In a world where things move at lightning speed, just coasting on your current skills won’t cut it anymore. Especially for Black professionals—whether you’re a millennial hustling for a promotion or Gen Xer looking to pivot into new industries—upskilling is the key to leveling up. It’s not just about staying in the game; it’s about dominating it. Learning new skills doesn’t just set you up for the next step; it helps you rise, thrive and own your space—especially in fields where we’re still pushing for more representation. Whether you want to transition into leadership , explore new industries or simply sharpen your expertise, upskilling gives you the power to reshape your career path. And for Black professionals, this journey isn’t just about stacking up certificates—it’s about busting down doors where diversity still lags. Why UC Berkeley Extension is the Move for Your Next Chapter When it comes to upskilling, UC Berkeley Extension offers certificates that will help you thrive in...

Major corporations are beginning to launch more initiatives geared toward upskilling underserved and overlooked workers in America. The latest to join the movement is SoftBank Group International, who’s backing data science market leader Correlation One’s newest initiative. Today Correlation One announced that SoftBank is supporting their company’s Data Science for All / Empowerment (DS4A / Empowerment) program, a new ambitious effort designed to help prepare job-seekers from underserved communities to pursue data science careers. The program was designed to directly address the talent and equity gaps that exist in STEM fields, which have been historically closed off for many minority groups. This snowball gatekeeping-effect has lead to significant underrepresentation of women and non-white individuals in science, but Correlation One is now looking to reverse that. DS4A / Empowerment’s goal is to train at least 10,000 people from these underrepresented communities, prioritizing...

It’s said that growth comes with change. And when it comes to your career, a shift, pivot or upskilling might just be the key to unlocking your full potential. If you are ready to take your career to the next level this year, these new career-ready options from UC Berkeley Extension may be right for you. Career-focused, flexible and accessible, these educational options are tailored for Black professionals, millennials and non-traditional students. They are designed to meet you where you are, whether you’re looking to upskill, switch careers or simply grow in your current role. Here are three standout offerings from UC Berkeley Extension that can help you achieve your professional goals. UC Excelerator: Accelerate Your Career Potential Unlock new opportunities with the Career Exploration Award ! Designed for individuals who have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree, this award empowers those who’ve faced challenges like financial hurdles, social barriers or other adversities in...

Economic challenges often force companies to make tough decisions about their workforce, with “furlough” and “layoff” being two terms frequently mentioned. While both terms involve disruptions to employment, they carry different implications for employees and businesses. Understanding these differences is crucial for navigating uncertain times and planning the next steps effectively. What Is A Furlough? A furlough is a temporary, unpaid leave of absence initiated by an employer. Unlike a layoff, a furlough allows employees to remain on the company’s payroll, maintaining their employment status even though they are not actively working or receiving pay. The key feature of a furlough is its temporary nature, as it is typically used when a company expects to bring employees back once conditions improve. Employees on furlough often retain access to certain benefits, such as health insurance, depending on company policies and the length of the furlough. Employers use furloughs to manage...

AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 was in Houston, TX, from Nov. 13 to 17 — and on Day 3, LinkedIn hosted an Executive Stage session titled “The Path Forward: Adapting Amidst Rapid Tech.” Career expert Drew McCaskill and technology leader Bef Ayenew led the panel to discuss artificial intelligence’s transformative impact on jobs, teams, and companies. With 1.1 billion members leveraging LinkedIn for career growth, knowledge sharing, skill development, and community building, many have already enhanced their profiles with AI skills . “We’ve seen 140x in times in LinkedIn members globally adding AI skills to their LinkedIn profiles. That’s 140x increase in people adding those skills,” McCaskill said. “70% of companies are reporting that they’re using AI already at work. If you think about it like this, 25% of the skills needed for the jobs that all of us do and have been doing for the past eight years have changed.” “So even if you’re not changing jobs, your jobs are changing on you,” he...

Just starting your career? Many programs look similar at first, but they have important differences that can shape your future. Knowing which one is right for you can help you boost your skills and get a jumpstart in your dream job. In this article, we’ll break down internships versus externships, point out how they differ and give you some handy tips for picking the program that matches your career goals. Internships ogichobanov This program lets career newbies take on roles within a company to gain experience in that field, potentially as a future career. While the tasks given to interns are meant to train them, they may end up with less work or share tasks with others. More time in a specific role may be spent on getting feedback or reviewing how things are done. Interns may either report to a specific supervisor or help out different team members, depending on what the role requires. Sometimes, interns might end up doing administrative tasks that don’t directly relate to the...

Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. The tech industry has been experiencing a wave of layoffs, with many companies citing economic uncertainty and restructuring as the reasons. However, this trend has disproportionately affected Black tech professionals, who are already underrepresented in the industry. According to a report by Layoffs.fyi, Black employees are 1.5 times more likely to be laid off than their white counterparts.. In this article, we’ll explore the challenges faced by Black tech professionals in the current job market and provide guidance on how to stay resourceful and adaptable in the ever-changing tech landscape. The Rise of Layoffs for Black Tech Professionals The recent layoffs have been particularly devastating for Black tech professionals, who have worked hard to break into the industry. Some of the most notable layoffs include: Twitter’s layoffs, which affected 25% of its Black employees. Meta’s layoffs, which...

Written by: Carolynne Mims Christoff In a world where professional landscapes are ever-evolving, the pursuit of continuous learning has become more than just a choice; it’s a strategic move. For Black professionals navigating their career paths, staying ahead of the curve is not only a testament to resilience, but a key to unlocking unprecedented success. We all know there’s really no such thing as a “traditional career trajectory” anymore. Between the exponential speed at which technological advances keep changing every aspect of our work and lives and the way the market keeps shifting to keep up, professionals are recognizing the need to upskill continuously. UC Berkeley Extension is leading the way with this movement, offering a gateway to achievement through professional certificates and continuing education courses . The days of relying solely on a degree are a wrap. Instead, we are walking into an era in which specialized knowledge and skills hold the key to career...