SUCCESS
The Lake County Workforce Development Newsletter
Fall 2012
What’s Inside?
Medical Assistant Benefited from Training Twice
Business
Services
3
Youth
Programs
4
Workforce
Investment Board
6
Veterans
7
Kilanee was promoted to a Medical Assistant in May 2012 at a pulmonary
clinic. She says she wouldn’t be in this position without WIA (Workforce
Investment Act) training. ‚They helped me with my resume, my job search,
and training.‛ She initially participated in a computer training course for
youth in 2004. That training allowed her to launch her first career in
customer service. However when she was laid off in 2008, she returned to
Lake County Workforce Development for help.
This time Kilanee decided to enter the growing field of healthcare. She
enrolled in the medical assisting course at the College of Lake County in
2009. While working toward her Associate degree, one of her professors
referred her to a medical center where she began working as a Patient
Service Assistant. This year, she was promoted to Medical Assistant. ‚I
believe I’ve found my career,‛ she says with a smile. She says she is
relieved to be able to take care of her son and cover all her household bills.
As she works on her final two courses toward her degree, she advises other
jobseekers to return to school. ‚You won’t regret it!‛
Carpenter Turns to Manufacturing
Derek is currently completing his Associate Degree while working as a CNC
Programmer for a company that manufactures medical devices and other
components. This is a big change from his previous career. When he was laid off
as a Carpenter/ Framer in August 2007, he tried to operate his own carpentry
business for several years. His wife went back to work to try to help the couple stay
afloat, but they were ‚barely even making it.‛ Derek knew he needed a stable
job, so he asked Lake County Workforce Development for help.
After researching growing careers and touring a manufacturing facility with a
friend who was a CNC Machinist, Derek decided that CNC Programming was the
best career for him. Funded through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), he
started a certificate program at the College of Lake County. While completing his
first certificate, he began sending out a minimum 20 resumes per week. He
located a job listing on Craigslist and was hired November 2011. The employer
told him that the main reason he was hired was because of his up-to-date CNC
certificate.