Jared Ballew

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

Southwestern Community College

Government & Industry Liaison at Drake Software

Jared Ballew chose Southwestern Community College (SCC) for several reasons. He planned to work full time during college, and SCC offered him a flexible class schedule and an affordable education in his chosen field— information technology.

Jared graduated in 2007 with an associate degree in network administration and support, as well as a Cisco Certified Network Associate certification in routing and switching—credentials earned through a tuition reimbursement program from his employer, Drake Software, one of the nation’s largest tax software firms. He eventually received a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from East Carolina University.

Along the way, Jared rose to become government and industry liaison at Drake, and now serves on several national cybersecurity panels, including the Security Summit and the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee, which advises the IRS on combatting identity theft and tax refund fraud.

Attending SCC was one of the best decisions Jared says he’s ever made. There, he took advantage of small classes, online options and multiple campus locations near his company in Franklin, NC. “What I would tell students today is that many businesses are looking for students that have the knowledge, and who have the ability to apply themselves to a specific task,” Jared said. “It’s not necessarily about the level of the degree, but about being able to know the tools to do the job. I think community colleges do that really well.”

Jared has seen firsthand how community colleges connect students with local businesses, giving them opportunities for in-demand jobs. His course credits transferred easily to a four-year university, and he was able to build his career while he was at SCC.

“It provided a great foundation and a great pivot point for me to decide what I was going to do, what I was interested in,” Jared reflected. “To have control over my career path over the long haul was a definite advantage for me, starting at a community college.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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