Michael
Workforce Challenge:
Michael has been in the engineering field for over 15 years. He was unemployed for 13 months after being laid off as a Project Manager at Wahlco, a global environmental company in Santa Ana. He came to the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board (SELACO WDB) after receiving his Unemployment Insurance (UI) letter from the Employment Development Department (EDD). After unsuccessfully looking for Jobs only on the Internet, Michael decided to learn better ways of finding his next job. Even with a BA Degree in Engineering, his biggest challenge was that he did not know how to answer interview questions effectively. He had received at least 10 job interviews from online applications, but sadly received not a single job offer.
Workforce Solution:
The SELACO WDB staff helped Michael prepare a professional résumé and coached him on how to answer difficult interview questions. SELACO WDB also funded his Project Management Professional Bootcamp training and exam at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) College of Continuing Education. Michael commented, “Getting my certificate really helped build my confidence during my interviews.” After attending the job search workshops, he discovered that most jobs (80%) are found through networking, not the Internet.
Outcome & Benefits:
Michael started networking with friends and contacted a previous employer. Because the company was so busy with quite a number of projects, they contacted Michael and offered him a position. Michael is now working as a Principal Mechanical Engineer at Parsons, an engineering and consulting firm in Pasadena. He advises, “Always stay positive. Your current situation is only temporary and you will eventually find a new job if you have the correct attitude and prepare. Use what SELACO provides.”
Congratulation, Michael!
