DeAnn: I’m taking advantage of opportunities to bring my skills up.
Since being laid off, DeAnn has been taking advantage of opportunities that increase her chances of getting an interview. While taking free computer classes at the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), DeAnn heard about the National Career Readiness Certificate.

 “Taking the practice assessments was a good way to learn that I was low in reading and math and that I needed to beef up my skill in those areas. I worked hard to bring my skills up by taking advantage of the skills tutorials while I was job searching.

 I’m really proud of my Bronze NCRC and I’m glad I earned it. It’s another tool that helps me grow while I’m looking for work.”

Lorni: It felt good to earn my NCRC; it confirms what I can do.
Lorni found her way to the NCRC because she heard a local employer prefers that applicants  have a certificate. However, in addition to adding it as a tool for her job search, she discovered  she enjoyed the process of earning her certificate.

“It felt good to earn my Gold NCRC. I have a lot of confidence in myself, but it’s nice to have confirmation of what I can do. My certificate is something solid I can bring to an interview,  and if an employer is using the NCRC to help select applicants, then it gives me a leg up.”

Lori: I’m working on preparing myself for when something promising  comes along.
Lori, in Central Oregon, wants to get into a new field, but she isn’t sure yet what she wants to  do. She is working on preparing herself for when something promising comes along.

“New things don’t scare me, so if the NCRC helps me get my foot in the door, then I’m glad I earned it. No one can take knowledge away from you, but if you don’t use it, you lose it. I freaked out a little at the idea of taking the assessments, but I ended up enjoying the process because it exercised my mind. I’m proud that I can still do well in math—it was always my strong subject.

I did well, and I earned a Gold NCRC. The staff explained what my certificate level means and  how I can use it in a job search.”

Kent: The process of earning my Gold NCRC helped me realize I want to pursue a new career in the medical field.
After 14 years as a flight attendant, Kent is now working to reinvent his career. One of the staff  at the WorkSource Center suggested that Kent earn the NCRC as one step that he could take  right now.

“Experience from my life helped me when I took the assessments. I was able to draw on things  that I’ve done at work or just during day-to-day living, like reading a bus schedule.

The process of earning my Gold NCRC gave me confidence to set higher goals in pursuit of a  new career in the medical field.”