>>Narrator: How do I know which path is best for me?

Is it possible to take on these challenges and obstacles?

Where do I even start?

What should I do with my life?

Sometimes, the only way to find out is to go see what's possible Since 2001, we've been sharing the stories of people who ventured out and explored different career paths and different possibilities for their futures.

This is one of those stories.

This is Roadtrip Nation.

>> Garrett: Job market is rough, layoffs happened, and I'm still unemployed.

That's been frustrating.

>> Avery: I have anxiety, primarily about money, but also like, man, what if I pick the wrong thing?

>> Petra: What do I wanna do?

Is there access for me?

>> Garrett: There's a lot of gatekeeping.

>> Petra: None of us have four-year degrees.

So we're talking to people who are shifting how we think about skills.

>> Garrett: Gaining skills in a non-traditional way.

>> Avery: Things like certifications, internships, or mentoring, things like that.

>> Garrett: Redefining their skills is the only option.

[MUSIC] >> Avery: My resume is very limited, it's all restaurant-based, and I'm trying to find something that's not in the restaurant industry and discover myself.

>> Garrett: So I have completed 200 applications, which is a lot, and I'm still unemployed, and that's been frustrating.

>> Avery: I'm looking for a career, but I just want to do all the options, and that's just not realistic.

Cuz there's only like so much time.

>> Petra: I think we're all on the same journey.

>> Avery: We're capable of more.

We all want to put that more out there and figure out what that more is.

>> Garrett: Yeah, absolutely.

>> Petra: And we're actually ready to take this step to do that.

>> Avery: Yeah.

>> Petra: Yeah.

>> Avery: I've never been to California before, so I'm pretty excited.

>> Petra: We're about to go on a journey.

We're meeting up with professionals to help us showcase the skills that we already do have.

Then we're gonna go back to our hometowns and do our own interviews.

So first, we're gonna talk to Dr. Rita Fennelly Atkinson, she's the director of micro-credentials at Digital Promise.

She's also a fellow Latina, so she understands the struggle.

>> Avery: What she's doing, helping people who are systematically excluded, I'm a part of systematically [LAUGH] excluded people.

So I think that's very admirable.

[MUSIC] >> Petra: My name is Petra, I'm 39.

So I've been serving now for 20 years, but now I'm faced with trying to figure out and discover myself and see what else is out there.

>> Rita: Awesome.

>> Petra: So can you introduce yourself to us?

>> Rita: Yes, so my name is Rita, and I'm so excited to hear about all the spaces that you're in your life right now, and that's basically what my passion is.

I'm a first generation Latina, I really didn't know how to navigate a lot of things.

The hard part was, I joined the military so I could get an education, and not just graduated college, but went all the way through and had a doctoral degree.

And when I finished my degree, this role opened up, I went for it, I honestly thought that I did not have a chance.

But lo and behold, here I am in this role, and I love it.

>> Garrett: One of the main themes for this project is skills and redefining skills, I don't have a college education, I don't have anything there, how do I showcase more beyond college education?

>> Rita: One of the things that I notice, especially when I'm screening resumes, is that a lot of people focus on their job description and not the skills that they have attained.

For example, what was your first job ever?

>> Petra: [LAUGH] >> Garrett: I was a host at a restaurant, Perkins, making 7.25 an hour.

>> Rita: [LAUGH] Okay, is that job on your resume?

>> Garrett: No.

[LAUGH] >> Rita: Okay, but did you learn some skills in that job that you still use today?

>> Garrett: Absolutely, absolutely, because I'm managing the different section of the restaurant, the guests that are there, as well as the servers.

Yeah, I would call it project management.

>> Rita: Yeah, so you have left off a lot of skills [LAUGH] that you learned in your resume.

And I'm pretty sure all of us can talk about jobs where we learn skills and they're not necessarily represented on our resume.

But especially with technology that we have, there's so many ways that we can capture what we know how to do without college degrees.

For example, in the work that I do, we focus on competency based micro-credentials.

And micro-credentials, it could be a document, it could be a presentation, it could be a video, it could be audio, a reference.

