Forsyth Tech Teaches Students Practical Skills to Thrive in the World of Work With iHire’s Student Game Plan

The full story:

Background

Forsyth Technical Community College is a public institution in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable, and relevant education that prepares students for real-world success. Founded in 1960 as the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Industrial Education Center, the college has grown into one of the largest schools in the North Carolina Community College System, serving more than 22,000 students across 200+ programs.

With 10 campus locations and flexible online and in-person options, Forsyth Tech offers a wide range of degrees and certificates and has earned national recognition for supporting student success.

Opportunities

Forsyth Tech teaches a four-week course called World of Work (WBL110), designed to provide students with the basic skills and knowledge they’ll need to gain and maintain employment after graduation. Students in approximately 20 programs of study take the course.

In 2023, Forsyth Tech began revamping WBL110 and decided to craft the course around iHire’s Student Game Plan (SGP).

Solutions

Created and continuously updated by iHire’s team of career experts, SGP is an engaged learning platform that equips students with the strategies and tactics needed to stand out in their job search and find meaningful career opportunities in their desired industry. SGP is broken into modules with five micro-credentials: Gaining the Right Experience; Building and Maintaining Your Network; Mastering Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Personal Brand; Interviewing for Jobs and Internships; and Developing Your Soft Skills to Move Your Career Forward.

Within its modules, SGP offers 120+ career advice articles, 25+ videos hosted by course mentor Brian Clapp and Career Coach Lori Cole, 10 downloadable checklists and worksheets, and 20 “Spot Check” assignments to keep students on track.

For each week of WBL110, students take a different module and receive a certificate of completion they can share on their online profiles to support their job searches. Throughout the course, they apply what they’ve learned to complete real-world assignments. For example, students must create a LinkedIn page and conduct an informational interview with someone in the career path that interests them. Along the way, iHire’s team supports students and professors in using SGP, making sure they can access the materials, obtain their certificates in a timely manner, and more.

Results

As of February 2026, 105 students and counting have completed the SGP.

“Student Game Plan positively reinforces what we are teaching in all our classes,” said Phylise S. Bartlett, MAAS, Program Coordinator, Healthcare Management Technology, Medical Office & Legal Professions, Forsyth Tech. “It helps students to understand something when they hear the same thing from someone else. All the modules are really great when it comes to preparing our students for the workforce. The students find the videos engaging and relatable. The platform is easy to use and not complicated.”

Feedback about SGP from students has been positive, and many are using what they’ve learned to build their personal brands, create positive online images, make good first impressions, craft their resumes, and network in the business world. After taking WBL110, some students commented:

“The assignment provided practical skills I can immediately apply to my role.”

“I know how to strengthen my resume.”

“I didn’t know how much volunteering helps with getting a job.”

“The class was fun and informative.”

“I learned a lot about what employers look for…”

Students especially appreciated that they can download a tangible certificate of completion for each module – it’s something they can take with them to confirm their mastery of each skillset.

“We’re building our students’ confidence and abilities and equipping them with practical knowledge with Student Game Plan,” said Dr. Monica M. Simmons, Department Chair, Medical Office & Legal Professions and Program Coordinator, Medical Office Administration, Forsyth Tech. “That’s the goal – to utilize what we’ve taught them in this course to best prepare them for a job.”

Forsyth Tech plans to continue using SGP in WBL110 and is adding it to more programs’ curricula, as the platform allows them to keep the course engaging and effective for students across all industries.

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