Wayne
Workforce Challenge:
Wayne is a veteran who worked as an Electronic Technician in the Air Force for 15 years. He was very adamant about remaining in the same occupation and using the skills he had already acquired on-the-job, but he did not know how to conduct an effective job search after leaving the military.
Workforce Solution:
In late November of 2014, Wayne enrolled with the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board (SELACO WDB) at the America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) in Cerritos to obtain job search assistance and receive individualized service with a career counselor. He attended all of the job search workshops, including Steps to Economic and Personal Success (STEPS). Not only was Wayne a faithful member of the weekly Cerritos Job Club on Fridays, he also consistently arrived 15 minutes early. He searched for jobs online, but found very few, if any positions for an Electronic Technician. He kept applying for jobs that were a close fit, but never landed an interview. The Employment Development Department’s (EDD) Veterans Representative also worked with Wayne providing job leads and career guidance. After about a year without success, Wayne started working with the AJCC Firestone staff in Norwalk. Career Development Specialists Sylvia Sosa and Shirley Green assisted Wayne with his résumé and job search. Sylvia enrolled Wayne into the Advanced Manufacturing Program offered through Cerritos College. After 6 weeks, Wayne completed the program and received an Advanced Manufacturing Fundamentals certificate. For nearly a year afterward, Wayne still remained unemployed, but continued to job search while teaching himself how to use Python – a computer programming language.
Outcome & Benefits:
Wayne applied for an open position at a local Radio Frequency company that he found online through ZipRecruiter.com. After 2 ½ years of fruitless job searching and disappointment, Wayne finally was asked for a job interview! Wayne was interviewed and tested. The business owner stated that many recent engineers did not have the same Radio Frequency experience that Wayne had and consequently, offered him a job. Wayne had been contemplating a career change, but fortunately he finally found work using his existing skills, proving that persistence and patience can pay off. Wayne is doing very well and enjoying his new job as a RF Bench Technician in Compton.
Congratulations, Wayne!
