Chicago’s Workers Find Success Through E&ES
Like so many, William was unemployed as a result of the pandemic and needed to find a new career with a future.
Dislocated workers across Cook County face today’s changing job market – uncertain where to turn, and this is why the WIOA program and an E&ES Career Coach are so important. Enrolling in the WIOA program at the West Suburban Cook County American Job Center, William worked one-on-one
with an E&ES Career Coach and discovered opportunities and supportive services to build a new career in the HVAC field.
“It wasn’t easy,” William said, “but my Career Coach was there for me.”
He took advantage of the resources of the American Job Center, job search, resume and interview prep, job search assistance with his Career Coach, and began pursuing his new career path receiving an Individual
William (center) with two of his employees
on-the-job
Training Account (ITA) grant. “As I studied, I discovered a passion for new green technologies, and this led me to an even better future as I started my very own business.” William continued to work with his Career Coach and soon found success focusing on emerging technologies and energy efficiency working with homeowners and local businesses as a Nicor/ComEd certified weatherization provider.
Today, William is a small business owner in a growing field and enjoys hiring others searching for a new career path like he was. “I went from unemployed to an employer myself,” he says proudly, “thanks to the help of my Career Coach and the WIOA program.”
Over the course of the Program Year 2022, E&ES led American Job Centers in LWIA 7 have shown strong success across all metrics – serving Chicago and Cook County’s need for customer-focused workforce development.
Our AJC teams have embodied our Vision Statement: We are a catalyst for equitable access to opportunities and resources that empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve their dreams.
And our close collaborative, working partnership with The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership makes these successes and impact possible.
What Success Looks Like Today
Monica found herself laid-off, months behind on her rent, her savings exhausted along with cashing in her modest retirement account, and unable to find new work. COVID started the dominos falling for her, and even with a strong work history in higher education and a hard-earned MBA, Monica need new training, “and a boost in my confidence,” she adds, to overcome two years of unemployment.
And she found what she needed when she began her intake at the DFSS Service Center at Garfield Community Service Center to enroll in the DFSS EPP CDBG Workforce Program.
The Career Navigator assured Monica that the E&ES team could help provide the training and new confidence she would need in today’s changing employment market. She took the Career Profiler and discovered her career passions and interests – an important early confirmation she was now on the right path. Next, she attended the E&ES two-day professional employment workshops addressing interviewing, resume development, and financial capability.
“I worked closely with my E&ES Career Navigator,” Monica recounts, “and began receiving weekly Hot Jobs eblasts with encouraging employment opportunities.” These emails include federal, state, local, and CTA positions (this caught Monica’s attention). And the additional support of our Business Account Executives gave her access to hiring events and jobs fairs near her.
Working persistently with her Career Navigator, Monica took the CTA exam for an administrative position – and passed. Just days later she interviewed with CTA and received
an offer she quickly accepted as a Coordinator of Office Administration and is earning $67,475 annually.
“I found what I needed with this program,” Monica adds.
E&ES for Business in Chicago and Surrounding Counties
E&ES On-the-Job Training available through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) gives your business access to reimbursement of wages while you train your new hires.
As a leading workforce development provider in Chicagoland, Employment & Employer Services (E&ES) serves at the heart of today’s uncertain jobs market and is dedicated to providing data-driven workforce solutions that work for job seekers and businesses.
Excellence in workforce development delivery means better customer-focused service that is driven by real-world conditions that impact lives and our communities.
To learn more about how you can apply for an OJT opportunity, talk to a Career Coach today.
