It’s that time of year again: the time when millions of Americans strive to become better and happier people by making New Year’s resolutions. If you’re motivated to take serious steps in this direction, starting a new career can be one of the best ways to start a successful new year. Unlike often-short-lived resolutions to eat better and exercise or travel more, it can also be one of the most lasting and rewarding ways to change your life for the better. The first step toward a new (professional) you is to get the right training for the job you want.

To get started, you have a few options: you can begin an internship, get an associate’s or college degree, or complete a career or technical college program. However, if you’re looking for the fastest and most cost-effective path to qualifying for a new profession, you can also enroll in career training programs at a community career center near you. These centers offer not only job training, but information about in-demand jobs and upcoming recruiting events as well as workshops that can help you with the job application and interview processes.

Here are just a few of the professional fields you can enter with a high-quality career training program:

• IT support and services. The IT support sector encompasses a wide variety of roles, and with continued experience and training, you can enjoy plenty of upward mobility in this field. If you love computers, networks, cybersecurity, and helping people, a technology training program may be all you need to jumpstart your career. Consider training to become an IT or help desk support technician, junior systems engineer, network support specialist, IT consultant, or one of many other roles. 
• Health Care. If you’ve always wanted to work in the medical field, but thought the only way in required long years of expensive college and residency programs, think again. Career training programs can help you get valuable entry-level experience as a certified nursing assistant, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, and more. Some employers may offer further training programs or tuition assistance to help you become even more qualified and successful as a healthcare worker.

• Culinary arts. Particularly in the wake of the pandemic, Americans are keen to get out again and enjoy new international cuisines and elevated versions of national comfort foods. A culinary arts program can train you to become a prep cook, junior chef, station chef, food production manager, baker, or purchasing or restaurant manager. If you love feeding people delicious, nutritious food, now may be the time to follow your passion into a lucrative career—with plenty of expected job growth. 

• Working with your hands and building things can be just as financially rewarding as it is satisfying. A career training program in construction can prepare you for roles related to carpentry, drywall, ironwork, electrical and plumbing systems, and more. In addition to qualifying for in-demand jobs, you’ll get to skip the desk job and office clothes in favor of a casual work wardrobe and plenty of action.
• Building and property maintenance. Building and property maintenance is another great industry that allows you to stay active and comfortable as you keep your place of work in good (and safe) working order. By getting the training you need to become a building, facility, or property maintenance technician, you can combine craft work with other skills to clean, install, maintain, or repair almost anything. There are plenty of opportunities to upskill and progress in this field as well.

Get High-Quality Career Training With JobTrain

You can get the training you need to qualify for many rewarding careers. If you live near Silicon Valley in Northern California, you can visit one of JobTrain’s four affiliated centers to get started.

JobTrain is an accredited educational and training institution that transforms lives and communities in Silicon Valley. We help people reclaim their lives from low income and unemployment by preparing them for successful, sustainable careers in high-demand and emerging fields. Check out our career training pathways to get started on the path to a high-quality job in a field that excites you.

Each of JobTrain’s programs combines vocational training, academics, and essential skills development, preparing students to turn their lives around. Learn more at JobTrainWorks.org.