Field Test Example for Workforce Boards: Derek’s Industry Pivot After a Layoff
Olena has recently arrived in Spokane, adjusting to life far from her home in Ukraine. With a background in project management, she’s eager to find work that matches her skills but is unsure where to start. During a visit to the workforce board office, a career advisor introduces her to TalentPass—a platform to help her organize her skills, explore career paths, and create profiles for various industries. TalentPass gives Olena a sense of direction and empowerment as she adapts to her new environment.
Meeting with the Career Advisor: Introduction to TalentPass
Olena sits with a workforce advisor who introduces her to TalentPass. The advisor explains how she can use it to organize her experience and explore roles in Spokane that align with her background in project management. They discuss job areas like operations, office management, and community outreach, which would allow her to use her skills in a new context.
Advisor: “TalentPass will help showcase your project management and organizational skills. These are valuable assets in many fields.”
Olena: “It feels good to see how my experience can fit here. I want to find work that helps me contribute and feel settled.”
Uncovering Transferable Skills: Highlighting Project Management and Communication
The advisor helps Olena complete her TalentPass profile, showcasing her strengths in project management, communication, and adaptability. They highlight how her experience managing complex projects in Ukraine applies to various fields, like office management and operations.
Advisor: “Your project management skills translate well into operations and office management here. Employers look for people who can organize and communicate effectively.”
Olena: “This is helpful. I was worried my experience wouldn’t apply, but I see now that I have useful skills.”
Setting Industry-Specific Profiles: Exploring New Pathways
Using TalentPass, Olena creates profiles tailored for roles in operations, office management, and community outreach. This approach helps her understand how her experience can open doors across different fields. She feels encouraged and ready to begin her job search with more confidence.
Advisor: “Now you have specific profiles ready for each job area. This will make applying easier and show employers your adaptability.”
Olena: “I feel more prepared. Having options gives me hope for what’s ahead.”
Confidence Through Progress Tracking
A few weeks later, Olena is in the workforce office updating her TalentPass profile with new applications and contacts she’s made in Spokane. Tracking her progress reassures her and gives her a sense of accomplishment, knowing she’s taking concrete steps toward stability.
Olena (thinking): “This is empowering. I can see the progress I’m making and know I’m closer to finding my place here.”
With TalentPass, Olena can organize her skills and experience in a way that resonates with local employers in Spokane, making her transition smoother and her job search more manageable. By creating profiles tailored for various industries, she has options and flexibility. For workforce boards, TalentPass offers a structured, supportive tool for refugees and newcomers to find meaningful work that utilizes their skills and supports a fresh start.