And what's great about it is that you can just show your evidence that you can do it.

And then you get a digital badge, which we call a credential, and you can share it on your resume, or with an employer, or on your LinkedIn profile, and they help you tell your story.

So, like you were saying how you've worked in some retail, you don't wanna just go to another retail place, right?

You wanna shift to a different field, but there's a lot of skills that you've learned that are completely transferable to other fields.

So now you have to tell your story of what you can do and how you're gonna be able to do it in that environment.

Our stories are very big, and they have a lot of pieces.

It's kind of like there's a lot of stuff in your house, but when you have company over, right?

[LAUGH] You hide certain things, [LAUGH] and you put certain things out, right?

[LAUGH] So you don't have to tell the entire story, you need to basically learn how to tell the story of who you are and what you can do.

Not what you have done, but what you can do.

[MUSIC] >> Petra: She's an amazing woman.

>> Garrett: The energy she brought and her personality clicked with right away.

>> Avery: She definitely let us know that a four-year degree is something, but it's not everything, your skills is what's everything, like, can you do the job?

>> Petra: It just made me wanna do more.

Don't stop, just keep going.

[MUSIC] >> Petra: Garrett, Avery, and I have been together for the past few days, and now we get to go to our hometowns to interview people with our own interests in mind.

[MUSIC] >> Petra: We're in Placentia, California, a small little quaint town, not much going on.

So I've been in the service industry for more than 20 years.

I moved up along the ranks quickly.

I've always enjoyed meeting people, I love making people's day.

[MUSIC] >> Petra: Straight after high school, the plan was to go to college, and then while working, I met someone, we got married and had a kid.

And then he was already cheating on me at the time and then broke it off.

So that kind of changed my trajectory of my life.

So school just went on the back burner, and my life just became about family and my son.

I feel like my son kind of leads me sometimes with how big his heart is, I want him to be proud of who I am.

And now that my son's older, I'm faced with the reality that I have time on my hands now to see what my next steps are gonna be.

And I still have half my life to live and I wanna explore what else is out there.

Which is why I'm excited to meet the leaders, I just feel like this is gonna change my life.

[MUSIC] >> Petra: So I get to go and interview Maddie, she was in the restaurant industry for quite some time and decided to start up her own mobile cocktail business.

So she pops up at weddings and corporate events.

She's a single mom too, and I'm curious to hear about what made her make that call to switch her life up a little bit.

I would love to own a mobile bar business.

>> Madeline: My name is Maddie, I started Nomad Cocktail Co five years ago.

>> Petra: What are we making today?

>> Madeline: This is a riff on a margarita.

I've also worked in the restaurant food and beverage industry for over 12 years now.

I'm also a single mother, and similar situation, when my kids were around the age that your son is now, I felt freedom to explore some other options.

I went back to school, I hated it.

>> Petra: [LAUGH] >> Madeline: Not a school person, and I never went back.

And then I just could not stop daydreaming about this mobile bar.

So, yeah, here we are five years in.

>> Petra: How much did it take to get started?

>> Madeline: So, I was still working in the bar while I was doing the camper build out and I saved $10,000.

Okay, I can do this, I can pay off everything for the camper, start a website.

I need the logo, I need tools and your equipment and your mats.

And I also think I saw a need for it, at the time I was going to so many weddings, I was like, man, all these cocktails suck, all of these lines are so long.

And so I was like, I need to do this, there is a need out there.

>> Petra: So what kind of skills did you bring into this company of yours that you learned from the restaurant industry?

Because that's where I'm at, I'm kind of wanting to use the skills that I have, not wanting to go back to school, you know what I mean?

>> Madeline: Yeah, definitely.

Customer service is huge learning how to interact with people.

I think a lot of it too, just you work in a restaurant and you work with a sense of urgency.

All learned traits from working in the industry.

>> Petra: Yeah, and then do you feel like you're making the same, if not more, by having your own business?

>> Madeline: Definitely making more, also working more.

But, the difference is that I enjoy what I do.

>> Petra: Yeah, it doesn't feel like work.

