Oakland County Michigan Works! provides a broad range of services to help job seekers. The following is a glimpse of our customer stories and how they overcame a variety of challenges in their quest to secure their next career opportunities.

A Returning Citizen Gets Another Shot at Life Through New Career

Derrick, 28, was a returning citizen stuck in a low-paying job without an opportunity for advancement due to past mistakes. He engaged Oakland County Michigan Works! for a long-term career plan and securing a pathway to self-sufficiency. Derrick was enrolled in the WIOA Adult program, which provided him with his best career options as a returning citizen. Derrick decided to pursue truck driving and training funds were provided for him to enroll in a local truck driving school to obtain a Class A Commercial Driver’s License.

Upon completion of the training, Derrick obtained his certification and CDL-A. He now works full-time for Holland Transportation. Derrick has already obtained additional training and received a number of endorsements on his license.

Innovative Employer Program Helps Father of Nine Overcome Flooding Disaster

An unprecedented flooding disaster in 2021 cost Troy, 59, and his family of nine most of their possessions, including furniture, clothing and food. They were facing eviction from their home after failing to pay rent and utilities for two months after the flooding. His employer, Witzenmann USA, is a member of the Oakland County Business Resource Network and Troy turned to the company’s assigned success coach for assistance. The coach tapped into community resources to pay the rent and prevent an eviction, help pay utility bills and provide additional assistance to help the family replace property lost in the flood.

Troy, a valued Witzenmann employee, was able to keep his family safely housed, reducing his stress and keeping him focused on the job, benefiting both him and his employer.

A Young Adult’s Career Gets Back on Track After a Completing Training Program

Zerina, 22, decided to switch careers in search of better opportunities and pay, as well become more self-reliant. She previously worked as a pharmacy technician but, after taking a leave of absence to complete her college degree, her license had expired and she did not have a job. Zerina was unemployed for several months before turning to Oakland County Michigan Works! for help. She decided to pursue a new career as a certified nurse’s aide. Zerina enrolled in a local community college CNA training program and, with help from the Michigan Works! team, secured funding for tuition through the federal WIOA program.

Zerina obtained a job at a local medical clinic and, based on her experience, was elevated to a medical assistant position. Her long-term plans are to become a physician’s assistant.

New Skills Lead to a New Career

After spending more than 12 years in the automotive industry as a mechanical engineer/designer, Paramjit, 57, was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic. He spent nearly a year looking for another job with no luck, so he engaged Oakland County Michigan Works! for help. The team recommended a skills upgrade. Paramjit’s case manager helped him qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance and enroll at Lawrence Technological University, where he earned certifications as an Advanced Project Management Professional, Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt and Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt.

It took one month for Paramjit to complete the training and he quickly obtained a new job as a design engineer. He attributed his additional skills as the reason for securing the new position.

Learning Disability Does Not Stop Young Man From Landing Hospital Position

During his senior year in high school, Brian, 17, began exploring his post-graduation options. Despite a documented learning disability, his goal was to secure a job in the healthcare field. He participated in a talent tour at Troy Beaumont Hospital hosted by Oakland County Michigan Works! and decided to pursue a part-time position there after graduation. The Michigan Works! team qualified Brian for WIOA In-School Youth funding to secure a paid work experience in the hospital’s radiology department. This gave him access to a variety of employability services, plus additional career planning assistance.

Brian flourished in the program. He was exposed to a variety of job responsibilities in the radiology department and secured a full-time position with Beaumont Health Systems as a support aide in diagnostic radiology.

Job Search Counseling and Other Services Help Mother Return to Workforce During Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the nation, Keona, 27, found herself unemployed and lacking daycare for her young child. She had experience in the culinary arts, but had a gap in her employment, which she needed help in addressing with employers. Keona turned to Oakland County Michigan Works! for assistance. She was enrolled in PATH and worked with our team to enhance her soft skills, develop a resume, improve her interviewing skills and launch a job search. She also received assistance to ensure she had reliable transportation.

Within one month, Keona obtained a new full-time job as a cake decorator at a bakery in metro Detroit. Since then, she has been given a significant hourly raise and is training to assume other responsibilities.

Single Mother Returns to Michigan With a Determination To Succeed and Does

Starting over after a failed marriage, single mother Quinn, 29, returned to Michigan earlier this year with her two young children, including a newborn. She had virtually nothing but hope and a determination to succeed. Oakland County Michigan Works! provided the resources needed to get her life together, relaunch her career and provide for her family. She participated in the PATH program and Michigan Works! staff helped arrange for childcare, transportation, insurance, clothing, testing fees and other necessities during her job search.

Quinn became a licensed Michigan insurance agent at a southeast Michigan agency. Quinn said the two to her success were finding a job and reliable transportation, both made possible through the assistance provided by the staff.

Laid Off Assembly Line Worker Takes Her Career in New Direction, Goes Back to School

Darlene, 32, worked at a parts assembly plant for several years and, but she was permanently laid off. Rather than simply find a similar position, she decided to take her life in a new direction. Darlene chose to pursue a career in information technology with the help of Oakland County Michigan Works! She took advantage of the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program that provided funding for her to enroll in a two-year program at a local computing training center.

Upon completion of the program, she secured multiple network computing certifications and a permanent position with NTT Data as a field tech associate supporting the DMC.