MORE THAN A JOB.

MORE THAN A JOB. Darlene Lewis wanted more out of life, including a rewarding andpromising career. Like thousands of adults seeking a job change,Lewis's best resource was the career exploration program at a localtechnical center where she got the tools she needed to take her firstimportant steps. There comes a time when you realize that you can do better, DarleneLewis says. Her moment came last February after accepting anotherfactory job at Pre-Mark Inc., in Piqua, Ohio Piqua is a city in Miami County, Ohio, United States. The population was 20,738 at the 2000 census.Piqua was one of the cities that experienced severe flooding during the Great Dayton Flood of 1913. . Struggling to run a heavyplastic cover for an industrial food mixer food mixern → batidorafood mixerfood n → mixeur mfood mixerfood n → K��chenmixer mthrough a machine to trim itsrough edges, Lewis tripped and fell. "I knew then that I wasn't physically able to do thejob," Lewis says. "It was a definite sign to change things--asign I couldn't ignore like I had before." But Lewis's epiphany Epiphany(ĭpĭf`ənē)[Gr.,=showing], a prime Christian feast, celebrated Jan. 6, called also Twelfth Day or Little Christmas. Its eve is Twelfth Night. came in fits and starts, hampered by lackof confidence and personal obligations. While working at Pre-Mark in1990, Lewis enrolled in business courses at Edison Community College inPiqua but dropped out to take care of her teenage niece's baby.Then, after 10 years of factory work, Lewis lost her job to downsizing (1) Converting mainframe and mini-based systems to client/server LANs.(2) To reduce equipment and associated costs by switching to a less-expensive system. (jargon) downsizing in 1997. When she visited Piqua's unemployment office she learned aboutthe Applied Tech Center (ATC ATC Air Traffic ControlATC Average Total CostATC Certified Athletic TrainerATC At the Center (Hartford, Maine retreat center)ATC Applied Technology CouncilATC All Things Considered ) at Upper Valley Joint Vocational Schooland enrolled. But when Pre-Mark came calling again a few months later,she left the ATC. "Not a good move," she admits. "But Iwasn't confident in my ability to learn, and factory work was whatI was used to. I thought it was all I could do. "But the second time around when I left my job, I knew theanswer to my job problems was to make myself more marketable--not limitmyself to factory work. I needed a career, not a job." Carolyn Maddy-Bernstein, director of the state support project andoffice of student services at the National Center for Research inVocational Education vocational education,training designed to advance individuals' general proficiency, especially in relation to their present or future occupations. The term does not normally include training for the professions. , says adult career exploration programs, whichmostly serve women and low-income individuals, are becoming an integralpart of the nation's education system. As hot career markets shiftand adults' personal needs and interests evolve, the demand forcareer exploration services continues to grow. Adults will change theircareer up to seven times in a working life span, according to according toprep.1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.2. In keeping with: according to instructions.3. theDepartment of Education. That's nothing new, says Maddy-Bernstein. "People arerealizing that career exploration is as important for adults as forsecondary students." The Bureau of Labor Statistics Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)A research agency of the U.S. Department of Labor; it compiles statistics on hours of work, average hourly earnings, employment and unemployment, consumer prices and many other variables. predicts thatthree-fifths of the 50.6 million projected job openings in the nextseven years will result from workers who change their occupation."Chances are we won't stick to one career," she says."So we need effective, solid places to help us explore otheroptions." Lewis is one of thousands of adults nationwide using career reentry reentryn. taking back possession and going into real property which one owns, particularly when a tenant has failed to pay rent or has abandoned the property, or possession has been restored to the owner by judgment in an unlawful detainer lawsuit. programs to explore different fields. In a corporate culture where mostadults switch careers multiple times, reentry centers--with assessmenttesting, career literature, exploration software, counseling, skillstraining, guest speakers, job shadowing and specific classes on jobskills and different careers--are helping adults get on the fast trackto Success. A jump start For Lewis, time was of the essence. "Factory work was out. ButI couldn't spend a lot of time in college because I needed a jobright away." Debra Furnas, an instructor at the ATC, walked Lewis through thecenter's program. Expressing an interest in computers, Lewis took anumber of assessment tests to see if she was suited for it. Furnashelped build her confidence through one-on-one conversations and careercounseling Noun 1. career