning might be a great way to get your foot in the door.

This type of training combines hands-on learning with related classroom instruction. Apprentices earn money while learning a highly-skilled trade from an employer. State and federal certificates as well as other credentials can also be completed through an apprenticeship.

Yes. (Or at least, I will soon.)

Are you interested in earning college credit?

Yes, definitely.

Which way do you prefer to learn?

Virtually or physically, being part of a class works for me.

How much time are you willing to spend getting an education?

Two years, tops. I’m trying to get done and get a job ASAP.

Seems like you want the opportunities that come with a degree, but in half the time of a bachelor’s. 

Associate degrees are perfect for that. They can give you a big advantage over many non-degree holders in the job market—and open up even more potential positions that were previously out of reach. You’ll have relevant skills employers want in about two years.

I could do four—or more.

Great! Sounds like you plan on using community college as a stepping stone to a four-year university.

Like any associate degree, transfer degrees take about two years to complete—but this one includes general education credits that are easily transferable. It counts the same as having completed two years toward a bachelor’s degree.

I learn best by being hands-on. Just show me how to do it.

Your answers suggest on-the-job learning might be a great way to get your foot in the door.

This type of training combines hands-on learning with related classroom instruction. Apprentices earn money while learning a highly-skilled trade from an employer. State and federal certificates as well as other credentials can also be completed through an apprenticeship.

Nope, I don’t need it.

How do you see community college benefitting you?

By helping me grow my skills.

Looks like your top priority is getting the skills you need fast—so you can land a good job quickly.

Short-term training, sometimes called continuing education, comes in various forms and are all focused on helping you gain the real-world skills you need to get into—or move up in—a number of fields. These courses often lead to state licensure or a certificate upon completion.

 

By preparing me to start a new career.

Looks like your top priority is gaining real-world skills—either through on-the-job learning or continuing education.

Short-term training or an apprenticeship can help you gain the specific skills you need to get into—or move up in—a number of fields. Certificates, licensure and other credentials can be completed through these programs via hands-on learning and/or classroom instruction.

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