Develop your skills and expertise!

Are you thinking of choosing or changing your Head Start job responsibilities? Maybe you have been dreaming about a moving to a different area but don’t know where to start. Perhaps you’re realizing that opportunities for growth are limited. Or, like many in this economy, you may be facing unemployment. Regardless of your reasons, the right career path in Head Start is out there for everyone.  Discover how to find the best career path for you, including finding the courage to realize your strengths and learning new skills.

It's always challenging to consider a change, and there may be many reasons why you may think credentialing or exam taking is not possible. Here are some common obstacles to education advancement:

• It’s too much work to get educated. Where would I ever begin? Advancing your education does require a substantial time investment. However, remember that it does not happen all at once. If you sit down and map out a rough plan of attack, breaking down larger tasks into smaller ones, it is a lot more manageable than you think. And if the payoff is a happier, more successful Head Start career, it’s worth it.
• I’m too old to change careers. I need to stay where I am. If you have worked in Head Start for a number of years, you may feel that you’ve put too much time and effort into your career to change midstream. Or you may be concerned about retirement and job security. However, the more you’ve worked, the more likely you are to have skills you can transfer to a a credential path.  
• I don’t have enough skills to consider credentialing. You may be unaware of the skills you have, or underestimate your ability due to low self esteem. However, you probably have more skills than you think. Consider skills you’ve learned not only from your job but from other Head Start experiences. And being credentialed is not an all or nothing proposition.
• In this economy, I’m lucky to have a job. I don’t want to rock the boat. In today’s climate, it might feel like too much of a risk to consider credentialing. However, if there is funding uncertainty in your current program, other skill attainments will only benefit you in the long run. And you be able to upgrade your current Head Start position.