About the "Center for Workforce Transition"


Welcome to the CWT!

Lansing Community College's Center for Workforce Transition is located at Capital Area Michigan Works! The CWT provides information and assistance to adults looking to transition within the workforce...whether it is identifying career goals, gaining new skills and knowledge through Lansing Community College, or seeking assistance on job search techniques, the CWT is your one-stop partner.

NEW!
Lansing Community College's Center for Workforce Transition is pleased to announce that it has expanded its programming to include workshops designed specifically for baby boomers looking to re-enter the job market. For more information on the Encore Plus 50 program attend an informational orientation meeting at Capital Area Michigan Works! Lansing Service Center on Tuesday, April 8th from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. If you have any questions, contact our staff at (517) 492-5580 or LCCAdvisor@camw.net.

Plus 50 Completion Initiative:
Lansing Community College has joined other community colleges in a national program designed to train 10,000 baby boomers for new jobs in healthcare, education, and social services. The program is sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The college is part of the Plus 50 Encore Completion Program and seeks to assist adults age 50 and over in completing degrees or certificates within in-demand occupations that give back to the community. Please visit our website at lcc.edu/lifelong/encore for updated information on this program.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Bicycle Zen and the Art of Trying

When I was growing up, I remember wanting so much to learn how to ride a bicycle!  My mother had other plans.  Her reason for not allowing me near any type of movable equipment was that we lived in the country and she did not want us on the country roads riding bikes (although she had no problem with me walking on those same country roads when I missed the school bus and had to hoof it to school three miles away!)  Anyway, my mother was away one day and our 13 year old babysitter rode her bike over to our house.  I was eight at the time and begged her to teach me to ride (my mother had already told her she was not to let me near her bike).  My power of persuasion won out and she did! 

Since we lived in the country my riding was limited to the field next to my house.  There were ruts everywhere, but I managed to keep that bike upright.   I rode around that field over and over, again.  But, as every kid knows, mothers have eyes in the back of their heads.  My mom picked that particular day to come home early.  I was caught.  The babysitter was mad.  I was mad.  Nobody was happy.  To make a long story short, that was the end of my bicycle days for many years. 

A few years later we moved into town.  Actually, we moved almost into town.  Our house was located across from the county fairgrounds.  There were no sidewalks on our side of the street, BUT...there were on the fairgrounds side!  I immediately started hatching my plan to convince my mother that it was time for me to have a bike!  She finally gave in although she broke the news to me that I would have to buy it with my own money.  I was doomed to never ride.  When I was 12 I found a part-time summer job that allowed me to earn 25 cents an hour (that was minimum wage like at the turn of the century...the 19th century!).  I worked and saved and, like most young women, spent what I saved!  It took two more summers but I finally had enough to buy the most wonderful bike in the whole wide world!  It was a beautiful royal blue 10-speed!  Never mind that I hadn't even ridden a one-speed in nearly five years, I had my bike.

So, the time had come.  I was a cool teen and had the coolest bike around.  I was ready.  Almost. 

As with most new and beautiful things, we wanted to make sure that nothing happened to my 'wheels'.  I didn't want to see a single scratch, ding, or dent.   I was going to ensure that not even a fingerprint was visible when I took off for my first 'ride'.  So, I carefully walked my bike across the street as I had promised my mother that I would be sure to ride on the sidewalk and then enter and ride inside the fairgrounds.  Once I crossed the street I got up on that blue beauty and started peddling.  It was good.  I was going forward!  Never mind that I had no clue as to how to change gears.  I was in motion. 

I maneuvered that sidewalk for the two block ride to the entrance of the fairgrounds.  That was the point where everything that is possibly cool about being a teenager with a great bike, ended.  You see, the entrance to the fairgrounds was at the intersection of two fairly busy streets.  It is important to note at this time that our town was not that big and just about everybody knew our family.  So, when I arrived at the entrance of the fairgrounds there were cars stopping at the four-way just a few feet from where I was with my new bike.  The entrance to the fairgrounds consisted of two gates separated by a brick building used for special events.  The gates were closed to vehicle traffic; but, there was a pedestrian opening between one of the gates and the brick wall. 

You know, there are many sayings that we use throughout our lives.  I've often wondered where they come from and who 'created' them.  So, I can tell you without a doubt that I was probably the reason that the phrase, "ran into a brick wall" was created.