>> Madeline: Exactly, sometimes it's like okay, I gotta drive to Hollywood to do a venue tour.

It's so much fun.

And then you're just talking and meeting people and I host tastings and I get to chat with my clients and get to know them.

>> Petra: What kind of advice would you give me on my next steps?

>> Madeline: I don't think anyone really needs school to start a mobile bar.

I think you have your people skills.

All of that is so much more important in this profession.

And if you love people and you love hospitality, then I think you would really thrive in this industry.

>> Petra: I connected with Maddie instantly.

We had a lot in common, to see her take the leap and to succeed within a couple years.

>> Madeline: Cheers.

>> Petra: There's so many skills that you acquire from the restaurant industry, a lot of it's transferable.

Definitely put a light bulb above my head, this is actually something I could totally do.

[MUSIC] >> Garrett: Hey, come on in.

I was homeschooled my whole life.

I really appreciated that, that was very valuable for me.

I'm a huge nerd.

When I was young, I really got into computers.

I loved shredding them, tearing them apart, that I wanted to go into cybersecurity.

Homeschooling, it was incredibly valuable to me, but as I was looking at my college to the system itself wasn't seen as valuable.

And so that makes it really difficult to get scholarships and even get government aid.

I ended up working at a company that did computer and phone repair.

And then I've gotten several micro-certifications to grow those skills and be able to showcase like, hey, I did the work.

I know what I'm talking about.

I was tested, but right when I got my Google data analytics certification, that's when IT layoffs happened.

Currently, it's been a long summer.

Job market is frustrating.

Made a resume and interview prep and LinkedIn, the social media side of job search, which is a whole thing and it's super important.

So I completed 200 applications, which is a lot because that's exhausting, but I've seen posts on LinkedIn of people who are at like 600 plus.

In a perfect world, the thing that would make me happy tomorrow, would be having a fulfilling career.

[MUSIC] >> Garrett: I'm going to Portland to meet Sam Haupert.

He's a software dev at Catalyte, which is an AI recruitment company.

I'm super excited to learn about his apprenticeship program that he went through, and sort of similar journey about school and finding his way.

[MUSIC] >> Sam: My name's Sam.

I've always wanted to be a software developer, and now I work at Catalyte, even with the four-year degree, I had not seen SQL until this course.

>> Garrett: Really, interesting.

You said you're on C# now, right?

>> Sam: Yes, C# mainly.

>> Garrett: What do you guys do here at Catalyte?

>> Sam: My side of the business that I operate with is a lot of consulting work.

About half of my time has been building websites for clients.

It's challenging, but I enjoy accomplishing the task.

I enjoy when I am working through a bug or a project and I reach like, my gosh, it just worked.

And also we try and get people without work experience to work under senior developers and trying to provide a separate route to get into the industry.

Other than school, because the idea is that there's a lot of people who are not included in the talent pool, who are talented people, and the only reason they're not included is because of financials.

>> Garrett: So, what was your experience going to school?

>> Sam: I went for two years, and that didn't work out for me.

After I left school, I had already spent 10, $20,000 on two years of college and didn't have a degree to show for it.

I still knew I wanted to go into computer science, so, I basically tried to use the free resources online.

And then I joined this apprenticeship program.

>> Garrett: So in your previous work history and experience, gaining skills from that, how did you showcase transferable skills and your soft skills?

>> Sam: My retail job and then my job in a restaurant.

Both of those were valuable.

My restaurant job, I worked as a food expo, and so I worked basically in between the servers, the hosts, and the kitchen.

So, I had to deal with basically angry chefs and angry servers.

And sort of just be a middleman, make sure that the food's getting out on time, make sure that the servers are not talking to the chefs because they would yell at each other.

It's knowing who to go to for certain things, I translate that to my day to day.

I get asked to do some things I'm like, I'll get you that, but so and so is swamped right now.

And if I bring this up to him, or if you brought this straight up to him, it wouldn't have ended up amicably as it could be.

>> Garrett: Final question for you.

