Dislocated Worker Program

Before enrolling into Career Solution’s Dislocated Worker Program, Luke was a carpenter. He had surgery on his back, and then his position was eliminated due to company restructuring. Luke knew he needed to make a career change. He knew he would be able to succeed in the IT field but he needed some formal training/ education to gain a position. Luke thought maybe the DW program would be able to help him. Through the DW Program, Luke was able to take the NCRC exam and Compute‐A‐Match career assessment, receive career counseling and guidance along with assistance with school programs/ offerings and tuition funding for a program which he is passionate. Now that Luke has completed the program, he says he is “more focused on his family, future goals and plans.” Luke said he is “more driven in his new career path and is very passionate about his career choice.” Luke is now an Information Security Analyst at Netgain in St. Cloud. He said the most helpful services of the Dislocated Worker Program were the career exploration guidance from his career planner and tuition assistance. He said he would definitely recommend the Dislocated Worker Program to other workers who lose their jobs.

Before enrollment of Career Solution’s Dislocated Worker Program, Anna was a PRIDE Specialist with Independent Lifestyles, Inc.  She was separated from her position and was devastated as it was a job she enjoyed, believed in, and intended to stick with long‐term.  Anna enrolled in the Dislocated Worker Program.  Anna said the services that were most beneficial for her were 1:1 guidance on how to set up her resume and other job search related documents including cover letter, reference list, letters of recommendation and LinkedIn page, which helped her market herself to employers.  She said she was also guided in how to handle certain aspects of the interview process which she also found to be beneficial.  When asked how she has changed throughout and following the completion of the program, Anna said she feels “more confident about her resume and employment history as well as the end result of getting a higher paying job as a Mental Health Adult Case Manager with a great company the Central Minnesota Mental Health Center, with better benefits and opportunity for growth and advancement.”  When asked what she found most helpful with the DW Program, she said working 1:1 with her career planner.  She said she would definitely recommend the Dislocated Worker Program to other workers who lose their jobs.