NON-TRADITIONAL CAREER PATHS DIGITAL CAREERS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP By Latisha Grady | Freelance Digital Marketer

TIMES ARE A-CHANGING Vocational/specialized education is making a huge comeback. New name is career technical education (CTE). While traditional college is still valuable, employers/clients are looking for specialized skills and problem solvers—critical thinkers, NOT skilled test takers.

Digital Is The Future: Can You Compete? According to The Boston Consulting Group, the United States is the leading economic power in the world and the sixth in terms of the digital economy. The quality of a country’s digital environment helps to support strong economic growth. If the United States wishes to maintain its place, it will need to continue developing its digital economy.

Traditional education cost rising University studies in the United States are very expensive and prevent some students from receiving a top-rate education. As of the end of 2014, the total of U.S. student loans amounts to 1,160 billion dollars (source: New York Federal Reserve) Approximately 40 million Americans have contracted a student loan for an average sum of $30,000; this staggering figure is resulting from the dramatic increase in higher education tuition costs. (source: U.S. Department of Education) www.goodbyebroke.com

New Avenues to Get Education Udacity—NanoDegrees General Assembly 42 (e.g. coding camps with peer-to-peer, mentor-to-peer, or project based learning, some even TUITION FREE) Continuing Education via industry conferences

What Do I Do I am self-employed. I am an aspiring entrepreneur. I am a freelance SEO copywriter/digital marketer. I am self-employed. I am an aspiring entrepreneur. Self-employment often (not always) begin path to entrepreneurship. The Difference www.digitalret.com

A Digital Marketer I help professionals and companies convey their value to customers. I help businesses get found by their target customers. I do this through creating digital assets like website, copywriting (slogans, taglines), SEO, video, audio, social media management etc. (e.g. show work)

I am growing as a T-Shaped Marketer

What Talents/Skills Are Needed? Creativity/Ideas Computer Literacy Interest in learning new software and application If you are artistic draw or graphic design Good writer/persuasive communicator Computer program (not required but good)

Related Careers UX Design (visual and non) SEO Specialist Content Marketer/Manager Social Media Manager Entry Level Salaries ($40-60k)

How to Get Started 10 Tips for Digital Marketer Top Digital Jobs In Demand | How To Prepare

Working Conditions Mental Energies/Creativity Flexible (Freelance or Employee) Most satisfying perks are flexibility—work from anywhere, compensation, and continuing education to stay fresh (e.g. travel to conferences can be fun).

Required Education Proven skill and experience can outweigh a formal degree. Although, it is very helpful to have completed college in a related field. But not always necessary—as a freelancer. Moreso, if you want to work for a traditional company.

DREAM BIG: POSSIBILITIES TEEN MILLIONAIRES STORIES 10 Self-Made Millionaires Young Entrepreneurs –8 Teen Millionaires

Fiverr- those with graphic design skills Blogger Ways You Can Get Started Today, If You Are Creative, Courageous, Expressive Fiverr- those with graphic design skills Blogger Social Media Manager for Small Biz Web Designer (e.g. learn WordPress) Not limited to just Jones County. Clients can be anywhere.

NEXT…In Closing… I want to present on ways to get through college debt free. Want to help you avoid my mistake and why I’m on my www.goodbyebroke.com debt freedom journey. Introduce you to Podcasting.

YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES! YOU CAN DO THIS! LEH’ GO! THANK YOU! DREAM BIG! YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES! YOU CAN DO THIS! LEH’ GO! THANK YOU!