Career Forward

Propel Your Career Forward

Learn job-ready skills and start a new career in under six months with help from Google Career Certificates.

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About Career Forward

Career Forward is a learner-to-earner program that can help you level up your career for free. Gain industry-recognized skills through a Google Career Certificate in data analytics, IT support, project management, user experience (UX) design, digital marketing & e-commerce, or cybersecurity. Then you’ll connect with ready-to-hire employers.

Google Career Certificates offer flexible, online training for in-demand jobs and no prior education or experience is required to enroll. Regardless of where you are in your career journey — or where in the world you’re currently located — Career Forward can work for you.

Grow Your Career
Learn Job-Ready Skills
  • Earn a Google Career Certificate
    As a Career Forward learner, you'll enroll in a Google Career Certificate program of your choice. This flexible, self-paced job training can be completed in three to six months, part-time. Throughout the program, you'll receive individual support from HOH staff and have regular opportunities to engage with fellow learners, program graduates, and professionals in the certificate field.
  • Connect with Ready-to-Hire Employers
    After earning your certificate, you’ll gain access to job search support, like interview prep and career workshops. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with ready-to-hire employers — including Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Freedom Learning Group, Verizon, and of course, Google — through HOH hiring events, Fellows Programs, and Career Connectors.
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Career Forward
Why Earn a Google Career Certificate?
No experience necessary
Learn job-ready skills, even with no relevant experience. There are 1,300,000 in-demand job openings across certificate fields.
Stand out to employers
Make your resume competitive with a credential from Google. 82% of Career Certificate graduates report a positive career impact in six months.
A path to in-demand jobs
Connect with top employers that are currently hiring for these skills. The average salary for entry-level roles across certificate fields $63,600.
Success Stories

“The way the certificate is structured is so accommodating to moms, working parents, or working individuals because you can do it at your own pace.”

Lauren Harms
Administrative Business Partner, Google
Google Project Management Certificate

Success Stories

“When I went on the job hunt, I had no degree and no credentials outside of the IT certificate…I’m thrilled that my employer saw promise in my new skills and experience.”

Taslim Mohammed
IT Resident, Google
Google IT Support Certificate

Success Stories

“I took the Google IT Support Certificate because I wanted a certificate on my resume to show my knowledge of IT. After completing the course, I began my job search. I landed a position as Assistant Director of Information Technology at a Non-Profit Law Firm. My pay almost doubled and the benefits package is incredible. “

Joe Luna
Assistant Director of Information Technology
U.S. Navy veteran

Success Stories

“I was feeling stagnant in my career as a digital marketer and really wanted to enter a new high-demand career path that could lead me to new industries. Completing the course opened my eyes to the Project Management Institute certification, which I am now pursuing. I feel excited for the first time in a long time for what my career possibilities will be.”

Maria Oliviera
Project Manager, Media Nonprofit
Google Project Management Certificate

Explore
Google Career Certificates

Prepare for a new career in a high-growth field in under six months, no experience required. You’ll get professional training designed by Google and will have the opportunity to connect with hundreds of employers.

  • Data Analytics
    Data analysts collect, transform, and organize data to make informed business decisions. Learn more.
  • IT Support
    IT specialists troubleshoot problems so computers and networks run correctly. Learn more.
  • Project Management
    Project managers ensure projects within an organization are managed and completed with maximum value. Learn more.
  • User Experience (UX) Design
    UX designers make digital and physical products easier and more enjoyable to use. Learn more.
  • Digital Marketing & E-Commerce
    Learn about email marketing, marketing analytics & measurement, SEO / SEM, reaching customers & selling online, and building customer loyalty. Learn more.
  • Cybersecurity
    Learn how to identify common risks, threats, and vulnerabilities, as well as the techniques to mitigate them. Learn more.
Amie's Story
Creating her own American dream
Marine Corps veteran Amie Hanbury wasn't fulfilled with her post-military career, so she decided to pursue a new career with the Google IT Support Certificate.
Play Video
Career Forward
Get started today.
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Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
This program is available to veterans, transitioning service members (within one year of separating from active duty), military spouses*, and military caregivers.

* HOH recognizes that military spouses’ careers are impacted by their service members’ military service. That’s why every HOH event and program is open to all military, veteran, and Gold Star spouses.
Google Career Certificates provide training for in-demand jobs in the fields of data analytics, IT support, project management, user (UX) experience design, digital marketing & e-commerce, and cybersecurity. No experience is required to earn a certificate. To learn more, visit grow.google/certificates.
Military spouses and veterans currently overseas are eligible to participate in Career Forward as long as they are within one year of returning stateside. Transitioning service members are eligible to participate if approved by their command.
Career Forward is a program that can be completed along with a DOD SkillBridge. If you are searching for a SkillBridge program to match your professional goals, HOH offers several options for active-duty service members: These SkillBridge programs are 12 weeks long and provide experiential opportunities with the goal of hiring at the end of the program. We recommend applying well in advance and to contact your transition office to begin the SkillBridge process as soon as possible.

Learn more about DOD SkillBridge opportunities.
View the Career Forward overview video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning-related FAQs
Enrollment cycles begin on the last Wednesday of each month, after attending orientation and completing the post-orientation form.
The program is self-paced and learners have taken anywhere from five weeks to six months to complete their GCC. However, you must complete your GCC within six months of enrollment. Remember, Coursera auto-populates timelines we cannot control, which means, at times, you may need to speed up learning to meet our milestones. If you do not finish within the six-month window, you will be removed from the program and will not be eligible for part 2 of Career Forward.
Learner Program Managers guide Career Forward learners and encourage completion of GCCs. LPMs lead professional development discussions to prepare you for the next steps after finishing your certificate. Whether it be an internal promotion, successfully applying to new roles, becoming an entrepreneur, or transitioning from the military, your Learner Program Manager is a phenomenal resource while you obtain your GCC.
We recommend you research each GCC on the Grow with Google site prior to enrolling in the Career Forward program. If you would like to work with a mentor for guidance about your desired industry, we recommend American Corporate Partners and 50strong’s Military Mentorship Community.
If you are already paying for a Google Career Certificate through Coursera, but have not completed yet, please let an HOH program manager know when completing your application. HOH can take over your subscription for the next billing cycle, allowing you to complete the remainder of your certificate for free. If you are currently using another scholarship program to obtain a Google Career Certificate, you must enroll in a new certificate program through Career Forward.
If you're not far into the course and you decide you want to change GCCs, that's okay. You will let your Learner Program Manager know, stop where you are in your current GCC, and enroll in the new GCC. If you change GCCs, you must complete your GCC within the original timeline you were given.
Please apply to Career Forward during the month you are ready to begin your learning. If you become an active learner and need to take an extended break, communicate with your Learner Program Manager to discuss options.
Our grant allows participants to obtain one GCC. After completing a GCC, you can pay for a monthly subscription or utilize another Veteran Service Organization scholarship program.
Yes, you are welcome to enroll in the Career Forward program while you are a candidate or fellow in another HOH fellowship program. However, HOH fellowships are full-time programs and we recommend starting a GCC before or after your fellowship.
If you are unable to complete your GCC within six months, you have the option to pay for your subscription or transfer to another scholarship program. If you are falling behind or are no longer able to dedicate the time to your certificate, you may withdraw and reapply when your schedule allows. We encourage learners to proactively reach out to their Learner Program Manager if issues arise preventing you from meeting the completion milestone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Employment-related FAQs
While you are earning your GCC, the Career Forward team provides professional development webinars. After completing your GCC, you will receive several resources from Google and HOH to help in your employment search. If you are currently looking for employment, here are some available resources: