What To Be
What To Be is radio show and podcast hosted by Your Future Is Our Business, a Santa Cruz non-profit that helps students explore careers. Listen to interviews that highlight the careers of inspirational people in Santa Cruz County and learn what their jobs are really like!
The American Red Cross Rotational Program
The American Red Cross Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Rotational Program is a three-year development program designed to offer recent MBA, MPA, MA, and MPP graduates a paid, full-time employment opportunity that leads to mission-critical positions within the organization.
BizzNEST
Students with DigitalNEST can start their career at BizzNEST; a team young creatives and professionals providing budget-friendly web design, video, graphic design and photography services for local businesses. Students have access to the latest software and camera equipment to deliver quality marketing services at below market rates.
Looker Certification
Looker offers certification exams for LookML Developer (LookML code development, maintenance, troubleshooting, caching policies, and data modeling best practices) and Looker Business Analyst (Looker report development, data visualization, and dashboard best practices). Exams can be taken in-person at a testing center with a proctor, or online with a proctor via a computer camera to ensure the integrity of the exam. By becoming Looker Certified, you’ll stand out as an expert within the data community, showcase your Looker knowledge, and expand your resume with proven skills.
Cabrillo College Community Health Worker Certificate
Cabrillo College’s newly launched Community Health Worker (CHW) Program trains and certifies students to work in the fields of public health, health care, and social services. You can earn a Certificate of Achievement in as few as two semesters! Job opportunities are expanding for these front line health professionals, with the majority of growth being in public health departments and community-based organizations.
Early Childhood Education Careers
There is a wide range of careers in this field that can allow you to work in a variety of different settings. Click the button to view a guide of Early Childhood Education Careers, which provides information about different career paths and the occupations within them – including the skills, education, and training you’ll need, as well as the salary you might earn.
Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) Program
The Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) is an eight-month remote internship program for U.S. citizen students, college-level and above, who would like to make a real difference in the work of the U.S. government. Since 2009, thousands of eInterns have expanded the efforts of the U.S. government, working remotely from their school, dorm room, apartment, local library or coffee shop – wherever they happen to be! Virtual interns work only on unclassified projects
Trucking Careers
Both Michael’s Transportation Services and Truck Driver Institute in Watsonville, CA provide training for Class A Commercial Driver License (CDL).
Tri-County Electrical Joint Apprenticeship
The Tri-County Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) is a jointly administered program by the Monterey Bay California Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 234.
Tesla START Student Automotive Technician Program
Tesla START is an intensive training program designed to provide students across North America with the skills necessary for a successful career with Tesla—at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution. During the program, students will develop technical expertise and earn certifications through a blended approach of in-class theory, hands-on labs and self-paced learning.
Teach California
Teach California is designed to recruit individuals to the profession of teaching, explain the teacher preparation process, assist prospective teachers in creating their plan to become credentialed teachers, provide relevant content, partner with related public and non-profit entities, and offer links to important resources.
Watsonville Institute of Cosmetology
Offering courses in becoming a licensed cosmetologist, nail tech, esthetician, or cosmetology instructor, Watsonville Institute of Cosmetology has a physical facility offering spacious class and training areas, modern training equipment, and all the conveniences for the comfort conducive to the pleasant attainment of knowledge.
Watsonville, Aptos, Santa Cruz Adult Education
Watsonville, Aptos, Santa Cruz Adult Education (WASCAE) provides Career Technical Education Programs with high employment potential for adult learners.
UC Santa Cruz Teaching MA/Credential Program
UC Santa Cruz MA/Credential Program prepares future teachers in Multiple Subjects teaching credential program, Single Subject teaching credential program in the following areas: Social Sciences, Mathematics, English, & Science. The program also offers Bilingual Authorization (in Spanish).
Northern California Tile Industry Training Center
The Northern California Tile Industry Training Center offers professional education and quality training in ceramic, glass, porcelain and stone tile installations for the tile craft workers. Journeymen apprenticeship programs in Tile Layers and Tile Finishers are offered.
Center for Employment Training
Get trained for a career you’ll love. Center for Employment Training (CET) teaches you the skills needed to land a job in your chosen field. They provide the training and support to help students of all backgrounds succeed in work and life. With locations in Watsonville, Salinas, and Soledad, you can find 13 training programs in the Monterey Bay region.