I proudly steered my beautiful, new, royal blue, 10-speed bicycle toward that pedestrian opening.  Problem was, I panicked...big time.  Not sure why, but it happened.  I not only missed the pedestrian opening, entirely; but, I managed to ride that beautiful new bicycle that I had worked and saved for so long to own, into the side of that building.  After I stood up and quickly looked around to see if there were any witnesses (yes...there were), I gazed downward to see the mangled mess I had created.  The rim for the front wheel was bent, the handle bars were askew, and the paint had been horribly scratched up by the blacktop (as were my legs).  But, nothing was more painful to me than the gut-wrenching humiliation I felt for doing such a dumb thing.  Seriously, a brick wall!

 I quietly walked it back home trying very hard to not be seen (which was impossible because there was nothing else to look at on that lonely sidewalk).  I was grateful that my mother picked this particular time to not use the all-too-familiar, "I told you so" phrase when I arrived home.  What she did next surprised me.  She helped me put my bike back together and the very next day I got back up on that bike and rode to the fairgrounds, again.  However, this time, I used the south entrance which had the open vehicle gates and no brick building.  Success.

It's important to know that at one time or another we all run into 'brick walls.'   I felt humiliated about the experience.  But, as it turned out, I was the only one.  I could have stopped right then and there and decided not to get back on that bike (which, by the way, was scratched, dinged, and dented) but by doing so I would be stuck walking.  I ended up riding that bike for years.  And, as it turned out, I fell on it a few more times (once while I was right in front of the high school parking lot before school started...that was embarrassing).  Falling has not been a problem for me; and, as it has turned out, due to lots of practice, getting up has become something I've gotten quite good at doing. 

Many times I meet with adults who have had a bad experience at school and are afraid that they will do it again.  Maybe yes, maybe no.  However, it is guaranteed that nothing will move forward unless we try.  If you have concerns about going back to school, know that there are many options available to help you transition back into the classroom.  Lansing Community College's Center for Workforce Transition staff are extremely helpful and experienced in working with adults looking to return to school.  Get back up on that bike and try again.  You might just surprise yourself.

Job Blasts!  To access any of these postings or to do your own job search, visit the Michigan Talent Bank.  If you click on the Posting number, you will be automatically directed to the job posting.  Be sure to check out yesterday's blog for some important information on the job search.

Inventure Enterprises (East Lansing):  Engineering Software ProgrammerMTB #2972946

Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers (St. Johns):  Research Agronomist, MTB #2976145

Great Clips (Lansing and Charlotte):  Manager/StylistMTB #2975851

Lovejoy Special Needs Center (Lansing):  Direct Care WorkerMTB #2975842

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Hot Job Seeker Opportunities!

Once again, I'm just sending you the Job Blasts from the last two days.  We're busy with students trying to meet the December 1st Financial Aid deadline, so life should slow down, soon.  Maybe.

Job Blasts!

Twitchell's Dry Cleaning (East Lansing):  Presser,  MTB #2975400

Medical Management Systems (Lansing):  Data Entry Specialist,  MTB #2975050

Mason Pediatrics (Mason):  Medical Assistant,  MTB #2974971

Alator Home Health:  Registered Nurses,  MTB #2971194

Arctic Glacier, Inc. (Lansing):    Lead Person,  MTB #2974670


Mock Interview Opportunity!

Mock Interviews will be held at Capital Area Michigan Works! in Lansing on Monday, December 13th from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.  No appointment necessary!  This is a great opportunity for Job Seekers to practice that ever-important job search activity...the interview!  Guest employers include representatives from the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau and Accountemps.  Be sure to bring copies of your resume and dress appropriately! 

What Employers Want YOU to Know!

The following information was sent out to CAMW! Staff on Monday, November 29th by the CAMW! Business Liaison professional.  She stated that:

The Manager for a local healthcare association stated, "I recently filled seven positions in the last month.  I interviewed over 60 candidates and received resumes from nearly 650 job seekers during the last few months, alone.  During both the resume review and job interview phases of our hiring process, I noticed some common deficiencies amongst the candidates.  Some of the most common I noticed were:

  • Employment objectives inconsistent with the nature of the position the candidate is applying for;
  • Resumes that did not reveal the skills behind the nature of the candidate's employment background when the positions did not directly correlate;
  • The lack of ability to craft a compelling cover story
  • General unprofessionalism in interviewing, whether it be arriving late, improper dress or vocabulary used;
  • Inability to compellingly participate in behavioral interviewing;
  • The lack of thank you letters (either hardcopy or via email) after interviewing;
  • Poor selection of references, or references not aware of the candidate's job seeking status."
Be sure that you do not fall into one of these categories.  Check out an earlier blog in which I wrote about Thank You letters and provided you with a great link for some outstanding sample letters!