Upskilling
Overview

Forget the Career Ladder—Forge Your Own Path

Looking for a job in Northern Virginia? We’re here to help connect you with top employers throughout the region in a range of fields, from tech to sales to nursing.

Today’s employees will make five to seven career changes over their working lives – and Northern Virginia is the center of modern career opportunity. Whether you simply need a change of pace or have yet to discover your passion, you can safely take the leap in Northern Virginia thanks to our ample resources dedicated to helping people upskill, retrain or switch industries altogether. Access resources below to help you get started with your job search.

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Top 25 In-Demand Occupations

(12,071) Software Developers, Applications
(5,367) Managers, All Other
(4,631) Computer Systems Engineers & Architects
(4,090) Information Security Analysts
(3,732) Registered Nurses
(3,155) Sales Representatives, Wholesale & Manufacturing
(2,966) Retail Salespersons
(2,936) Management Analysts
(2,455) Secretaries & Administrative Assistants
(2,435) Network & Computer Systems Administrators
(2,255) Human Resources Specialists
(2,139) Computer User Support Specialists
(2,109) Computer Systems Analysts
(2,095) Information Technology Project Managers
(1,959) Web Developers
(1,875) Database Administrators
(1,818) Customer Service Representatives
(1,763) Retail Supervisors
(1,642) Security Guards
(1,602) Sales Managers
(1,410) Software Quality Assurance Engineers & Testers
(1,332) Accountants
(1,302) General & Operations Managers
(1,262) Computer Network Architects
(1,242) Financial Analysts

Digital Technology Credential

Are you a student considering a career in tech? Gain in-demand capabilities to get the most out of your field of study with this credential program designed in partnership with Capital Region universities and preeminent businesses.

capitalcolab.com

The Path to Tech or Cybersecurity Career

Looking to get into tech? College students can apply for Capital CoLAB’s Digital Technology Credential, which allows students to learn essential tech skills while in school, and graduate qualified for tech jobs in the Capital Region, which have a median salary of $104,300.

SANS Institute, a leading provider of security training and certification, holds numerous training events throughout the year (both in-person and virtually) in Northern Virginia. Security University, SecureNinja and The Academy of Computer Education are just a few other local resources to get trained up in this in-demand occupation. It’s never too late to change your career trajectory. Come be a part of something brand new and cutting-edge—we’ll help you get there.

Jumpstart Your Career

Northern Virginia is ripe with resources to help you jumpstart or elevate your career whether you’re entry-level or senior in your field.

Virginia Career Works – Northern Region offers job seekers everything from career coaching to comprehensive assessments and skills upgrading. FastForward offers a variety of credential training programs that will make hire-ready in no time. Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) offers online programs to help you earn a degree or upskill from home.

For more on Northern Virginia’s top-tier colleges and universities, visit our Higher Education page.