Field Test Example for Workforce Boards: Raymond’s Transition to a New Career After Hurricane Idalia
Raymond, a middle-aged former shipping logistics coordinator, was forced to leave his hometown near the Florida Gulf Coast after Hurricane Idalia devastated the area. With his home and workplace severely impacted, he and his family relocated to Spokane, Washington, where they’re staying at a rental property owned by Raymond’s brother. Despite his years of experience in logistics and emergency coordination, Raymond is unsure how to adapt his skills to the job market in his new community. When he visits the local workforce board, they introduce him to TalentPass—a tool to help him discover and showcase his skills, including those acquired through life’s many unexpected challenges. TalentPass becomes a bridge, helping Raymond find new career opportunities in the Spokane area.
Introduction to TalentPass: Meeting with a Workforce Advisor
Raymond meets with a workforce advisor who explains how TalentPass can help him organize his experience and highlight his skills in a way that appeals to local employers. The advisor reassures him that his background in logistics and emergency response is valuable, even in a new location and industry.
Advisor: “TalentPass can help surface your skills in logistics and emergency coordination, which are needed in many fields. We’ll highlight these in your profile.”
Raymond: “That sounds good. It’s been overwhelming trying to start over, but I want to find work here for my family.”
Highlighting Transferable Skills: Finding Hidden Experience in Life and Work
The advisor helps Raymond add his experience managing logistics and emergency coordination to his TalentPass profile. They discuss how his skills in organization, problem-solving, and handling stressful situations—gained through both work and life events like relocating after the hurricane—can apply to roles in industries like warehousing, supply chain, or even local government emergency services.
Advisor: “You’ve handled complex logistics, often under pressure. This makes you an ideal candidate for local supply chain and warehouse roles.”
Raymond: “I didn’t realize how much I could still offer in these fields. I thought my skills only applied back home.”
Setting a New Career Plan: Goals for a Fresh Start
Using TalentPass, Raymond and the advisor create a plan to help him adapt to Spokane’s job market. They set goals such as applying to supply chain and emergency response roles, networking with local professionals, and logging his progress in TalentPass. Raymond feels a renewed sense of purpose and direction.
Advisor: “Let’s set some goals. Start by applying to local roles, and we’ll track your progress here in TalentPass.”
Raymond: “It’s helpful to see it all organized like this. It makes moving forward feel possible.”
Building Confidence Through Tracking Progress
A few months later, Raymond sits in the workforce center updating his TalentPass profile with his new achievements. He’s landed a role in supply chain management and is beginning to see how his past experiences are relevant in his new career. TalentPass helps him feel more in control of his career journey, even after the disruption of relocating.
Raymond (thinking): “I didn’t expect to find work I could connect with here. I’m glad I have this profile to show what I’ve done.”
TalentPass has become an essential tool in helping Raymond transition to a new career after the loss of his home and job due to Hurricane Idalia. By organizing his experiences and surfacing his transferable skills, TalentPass gives Raymond the confidence to pursue a new path in Spokane. Workforce boards can leverage TalentPass to support displaced workers like Raymond, highlighting the skills they may not realize they have and opening doors to careers they may not have considered. For climate refugees and others experiencing major life transitions, TalentPass offers a clear, supportive framework to rebuild a career and life.