What advice do you have about using our skills in order to get the careers that we're looking for?

>> Sam: Yeah, I think the biggest piece of advice is to be very open to jobs that maybe you're not as fond of the job description, because you're gonna learn more at those jobs than you think, and they're gonna be really valuable in getting the next job.

The reality is it's easier to get the second one than it is the first one, and so just get the first one and move on from there.

>> Garrett: Wow, okay, that is a great way of looking at it.

With Sam, he knew what he wanted to do and he's content, he's happy.

My ultimate dream was working locally within my community, and I think for Sam, it's like, yes, but that's not gonna happen immediately.

And to open yourself up for other opportunities that might ultimately get you there, instead of just being so hyper-focused on this is it and nothing else [LAUGH], you know?

I think I'm going the right way, but there's no universal guide to any of this, and that's okay.

[MUSIC] >> Avery: People ask me why am I always smiling all the time, like literally my whole life, and I always say, it's just my default, honestly, like how some people have RBF, I just smile [LAUGH].

I've worked several restaurant jobs being a host, being a server, management, I've worked at a hotel, a vape shop, I've worked a lot of jobs.

Most recently, though, I actually got a job doing IT in public schools.

I've always just been interested in technology and also in helping people.

And so I feel like I'm looking for a career that can help me do that more.

Right now I am taking CompTIA practice tests to show that I have the skills.

I'd like to pass the exam in one go because it's a $200 test.

But actually if I pass that test, I'll be able to get promoted at the current job I'm working at.

I am interested in the technology field, but I'm also interested in the medical field or the customer service field, and even video game development.

I just want to do all the options, but you can only spend so much money on the thing that you want to do.

So I'm really finding out what's right for me with a career.

[MUSIC] >> Avery: I've been looking forward to seeing the rest of New York.

[MUSIC] >> Avery: So, I'm gonna be meeting and interviewing Jameslee Gambardella, and Jameslee is a program and project management analyst at Accenture.

I'd love to pick his brain and see behind the scenes, that would be so cool.

>> Jameslee: So my name is Jameslee Gambardella.

I'm born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.

Growing up in New York City, you do a ton of different things.

I started working at 11 years old for an entertainment company as a party motivator.

I worked construction, I used to do demolition for the laborers' union, I became a licensed massage therapist, service industry, like yourself, healthcare industry.

And one thing that was always constant was that I've always had an interest in technology.

So I did a coding boot camp and that's when all this experience kinda came together for me.

>> Avery: Okay, can you tell me a little bit more about what you do here?

>> Jameslee: So, after doing the boot camp, I got to the Accenture Apprenticeship Program, and hired, which is amazing.

It's a 12-month earn while you learn program.

You get competitive wages and they put you in touch with mentors.

They give you all these resources to grow and upskill.

>> Avery: That's amazing that they offer something like that.

>> Jameslee: I know, it really is, it's incredible.

So now on a day-to-day basis, I work with a client here in New York City that Accenture is developing an app for and I train their employees on the app to make sure that the transition goes smoothly.

>> Avery: So is there any significant roadblocks that you've been through?

>> Jameslee: Sure, actually, on the day that I was interviewing for Accenture, I was in a bike accident, and I shattered my spleen.

And so when I was actually in the hospital about to have surgery, I couldn't speak cuz they intubated me.

So my hands were shaking, they were tying me down, my hands are shaking, and my wife said, I think he wants to say something.

So they gave me a piece of paper and I wrote down on the paper, I said, please change the Accenture interview date cuz this job could change our life.

So I had my wife change it to one week later.

I was on Zoom.

I actually just got out of the ICU on Thursday, and on a Friday I was sitting up in the chair, and my wife put a tie on me and the shirt, but I still had my drain coming out and I was in so much pain.

But as I was doing the interview I think I told them that pardon me, if I present with pain, I just had surgery and I think it kind of showed them that I'm dedicated and I really want the opportunity.

>> Avery: Man, that's hardcore.

>> Jameslee: [LAUGH] >> Avery: So, it sounds like the path you've had this whole time has not been the most traditional path.

