The Strada-Gallup Education survey has revealed a crisis in confidence among tertiary education students regarding their readiness to launch careers after graduating. They found that only one-third of students believe they have the skills and knowledge to be successful in the workplace, and only about half trust that what they studied will lead to a good job.

The solutions proposed include making education more career-focused, which is exactly what FourthRev is trying to achieve with the launch of our Career Accelerator programmes. That is, facilitating an accelerated, career-focused education where learners are supported by a team of Career Coaches and Success Managers to develop the range of skills they need to secure the most in-demand jobs in today’s digital economy.

10 ways a Career Accelerator can set you up for a successful digital skills career

1) The content is co-designed by academic and industry experts

To strike a balance between the rigour of tertiary education and the relevance of fast-paced industries, we’ve brought together leaders from the world’s best universities, business schools and companies to create course content that will help you make your next career move with confidence. Everything you learn is influenced by decades of research and experience, as well as what is happening today. Through regular collaboration sessions, discussions and revisions as new developments come up, the programme is well-rounded enough that you will learn what you need to get ahead, fast.

The input from industry professionals also ensures that you don’t only learn the technical skills you need to succeed in the workplace. You’ll also learn more about how to apply business thinking and develop the right human skills to be an effective team member.

2) You apply what you learn to practical challenges throughout the programme

Practical application has been woven into all of the course content to bring the concepts you’re learning to life. With the goal of helping you make a real career move at the end of the six months, it’s critical to ensure an alignment between theory and application so that you can visualise how what you’re learning is relevant in the real world.

Throughout the three courses and final project, there will be opportunities to hear from industry experts who are actively applying what you’re learning in their day jobs, ask questions, seek feedback and get your own hands dirty by working on tasks that real businesses face.

3) A dedicated Success Manager works with you to stay on track and achieve your goals

Before the programme even begins, you’ll be matched with your dedicated Success Manager. This person will be your biggest source of support as you navigate the Career Accelerator. They will be available to answer any questions you may have, keep you accountable and actively ensure that you have a positive overall experience.

4) One-on-one career coaching sessions help you plan for long-term career success

As well as having a Success Manager, every Career Accelerator learner has the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a Career Coach. They work with you on a personal level to help you think about what you want to get out of your career, both now and in the future. They’ll help you devise a plan to achieve these goals to help you really maximise your time during the six-month programme.

You can choose how you use your time with your coach and the cadence of your meetings. Some learners prefer to spend more time in the beginning planning how they’re going to tackle their studies, while others prefer to dive into the content and really take advantage of the guidance their coach can provide further down the line when they start actively planning their next career move.

Career Coaches have the knowledge and experience to help with a range of challenges, including goal-setting, addressing burnout and self-doubt issues, constructing stand-out CVs and preparing for interviews, amongst others.

5) You’ll earn a certificate from one of the world’s best educational institutions

Upon completion of the Career Accelerator, you’ll receive a certificate from the university or business school you’ve studied with to recognise your achievements – something that is highly valued by employers.

6) You’ll accumulate a portfolio of real-world evidence employers will find impressive

Everything you work on during the Career Accelerator is linked to a practical example. This is to ensure that you can apply what you learn to a situation you might face in the workplace.

While the structure varies across programmes, the assignments you complete during the coursework are designed to be demonstrable examples of the skills you’ve picked up. The Employer Project, which acts as the capstone for some programmes, gives you the chance to build a business case that is relevant to a real company facing a real challenge. At the end of the six-month programme, you will have a bank of evidence that you can use to impress interviewers if you’re looking for a new job or your current employer if you’re going for a promotion.

7) There will be frequent opportunities to network with your peers and experts in the field

While the programme is hosted online and most of the learning takes place asynchronously, we’ve built in regular opportunities for you to engage with the people you’re learning from. Live lectures happen weekly, and there are regular masterclasses that take place whereby experts give presentations and discussion follows. Working on projects, such as the Employer Project, will also give you the chance to interact with experts in the field, ask questions, pitch your ideas and receive feedback.

You’ll have the opportunity to connect with your peers throughout the programme using the online forum. While it’s not formally organised, we’ve also had learners who live in the same area organise in-person meet-ups, which is a great way to build relationships. 

8) The programme is flexible enough to fit in with your life

Deciding to undertake further studies while already managing other life responsibilities, like working a full-time job or looking after a family, can be a big commitment. Our Career Accelerators require between 12 and 18 hours of dedicated study time per week. Most of the learning you do is asynchronous, which means you can fit these hours in when it suits you best. To ensure that you get important face-to-face time with the people you’re learning from, there are designated live lecture slots every week that you can attend, often taking place over lunchtime or after hours to be as inclusive as possible. If you’re unable to make a session, everything is recorded.

9) There are different payment options available

Not everyone’s financial situation looks the same, so there are several options to pay the Career Accelerator tuition fees. 

• Upfront payment of the full fee
• Six- to nine-month payment plans with no added fees or interest
• The option to seek funding from your employer

Feel free to discuss these options with one of our Enrolment Advisors, and work out a plan that suits you best.

10) You’ll have the option to join a thriving community

We’ve recently launched the Career Accelerator community to keep our learners engaged and connected with each other at the end of the programme. We host our community on Slack and regularly share job posts, upcoming events, relevant articles and insider tips. Our Career Coaches are available every day to answer questions, and community members chat with each other and share useful resources (and GIFs).

Interested in enrolling?

We’re excited to have three Career Accelerators live with more groundbreaking developments coming soon!

If you’re interested in a career in Data Analytics, Product Management or UX Design, our Enrolment Advisors would love to chat with you and share more information. 

• Book a call with an advisor on the King’s UX Design Career Accelerator 
• Book a call with an advisor on the King’s Product Management Career Accelerator
• Book a call with an advisor on the LSE Data Analytics Career Accelerator