Career Development Blog

Starting a new career can be intimidating. You may doubt your ability to learn a new skill or that there will be companies and people out there who are willing to give you a chance. This process can be even more daunting when you have a disability, such as hearing loss. One of Ms. Melodie's students Danielle found herself in that situation when she started her training program with New Horizons. She along with Ms. Melodie's colleague Patricia shared some helpful tips for students who may be navigating job training and getting a job with hearing loss. 

It is important for adults to learn computers and computer applications because these skills are really used in the workforce. Many students always ask me, "Am I really going to use this?" But people really do use these computer application lessons on the job. It is especially a delight as an instructor to have someone in my class who has done it the hard way before. Because once you've done it the hard way and you realize that there's a better way, it's like, 'Yes, I would save hours if I had done it this way.' One of those students is Shanon Pascual who came on the podcast to share her experience learning computer applications after working in the government space. But she wasn't really excited about the programs in the beginning.

When taking computer training, you may be asking how to succeed in an online class if you aren't familiar with a computer to begin with. Not to worry. There are 3 best practices that students can do for themselves to help facilitate career education training online. Mia Gwyn, a fellow New Horizons instructor, helped me expand on these personal practices for your learning environment.

You don't need a lot of fancy and expensive computer equipment for online computer classes. There are a few basic pieces you do need for computer class success. But, as my colleague Mia Gwyn shares, a lot of these you can find for under $100. Mia, a fellow New Horizons instructor, helped me write some of these tips to help give you what you need to be successful in an online class.

You may be worried about holding up the class with your questions, but your job in a career training class is to ask questions sooner than later. You know that there's no reason to be nervous in the classroom, but now you're wondering, 'Does everyone have the same questions I do?' When you stop to ask questions, does it hold up the class? If you ask right away, no, it doesn't. Here's why.