>> Jameslee: Right.

>> Avery: Where you are now here at Accenture, what, I guess, set you apart?

>> Jameslee: So I have translatable skills that help with the position that I'm in now.

I was a marketing manager, I used to go do door to door sales, and then working with an entertainment company, engage with people.

Working construction, getting up at 4:30 in the morning, especially in freezing cold to go and break concrete.

I think those are the most translatable skills.

Those things kind of got me through every job that I've ever had.

>> Avery: Do you think schooling is necessary for people trying to get into your position or people who are trying to work for Accenture or big companies like this?

>> Jameslee: I'd say to just always have a student mentality, always be willing to learn.

As far as a formal school, I believe that you're on the right path where you already have your associate's degree, you have some certifications.

So the next step would just be research a company that you're interested in.

While you're putting in applications, just keep trying to develop your skills.

The sky's the limit.

As long as you're resilient, everything will come together.

[MUSIC] >> Avery: Jameslee spoke about how even if you're not really fully enjoying a job, that there's still skills that you can take with you.

And he took on the earn while you learn apprenticeship.

Basically, I didn't even know that existed.

So you can earn money while you're learning new skills, and I'm gonna look more into it.

Maybe there's more things out there that are like that.

[MUSIC] >> Avery: I'd say the experience so far has been incredible.

>> Petra: And to hear a successful person talk about their insecurities and their fears, they're just like us.

>> Rita: I am scared all the time, [LAUGH] every day.

Yes, there's always that fear of failure, sometimes it's paralyzing.

But one of the things that I try to do is challenge myself to do things that do make me scared because I think when you're uncomfortable, not a lot uncomfortable, but a little uncomfortable, [LAUGH], that's where you're growing.

>> Speaker 8: Go on, let me hear the noise.

>> Petra: [SOUND] I feel like that's how it was when we went surfing.

>> Avery: Yeah.

>> Petra: Getting on that board, and I was terrified.

I am terrified of the ocean, I don't go in the water, that's just not my thing.

But when we did it I felt like such a huge accomplishment.

I faced this fear, and I got up on the board, and I was like, this is what, I guess success feels like.

[MUSIC] >> Rita: I think we need to rebrand what failure is.

Most people think of it as something very negative, but you learn so much about yourself, and about whether that's something you really want.

Whether it's something that you wanna try again, or maybe it's not for you, and that's okay.

There is nothing wrong with that.

It's easy to be successful at things that you are already good at.

And you're gonna grow from trying the things that you're not good at.

So I say go for it.

[MUSIC] >> Petra: I feel like a lot of people get stuck, because they feel like they can't do anything else.

And I don't wanna be scared for the rest of my life.

So, I do want to take these two years that I have till my son graduates to actually gain some knowledge and maybe get a couple of certificates here and there.

I just want him to be proud of me.

I want him to just know that he can do anything.

I can do anything.

>> Avery: You don't have to do everything society tells you in that way.

You could take other paths, get credentials, things like that, instead of getting a four year degree.

And I think that's really important because it's expensive, it's crazy expensive.

That's why I don't have a bachelor's degree now.

And I think more people need to be aware of the options that are out there.

[MUSIC] >> Garrett: Everyone that we've talked to was like, it's okay.

The journey sucks a little bit, that there is problems like access and equity, and not that those barriers are okay, but that it's okay to still work to overcome them.

That's a hard lesson.

I don't mean to tear up a little bit about it, but barriers do exist, there are people who are working to remove them.

You will find happiness, [LAUGH] you will find your success, and there's so many people that are behind you.

>>Petra: We are on the second week of our road trip.

>>Steven: Getting into the game industry was really hard because you had to have game industry experience and you're like, Well, how do I get into the game industry if I have game industry experience?

What am I supposed to do?

>>Rose: I think the service industry definitely played a very strong background in my success.

>>Petra: I didn't realize that I actually was that skilled.

>>Wes: If you can show that, if you're somehow putting it out there, I think that's what can set you apart.

>>[Together]: One, two, three, level up.

Wondering what to do with your life?

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