Health Workforce Initiative
The purpose of the Health Workforce Initiative (HWI) is to identify health care workforce needs and cultivate solutions. The role of the HWI is to facilitate a community college response to workforce needs. The site includes an interactive map for students to find health career programs and an inventory of regional programs.
Carpenters Training Committee for Northern California
The Carpenters Training Committee for Northern California (CTCNC) is the educational organization that provides Apprentice, Journey-level, and related training services for Union Carpenters and Union Contractors across the 46 Northern California Counties.
Career Technical Education Partnership of Santa Cruz County
The Santa Cruz County Career Technical Education Partnership (CTEP) provides students with the opportunity to acquire career training and technical skills that prepare them for success in a changing workplace and continuing education. CTEP, a Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredited program of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education offered in cooperation with county high school districts and the local business community provides job training for youth 16 and older and some adults (currently restricted to a few programs).
Goodwill Central Coast Culinary Arts Program
Are you looking to gain valuable work skills in the food industry? The Culinary Arts Program teaches students a variety of culinary techniques, preparing you for jobs in all phases of food production. Curriculum includes ServSafe Certification from the National Restaurant Association — a mandatory certificate for all food service establishments.
Careers in Climate Control Technology
Careers in Climate Control Technology are also known under the abbreviation HVAC/R, which stands for heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration. Occupations involve designing, selling, installing, servicing, and repairing HVAC/R systems in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. This website provides an interactive map, information about the industry, training, resources and more.
Defib Academy Emergency Medical Technician
Defib This! in Santa Cruz offers Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course to provide students with an academic and working knowledge to successfully pass the NREMT exam, and become state certified to provide basic life support patient care. The course provides the basic concepts of emergency care needed to function as an EMT. This class will be helpful for other healthcare fields and is a prerequisite for the Paramedic course.
Cal Apprenticeships
A union apprenticeship is an excellent career choice if you like to work with your hands; have dexterity, mechanical ability, problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a team; want to earn a living wage and good benefits, and want the opportunity to advance in your career.
Cabrillo College Computer Information Systems
Cabrillo College offers degrees in Computer Networking System Administration (CNSA) and Computer Support Specialist (CSS), and various certificates including a Cybersecurity Fundamentals certificate.
Cabrillo College Information Technology Apprenticeships
Cabrillo is partnering with the Department of Labor and regional employers with Information Technology needs to provide registered apprenticeships for students pursuing careers in IT, Cyber Security, and Web Development.
Cabrillo College Business Information Worker (BIW) Pathway
Every office needs a computer applications expert, and it can be you! Earn a Business Information Worker certificate in only two semesters, and start your career.
Cabrillo College Health Science & Medical Career Pathway
This pathway teaches the skills and knowledge students need to pursue a full range of career opportunities in health science and medical technology, from entry-level to management as well as technical and professional career specialties.
California Conservation Corps
California Conservation Corps Corpsmembers receive training and experience that sets them apart. Training is both formal (instructional) and informal (on-the-job). Corpsmembers routinely work closely with – and receive on-the-job training – from supervisors at agencies like CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, Caltrans, State Parks, and the National Park Service. Additionally, supervisors at private companies oversee Corpsmembers working on electrical, construction, and specialized CCC projects.
Bay Area Manufacturing Careers
There are over 200,000 manufacturing jobs in the Bay Area, encompassing a wide range of careers — including industrial maintenance, machining, welding, HVAC, electronics, and many others. With good pay, benefits, and opportunities for advancement, it’s an excellent career for those with the right training and motivation.
Bricklayers & Allied Crafts Local 3 Apprenticeships
The Bricklayers and Allied Crafts Local No. 3 offers multiple apprentice training programs. After completion of one of the apprenticeship programs, students will receive a certificate from the United States Department of Labor, the State of California Division of Apprenticeship Standards and also from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.
Apprentice Brigade
Apprentice Brigade provides comprehensive work-based training opportunities and IT Tech apprenticeships. As a Santa Cruz County employer for over a decade, their collection of tech companies provide employment in the areas of both Computer Science and Computer Information Systems.
CA Community Colleges Guided Pathways
Multi-year state program designed to provide all CA Community Colleges with the opportunity to implement Guided Pathways for the purpose of significantly improving student outcomes.