Bethany Heide is in the business of helping people achieve their dreams. Over the past six years, Bethany, a Senior Career Services Advisor at the Carrington College Spokane campus, has helped hundreds of graduates land their first jobs in a new profession after completing such programs in Medical Assisting, Medical Radiography, and Veterinary Assisting.
“I love helping students create their own success stories,” says Bethany. “It’s very inspiring and exciting to see people develop, grow, and achieve their goals. The transformation that many students experience during their programs—and the self-confidence they develop along the way—is a wonderful thing to witness.”
Bethany says that when students first start their programs, they’re not always sure what to expect—or whether they’ll even make it. “Part of my job is to be there for them, to help them understand what’s coming next, and to better navigate the journey so they can graduate and get a job in whatever field they’ve decided to pursue,” she explains. Every student has a story, and Bethany says each of those stories is as unique as the students themselves.
“Some are entering a Carrington program directly from high school,” she says. “Others are returning to college after years—maybe even decades—in a different career. The common thread is that all of the students I advise are taking their next steps in their careers and their lives.”
Bethany can relate to students who are pursuing an education while also working full-time. She completed her B.A. in Technical Management, with a minor in Human Resources, in October of 2019. She says she speaks from firsthand experience when she stresses to students the necessity of developing and practicing strong organizational and time-management skills. “I think one of the reasons I’m so enthusiastic about mentoring students is that I have such incredible respect for what they’re doing,” Bethany says. “Some of the students I work are going to school full time, working full time, and also raising a family. Juggling work schedules, school schedules, and child care schedules can be intense, and it’s been especially challenging this year because of the pandemic. But over the years, I’ve learned that people can accomplish amazing things when they’re focused and committed. Part of my job is to help them maintain their focus—and to remind them that the end result will be worth whatever it takes to get there.” Throughout their programs, students have an opportunity to participate in practical online workshops and seminars that Bethany and her colleagues offer on professionalism, resume writing, and interviewing skills. Bethany places students in last-semester externships that offer on-the-job experience in their chosen field, and also helps them find jobs by networking with numerous employers throughout the Spokane area.
“I help students focus on developing the skills they’re going to need to get the job they want,” Bethany explains. “No matter how great you might be as a Medical Assistant, for example, you need to be able to convince potential employers that you can become an asset to their company. In Career Services, we help students develop the skills and confidence to interview successfully so they get the job they want. And we’re here for the long haul. If a student wants to seek out a new position years after graduating from Carrington, we’re ready and able to help them.”
Bethany, who has a two-year-old daughter and another baby on the way, says her job has offered new challenges since the pandemic shut down her offices in March. “I like being around people, so I miss being in an office with my colleagues and seeing students face-to-face,” says Bethany. “Overall, I think we’ve done a great job in adapting to the circumstances. We stay connected with students, graduates and employers via phone, email and video chats. I’m just as available and involved as I ever was—just not in person!” The last nine months, Bethany says, have been a lesson in adaptability for her students—and for her. “We never know for sure where life will take us,” she says. “There was a time I thought I’d be an interior designer, and here I am coaching, mentoring and advising college students—for six years on campus and now from my home office. I’m doing a job I never thought of doing in a way I never thought of working, and yet I find every day incredibly rewarding. I think when you’re flexible, open to new experiences, and willing to make the best out of any situation, great things can happen.”
