Today’s world gives you a whole range of possibilities. Colleges, universities, trade schools, not to mention the number of different courses you can take everywhere – it’s great that there are so many choices, but it’s no wonder that sometimes you can feel a little bit overwhelmed. There’s one more option, that’s gaining popularity right now and rightly so – the so-called vocational education, also known as Career and Technical Education, can get you places these days. Why should you at least consider choosing vocational courses over a regular university? Here are 5 main reasons.
- Hands-on training
There’s a lot more of doing than talking when it comes to vocational education. Students get to put theory into practice very quickly, which is more effective than sitting in the classroom and listening all the time. What’s more, not everyone can become a vocational teacher. All of them are required to get a certificate IV in training and assessment, as well as have experience in working in the field they teach. So you learn from people who actually know their craft and you learn it by doing it under the supervision of professors and actual off-campus employers.
- Time
Most vocational courses last much shorter than making an ordinary university or college degree. The gist is to make a craftsman out of you in the shortest possible period of time, that’s why there’s so much practice. Some programs can last up to two years of learning, while others end after only six months. Thanks to that, vocational courses are usually much cheaper than different degrees, because they simply are shorter.
- Job opportunities
The main reason why vocational education gains popularity these days is the high rate of employment among graduates. There’s a high demand for educated people with certain skills in the fields like technology, business, medical assisting, HVAC, agriculture, craftsmanship or mechanics. What vocational schools are doing is they contact companies and employers of many different fields in the area to see what they seek in general. Then, they try to adjust their courses and curriculum to these specific demands. Thanks to that, their graduates don’t have to worry that their diploma is a waste of time; employers actually prefer workers with vocational training, because then, they don’t have to provide it, like in the case of college graduates. Besides, the offer of vocational schools is so diversified that it’s very likely that you’ll find something that suits you best and can be profitable in the future.
- Skills
You don’t only learn a useful and demanded trade, you learn only what you really need to know. Many regular university students complain that they have to study a lot and they learn things that won’t be of any use. This kind of problem doesn’t exist in a vocational school. Students learn to be professionals and when they graduate, they’re experts in their area with no fear for the quality of their performance. The classes are much smaller in size, so the training is very individual and thorough. What’s more, vocational schools teach a whole range of skills needed while looking for a job and to work well in a team, e.g. resume, interview and communication skills.
- Flexibility
Vocational courses are more flexible than others because you can attend them whenever you like, also in the evenings or part-time; some are even available online so there’s no need to turn your life upside down. You don’t have to wait the whole year if you make your decision later than the regular university students. What’s more, if it turns out that you chose a wrong course, it’s less complicated to change it to something you may actually like.
There are many things you can choose from, so it’s important to consider what you really want in life. If you’re still not sure, just like many other people, you don’t need to worry – vocational education can still give you skills you can use in the future, but it’s also not so time-consuming, so you can take it to reconsider your career. It doesn’t matter if you just graduated from high-school or you already work professionally, but you want to learn something new. Vocational education ensures stability and peace because you’ll always be able to find a job. So even if you change your mind, your time won’t be wasted.