OUT OF WORK, NOT OUT OF HOPE

            Barbara Henson of Rockingham plans to be ready for the job market when the economy turns around.  After 20 years of working in textiles, she jumped at the chance to get a college degree when UCO closed in December.

            “People from Employment Security and RCC came to the plant to tell us about our options and coming to school was one of them.  A friend and I have made sure we’ve stayed on top of everything we need to do so we can begin taking curriculum classes this summer,” said Henson.

            After a trip to ESC, Henson took some basic skills enhancement classes through RCC’s Basic Skills and Occupational Programs. She soon tested out of those and began WorkKeys training to earn a Career Readiness Certificate.  The CRC is the new gold standard of skills assessment for business and industry. 

            Offered through RCC’s Pre-Employment Program, the CRC exam assesses a person’s skills in reading for information, locating information, and applied math. Depending upon their skills levels, they receive certification at the bronze, silver, or gold level.  WorkKeys training helps them improve skills so they can achieve high levels when testing and become eligible to qualify for jobs requiring specific levels of skills.

            Carlotta Knotts directs the program and said the dislocated workers from UCO are working as hard in the Employability Lab as they did in the plant.

            “Some of these people have gone beyond the classroom and are continuing to study at home on their own.  We have one UCO worker who scored at the top, the gold level, on each test.  These people have been steadfast in their search to retrain by enrolling in school and giving it their best,” she said.

            Henson praises Knotts’ ability to explain algebra. 

            “She has been so helpful.  She is patient and gave me lots of websites I could go to for additional help.  I’m doing algebra online!” she said.

            According to ESC officials, everyone who qualifies for the Trade Readjustment Act program through UCO can go to school free, once they have contacted their local ESC and completed the paperwork.

            “I’m on the TRA program and have two years to get my degree. I’m learning everything I can now to be able to get good scores on the placement test so I can begin curriculum classes this summer.  I want to take Office Systems Technology and work in a hospital setting.  I have good organizational skills and am a people person.  I’m looking forward to getting a new job in an office,” she said.

            Admitting she was nervous at first about being too old to be in college, she said her first day was like showing up to work:  Everyone there was from UCO. 

            “I started feeling more comfortable my second week.  I encourage anyone to go back to school. It’s hard at first, learning to get your brain focused on studying.  It’s a challenge at 53.  I felt old that first day, but then I saw older people here too.  Actually, it’s exciting to see all these people my age walking around wanting to learn new things.  It seems the older people want to learn more than the younger ones do.  I’m happy here,” she said.

            Anyone interested in brushing up on basic skills to improve their college placement scores may contact RCC Director of Basic Skills Sherry Byrd at 410-1771. Persons interested in the WorkKeys training may contact Pre-Employment Director Carlotta Knotts a carlottak@richmondcc.edu.  

www.richmondcc.edu