Continuing Education: JobsNOW
WILSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROVIDES FAST TRACK TO JOBS
When North Carolina's JobsNOW: "12 in 6" initiative was developed, it was designed with people like Eugenia Wade of Old Sparta in mind. Wade had worked in the automobile dealership industry for 15 years before being laid off due to the downturn in the economy. "I looked for job opportunities in the classifieds and through the Employment Security Commission and couldn't find anything," said Wade. She saw Governor Beverly Perdue announce the JobsNOW initiative on television and was later referred to Wilson Community College by the Employment Security Commission due to her interest in the Office Technology and Quickbooks JobsNOW Certificate program offered at the College. "The Quickbooks component of the Certificate program appealed to me because I knew that a lot of companies today use the Quickbooks system. I thought being proficient with the software would complement my existing skills and give me a competitive advantage in the job market," stated Wade.
"We started the first Office Technology and Quickbooks class August 2009 with 9 students," said Margie Norfleet, JobsNOW Coordinator at Wilson Community College. "Eugenia was a great student; she was really attentive and applied herself well in class. She also earned a Silver Career Readiness Certificate as part of the JobsNOW program."
Wade completed the class December 2009 and secured employment a few weeks later at Carolina Eagle Distributors as an Office Manager. "Landing the job was the best Christmas gift of all. I was able to finish the class in one semester. The Lord put me in the right place at the right time. My instructors, Mr. Hicks and Dr. Applewhite provided so much more than instruction; they motivated and inspired me to strive to be the best. I had no idea when I was in the class where I might end up, but I knew I had to do something to make myself stand out in the job market," exclaimed Wade. Currently pursuing an A.A.S. Degree in Accounting, Wade manages to work 40 or more hours a week and stays on top of her studies.
Russ Saputo, Vice President, Carolina Eagle Distributors, was so impressed with the JobsNOW program and the Career Readiness Certificate initiative he hired two more candidates referred by the College when positions became available. "We've had nothing but positive results from the program. This is a win-win for all local businesses and I challenge all of my fellow entrepreneurs to take advantage of this great opportunity in 2010." Saputo added, "Free training when you meet the eligibility requirements . . . If you're unemployed and looking for work, who wouldn't want or need that?"
Stacy Pipkin, also hired by Saputo, was motivated to complete her G.E.D. at Wilson Community College in 2007 when Val Pak in Elm City was purchased by IWCO. IWCO implemented the requirement that employees must have a High School Diploma or G.E.D. After earning her G.E.D., Stacy found herself jobless later when IWCO closed January 2009. She learned about the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) from her fiancé', a Wilson Community College student enrolled in the JobsNOW Industry and Welding Concepts Certificate Program. Stacy earned a Silver Career Readiness Certificate in May 2009. To earn the CRC, a candidate must complete 3 assessments and score at level 3, 4, or 5 to be awarded a bronze, silver or gold certificate. Students can also enroll in the KeyTrain lab to better prepare for the assessments, or to assist them in obtaining higher scores. North Carolina's Career Readiness Certificate is a portable credential that promotes skills and career development for individuals and confirms to employers that they possess basic workplace skills in Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information and Locating Information. These three skills are needed for 90% of the jobs in American College Testing's (ACT) national database. Regardless of the industry, North Carolina Career Readiness Certification provides existing and potential job candidates a credential that proves their skill level to enhance employability. "The certification allows employers a more efficient way to assess work skills", explains Rob Holsten, Dean of Continuing Education & Sustainability, at Wilson Community College. The National Career Readiness Certificate is endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers and is awarded under the same criteria as the North Carolina Career Readiness Certificate.
Stacy Pipkin is now a full-time student at Wilson Community College in the Accounting program with a 3.9 GPA. She is on target to complete an A.A.S. degree May 2011. Stacy has come a long way since dropping out of high school. She commented, "I remember a sign I saw at Rosebud Church that said, 'There is a reason for everything.' IWCO's closing opened the door for me to go back to school, or should I say it pushed me through."
Another JobsNOW graduate, Hosea Gonzales was also hired by Saputo to fill a facility maintenance position. Gonzales lost his job at a mobile home manufacturing company when the economy affected home sales. Gonzales was unemployed for over a year when he came to the College for information about a welding certificate. "I was nervous when I went to the College, but Brenda Webb, Administrative Secretary, was kind and understanding. She gave me information about the JobsNOW program and referred me to the Workforce Development and Training Center to find out if I was eligible for tuition assistance. "I was required to take a test as part of the process. At age 50 and not being able to speak fluent English, I was concerned about how well I would do but the desire to help my two kids was stronger than my concerns, states Gonzales. I was able to receive assistance from the Turning Point Workforce Development Board for tuition and books. I was a little depressed when I started classes, but my instructor Tina Johnson has a great way of teaching. She empowers you to approach employers on what you can do for the company. She helped me to stay positive, to participate in the class team, and to respect the team members. That is why companies give people jobs ~ good work ethic. The class also helped me to refresh my math and reading comprehension skills." Gonzales completed the class and earned a Silver Career Readiness Certificate in one semester and became employed at Carolina Eagle shortly afterward.
In addition to Carolina Eagle's success in hiring candidates who have earned the Career Readiness Certificate, several companies in Wilson have had similar results. Bill Casella, Carolina Forge, also has had great success in hiring several students who have completed the Business & Industry Skills class and earned a CRC in the process. "In today's global market, you have to compete with every possible advantage that you can find. When I hire someone with a CRC, I feel assured that I have someone I can invest in training." Charlie Russell, Human Resource Manager, LiveDo, agrees with Casella and states "LiveDo does not require candidates to have a Career Readiness Certificate, but we do prefer those with a CRC. It has been our experience that applicants who have prepared themselves through previous manufacturing work experiences, and educational achievements such as the Career Readiness Certificate are better prepared for the challenging and rewarding career opportunities offered by LiveDo USA." Nexans located in Elm City partnered with the College two years ago to implement the WorkKeys System. Keith Myrick, Operations Manager looks back, "In August of 2008, as part of our endeavor to migrate into a "World Class" operation, we found it prudent to develop our workforce and improve the quality of our new hires. At that time, we partnered with Wilson Community College to determine the best methodology for achieving our desired goals. Through collaboration, we determined that we needed to assure that any new associates possessed a core skill set and aptitude that would be conducive to success in our industrial environment. We concluded that the best way to define the desired competencies was through the employment of job profiling, ACT WorkKeys skills assessment, and appropriate training as defined by the results. The College played an integral role by facilitating, providing resources, and guidance to ensure successful implementation and transition. The Act WorkKeys program is a key component to our growth and drive toward achieving a "World Class" work force."
Norfleet indicates that there are several other career pathways available through the JobsNOW programs being offered at North Carolina's Community Colleges. Wilson Community College's programs include Basics of Tire Manufacturing, Business & Industry Skills, Industry & Welding Concepts, Industry & Electrical Concepts, Accounting Specialist, Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, Health Care Technician (Nurse Aide I and Hospital Unit Coordinator), and Weatherization Specialist.
The JobsNOW funds are provided through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to the state of North Carolina and are supported by the Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Development, Wilson County JobLink Career Center, and the Turning Point Workforce Development Board. The goal of the "12 in 6" initiative is to support training activities that can be completed in less than six months, lead to recognized credentials, are affordable and have flexible hours. Registration for the JobsNOW Program will run through August 12, 2010. For more information about this program, contact Margie Norfleet, JobsNOW coordinator at 252-246-1210 or mnorfleet@wilsoncc.edu.
