Why We'll All Need Career Accelerators In The Future of Work
The types of continous learning that increases the velocity of learning, upskilling, and people development
In a continuously evolving world of work, intentional, proactive and continuous learning is critical for long-term career growth. That’s why I’ve been curious about exploring what I’m calling career accelerators.
Career accelerators are learning, training, and educational offerings that help us get to a new or desired career outcome in a fast manner.
While college/university was the OG Career Accelerator, in today’s fast-moving world of work, being able to sense and respond to new or emergent opportunities makes career accelerators critical to uncovering personal growth or career opportunities for individuals.
The concept of “4 years of college and 40 years of work” has been replaced by “lifelong learning.”
The beauty of this is that companies and organizations of all industries and backgrounds (higher ed, training and learning, startups, non-profits, individual small businesses) realize this, and there are many solutions in market
So how do you know what type of career accelerator is right for you, your team, or your organization?
1) Onramps - Skills, learning, and job-based programs that help early in career talent build skills, reps and connections to a corporate profession, role, or function: Pathstream, SV Academy, Year Up
2 Labs - Hands-on offerings where individuals get coaching, feedback, mentorship or apprenticeship. These are places to learn and experiment in order to improve performance mindset, or unlock new opportunities: Sounding Board, Torch, CoachHub
3) Portals - Just like a portal helps connect you to a “different world,” These programs take you from where you are and open a door to a new world of an industry, role, or function: Pathrise, The Commons, Aspireship
4)Walkways - Programs that take your ambition + desire for growth and provide a guided and accelerated path toward your goal. Ex: Reforge, Section4, Morning Brew
5)Communities - Professional spaces and programs that combine learning, connection, networking and professional development around a specific topic, role, industry or function. These groups bring people together, advance the profession, and fuel opportunities and growth. Ex: URX, Pavilion, Women in Product
6) Ecosystems - Learning and career platforms that offer multiple programs, resources and wrap-around services for learning and career development
Ex: Coursera, Udemy, 2U, Salesforce
Considerations For Employees
If you’re evaluating what kind of career accelerator you need or a leader or manager wondering how you can help your employees, here are some considerations:
What is your desired ambition? - What is the goal or outcome you’re trying to achieve? Each type helps you work towards a different goal or outcome, so start first with figuring out that desired end state.
What is the distance you are going to travel? - Based on your end goal, how far is it from where you are today. Is it to improve where you are today, or is it to move farther away and perhaps into a new role, career or function?
What kind of involvement? - How much time do you want to devote to it, and how much time will the program require? Do you have the ab
Who do you want to go with? - Career development is a team sport - who do you want alongside you on the journey? Is it a coach or guide who has been there before? Is it fellow peers who can relate to your challenges? Is it an instructor who has been in the trenches?
Considerations For Founders and Executives of Learning, EdTech, and Leadership and Development Companies
If you’re a founder or leader at an L&D or training company, here are some things to consider:
What is your source+proof of expertise? - One of the interesting elements of career accelerators is that they are being built by multiple types of businesses (ex: startups, higher-education companies, non-profits, individual businesses) - How are you differentiating and leveraging your value prop around the expertise you have that demonstrates your credibility with your customers?
How do “proof points” and successful outcomes fuel growth? - If you’re program or offering is delivering on your stated outcome, how are you capturing that to drive growth of new customers or growth within existing customers
How do you connect your customer with other customers? - Learning and Careers are team sports and inherently connected. Figuring out ways to make relationship building a part of your program, offering or experience not only improves the program, but also helps you fuel brand advocacy and customer acquisition
If you’re building a career accelerator or have gone through one I would love to hear from you!