counseling - counseling on career opportunitiescounseling, counselling, guidance, counsel, direction - something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action . "That was the biggest hurdle, Lewis says. "Ireally wanted to get out of the factory and quit selling myself short. Ihad to make myself believe that I have a brain, that I can do more thanjust putting in a screw." Lewis then took a variety of computer training classes and learnedExcel, Access and Word. She also took a communications class to improveher listening skills, telephone techniques and conversation style. Herlast set of classes focused on interviewing techniques and resumewriting. After nine months of classes that cost $525 for eachthree-month semester, Lewis applied for a secretary position at UpperValley JVS Upper Valley JVS or Upper Valley Joint Vocational School is a vocational school in Piqua, Ohio. The school educates adult and high school students train in to get experience needed to get a professional job. . "After all those classes and the career counseling, I wasstill nervous and unsure of myself," Lewis says. The JVS JVS Job Vacancy SurveyJVS Jewish Vocational ServicesJVS Joint Vocational SchoolJVS Journal of Vegetation ScienceJVS Journal of Vascular SurgeryJVS Juvenile Visceral SteatosisJVS Jewish Vegetarian and Ecological Society job fellthrough, but Lewis kept at it and landed an administrative assistantposition with Piqua city government. Furnas holds Lewis up as one of her best success stories."When a person has been stuck in a job for so long, doesn'tthink she can do anything else and ends up turning her life around andfinding a job that satisfies her, you know you've done somethingright," she says. Funded by the state, the ATC provides assessment and GED GEDabbr.1. general equivalency diploma2. general educational developmentGED(US) n abbr (Scol) (= general educational development) → testing,training and classes in small business development, marketing,industrial training and human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. . There also are a variety ofcareer workshops and interviewing and resume writing classes. For thosewho can't afford the classes, the center offers Pell, Ohioinstructional, sex-equity and JTPA JTPAn abbr (US) (= Job Training Partnership Act) → programa gubernamental de formaci��n profesionalJTPAn abbr (US) (= Job Training Partnership Act) → grants. Each program gives competency certificates upon completion. If astudent has 90 percent attendance and has made satisfactory progress, heor she is eligible to receive a training certificate from the state ofOhio. Nearly 10,000 men and women, mostly women from low-incomebrackets, come through the center each year. Step-by-step The Northern Kentucky University Northern Kentucky University is a public, co-educational university located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, seven miles (11 km) southeast of Cincinnati, Ohio. Enrollment is currently about 14,200 students. Career ReEntry Center in Highlandmainly serves women. When it opened in 1980, the grant-funded centercatered to displaced homemakers--women who were divorced, separated,widowed or had disabled husbands, says director Karen Malott. Over the next few years the center received a number of federal andstate grants, which expanded its population base and career explorationclasses. "It's difficult sometimes," Malott says."We run entirely on grants, and the grants are tied to specificpopulations, income criteria, academic deficiencies, gender. So we haveto work our career exploration techniques around this." This yearthe center, serving about 400 people, has seven grants totaling$450,000. The center's career exploration techniques, similar to theATC, follow a step-by-step process beginning with assessment testing andending with interviewing techniques: * Career counseling--Counselors use John Holland's careerevaluation model and one-on-one counseling to determine interests andconfidence levels. "Before you explore what career you want, youhave to explore your own personality," Malott says. "What do Iknow about myself? What kind of a work environment do I like? Do I wantmy day strictly scheduled? What kind of tradeoffs can I make-more hoursfor more money?" * Assessment testing--The Myers-Briggs test and other assessmenttests are used to gauge career interests. * Exploration tactics--After narrowing career interests, adultstake skills training classes, attend career workshops taught by industryprofessionals and go on field trips to tech schools and businesses.Students receive completion certificates but aren'tindustry-certified. Workshops, such as a recent one on respiratorytherapy respiratory therapyMedical profession concerned with assisting the respiratory function of individuals who have severe lung disorders. Practices include suctioning to clear secretions from the airway, use of aerosol mists (sometimes medicated) or gases to ease breathing, , are usually a week long. * Career planning--The last stage involves classes on interviewing,resume writing and building a career plan. The center also offersworkshops on financial