Pamela Webster: discovering new paths in remote work

Our September Student of the Month, Pamela Webster from Washington County, joined the Certified Remote Work Professional^© course to help others, but she found it personally transformative.

"As an older, mostly retired person, I thought remote work was just a concept until I started the course. It helped me focus on preparing for remote roles. With support from Becky Newman, I improved my resume, added teaching opportunities to my job search, and now I’m confident transitioning to fully remote work."

Pamela recently secured a contract with Utah Tech University in St. George, demonstrating how the ROI program empowers learners at any stage to pivot and thrive.

See where the Certified Remote Work Professional^© course could take you →

Enroll today

Information Session: Step into remote work

Looking for a flexible career path that fits where you live? The Certified Remote Work Professional^©course can help you gain the tools and training needed to succeed in remote or hybrid jobs.

Join us for a virtual information meeting:

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

6 to 7 p.m. MDT

A Zoom link will be emailed after registering.

Rich County residents: You're also invited to our in-person information sessions the same day (September 24).

12:00 p.m. | Garden City Offices, Lakeview Room

69 North Paradise Parkway,

Garden City, UT

2:00 p.m. | Rich County Courtroom

20 South Main Street,

Randolph City, UT

These sessions are just one of the many ways we support career growth. Stay connected by following us for more events like this →

Get hired and thrive in today's remote job market

Landing a remote job today takes more than just browsing job listings. Platforms like Working Nomads connect knowledge workers and job seekers with remote jobs worldwide from full-time to part-time and contract roles.

Job seekers today are navigating a tough job market. With AI shrinking entry-level roles, many are struggling to secure employment. Job seekers can strengthen their position with these five strategies:

Read: 5 Secrest for breaking through entry-level job 'glass floor' →

Gain experience through gig work or volunteering
Explore unexpected industries
Develop AI skills
Strengthen soft skills
Network intentionally

For rural job seekers, these approaches are especially useful. They expand opportunities, build marketable skills online, and connect you with the right people no matter where you live.

At USU Extension's Rural Online Initiative, we teach you how to use the tools to put these strategies into action. Our Program Specialists provide specialized remote work training to help individuals build in-demand skills and stand out to employers through our Certified Remote Work Professional^© course. We also support rural and agricultural businesses with e-commerce technical assistance through our E-Commerce Accelerator program.

Our next session begins in October →

Enroll here

E-Commerce Accelerator (ECA) is on the move

Recently, Jacob Webb shared ECA's impact at the Tourism Business Development workshop, where 13 new businesses enrolled for our six-week program, offering one-on-one technical assistance to help rural and agricultural business grow through online sales. We also connected with entrepreneurs in Juab County through an engaging booth featuring Utah-made swag.

Utah Office of Tourism, Iron County

Utah Trappers Association, Juab County

Next up: The Utah State Fair in Salt Lake County and other agriculture and business development events statewide.

So far, E-Commerce Accelerator has helped launch 40 new websites, with 32 generating $680,000 in new revenue. Another 4 websites are in development, and 51 more are in the queue. These launches are creating diversified revenue streams and local jobs across Utah.