Networking Works for Business Analyst
For more than ten years, Ken worked at a large insurance
company where he was first an Applications Developer, then
promoted to a Team Lead. He thought he was at the pinnacle of
his career until he was laid off on his birthday in August 2011.
Concerned about his future, he attended an information session
at the Lake County Job Center and applied for training under the
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) grant. In November 2011, Lake
County Workforce Development funded Ken to attend training in
database administration and update his knowledge of SQL (a
programming language).
Ken wanted to find employment quickly to support his family. He
attended workshops at the Job Center and met with a staff
member who emphasized the importance of networking. When
he applied for a position on Dice.com, he realized he knew the IT
Director from a previous job. Instead of merely applying online,
Ken contacted this former manager and requested help. That
contact led to an interview. In July 2012, Ken was hired as a
Business Analyst for a major healthcare company. He says he
didn’t realize the importance of networking prior to this. He loves
his new job because it combines his business savvy and technical
skills.
Ken said the hardest
things to manage during
unemployment was
losing confidence in
himself.
‚Job search involves
many rejections.‛
Job search assistance is available to everyone at either the
Waukegan or Grayslake Job Center. From May to July 2012:
Public computers were used 5846 times, and
1052 people attended a workshop or information session
onsite.
An additional 534 adults in Lake County received training services
under the Workforce Investment Act between July 2011 and June
2012!
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