planning Financial planningEvaluating the investing and financing options available to a firm. Planning includes attempting to make optimal decisions, projecting the consequences of these decisions for the firm in the form of a financial plan, and then comparing future performance against , but doesn't offer child careassistance or job placement services because of strapped resources, saysCandace Sellers, the center's assistant director. Keeping tabs The biggest challenge is tracking adults once they leave thecenter, Malott says. "We know when they take a job or go tocollege, but that's about it. We don't know Don't know (DK, DKed)"Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if they stick tothe job they picked from their exploration. It's in important piecethat's missing in the allocation of our money. We could spend ourmoney better if we knew what really worked." Adult career exploration programs nationwide face trackingproblems, says Maddy-Bernstein, who heads the NCRVE/U.S. Department ofEducation Exemplary Career Guidance Program. "You get somethinggreat set up, but then directors change, staff leaves and there'sno follow-up on what happened to those who used the center'sservices. A lot of centers do six-month follow-ups, but beyond thatthere's not much." Some programs that tout themselves don't offer substantivecareer exploration, Maddy-Bernstein says. "Pretty bells andwhistles A slang English term for exceptional features in some product. In the computer field, it typically refers to functions in software that may be greatly appreciated by some users, even though they may not be necessary most of the time. don't make a good program. You have to look at individualcomponents, administrative support, community and industry involvementand variety of exploration techniques." Those that offer a fullrange of services--from assessment testing to career workshops tointerviewing techniques-are most beneficial, she says. The Career Development Center at San Joaquin Delta College San Joaquin Delta College is a community college in Stockton, California. It is currently going through a long renovation project to tailor to the growing county. This college is a great college for those who want to transfer to a 4-year university. inStockton, Calif., an NCRVE NCRVE National Center on Research in Vocational Education exemplary career program site, goes beyondthe normal route of career exploration to offer a variety of services: * Career resources--the center maintains an extensive careerlibrary with brochures, pamphlets and software. * Business connections--With a full-time job placement technicianwho coordinates an annual job fair, the center has helped place hundredsof adults in various businesses. * Exploration classes--The center offers a series of careerassessment, exploration, guidance and job-hunting courses that count forcollege credit. An emergency loan program supported by private donationshelps adults buy books and groceries or pay for child care. Debra Louie, a counselor and coordinator for the CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation , says one ofthe most important exploration tactics is to send adults who have zeroedin on a career to interview a professional in that field. "A lot ofpeople will do research by books and computers and think a job is theone right for them. But until they go out and talk to someone who hasthat career, they really won't know." Louie tells the story of one adult who, through assessment testing,career exploration classes and computer research, decided radiologytechnician was the job for her. "But when she went out andinterviewed a radiology technician and found they have to give enemas EnemasDefinitionAn enema is the insertion of a solution into the rectum and lower intestine.PurposeEnemas may be given for the following purposes:Precautions ,she came back to me and said, `Girlfriend, no! I need to explore morecareers!'" With a budget of $280,000 from federal and state grants, the CDCserves nearly 4,000 people every year. Most adults come in with littleeducation and move on to community college. Some with bachelor'sdegrees seek career-specific training. "Sometimes through thecareer exploration they realize that they need more education for whatthey want to do," Louie says. The key is to foster connections with other career counselors,university officials and business leaders, Louie says. "If wecan't give an adult what she exactly needs, we need to be able todirect her elsewhere." ATC alum alum(ăl`əm), any one of a series of isomorphous double salts that are hydrated sulfates of a univalent cation (e.g., potassium, sodium, ammonium, cesium, or thallium) and a trivalent cation (e.g. Darlene Lewis has decided to pursue an associate'sdegree as��so��ci��ate's degreen.An academic degree conferred by a two-year college after the prescribed course of study has been successfully completed. in accounting and hopefully become Microsoft certified. "At46 years old I have a job and a new career," she says. "Ifsomeone told me during my factory days that I'd end up withcomputer skills and have a career plan, I'd never believe it."