Greetings!


As the saying goes, "April showers bring May flowers" plus many career services and resources. This month's newsletter includes information about our WIOA orientation sessions, entrepreneurship training opportunities, job hunting tips, our Fall job fair, financial stability services, literacy services, and civil and expungement legal services.

The Forward Careers Team is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm by appointment and virtually.

Visit our website to learn about other programs and services not listed below.
WIOA: Adult & Dislocated Worker

May 20, 2021 @ 9:00 AM

Need a job or a better one? If you are 18 or older, join us to learn how we can help with training and finding meaningful well-paying jobs that meet your needs.

Audience: Ages 18+ who are unemployed, underemployed, laid off workers, displaced homemakers, veterans, justice served individuals, returning parents, and/or mature workers.
WIOA: employMEnt NOW!

May 20, 2021 @ 5:00 PM

The pandemic has been tough on students and may have delayed post-secondary education plans. Join us to learn about career exploration, training and work readiness options for out-of-school young adults.

Audience: Guidance Counselors, Teachers, Parents, HS Seniors and/or Out-of-School young adults.
Upskill or Fade Away?

We know that sounds harsh, but now it is the new reality. The pandemic has accelerated advances in technology that are here to stay. It is no longer just about having professional competencies or transferable skills. Employers are looking for workers that have the ability to upskill, reskill, and attain new skills. 

The good news is that we offer job training programs and resources to assist individuals navigate their options. We can connect individuals to both short-term training and certification programs. These programs, which can be completed in as little as one day or up to two years, provide an array of employment opportunities upon completion. If unemployed or underemployed individuals need to transition to another job immediately, we provide job preparation tools and can connect you to our Business Solutions Team, who can help you find employment opportunities quickly. They have relationships with hundreds of hiring managers across all industries and can offer employers hiring incentive programs such as work experience, internships and on-the-job training. Plus, we can walk you through how to best negotiate starting salary and benefits.


Contact us to get one step closer to your goals!

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Applications Open for Justice Served Individuals

Defy's Entrepreneurship Bootcamp provides intensive entrepreneurship training and personal development skills important for business to formerly incarcerated men and women. After completing the Bootcamp, you can apply to Defy’s Business Accelerator for advanced training.

Join a community that believes in second chances! Become an Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) when you join Defy’s Bootcamp, where you will:

  • Develop a business idea
  • Develop the foundations of business strategy
  • Learn the basics of marketing
  • Develop leadership skills
  • Learn business etiquette
  • Receive coaching from Defy’s executive volunteer
MEET QUAN HUYNH

Quan served over 20 years in prison. He is now the founder and CEO of Jade Janitors. Quan has hired several people with criminal histories and generated an average of $77,778 in yearly revenue. The initial startup cost for Jade Janitors in 2016 was only $1,800. Since that time, Jade Janitors has grossed $350,000
For more information and to apply to Defy’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp please contact:
 


Ready to apply? Visit the link below.

Ready to Job Hunt?

The last few newsletters have focused on preparing for interviews, traits of a good resume, and identifying and highlighting transferable skills. Now let's focus on job hunting and what that involves.

Successful job hunting requires using certain techniques to make sure you stand out to potential employers. Use these tips to help you succeed in a competitive market and get the job you want.

  • Know your career goals: Identify what type of job you want. Make sure you have a clear and realistic goal.

  • Plan ahead: Organize yourself and your schedule to search for jobs more efficiently. Create or update your profile on professional networking websites and create a spreadsheet to note the jobs you have applied for and the interviews you have received. You might also choose to set up a professional email account to keep your job search messages separate and organized from your personal ones.

  • Customize your resume: Adapt your resume to each job you apply for. Study the job description to determine why you are a great fit. Then, add your skills, experience and measurable achievements that are relevant to that position. Hiring managers who look through many resumes should be able to read yours and quickly know you have the skills for the position.

  • Research companies: As you find job listings that interest you, research the hiring companies before applying. This can provide you with information about their company culture, benefits and salary range, products and services and work environment. It also gives you valuable information you can reference in your cover letter or interview.

  • Apply with confidence: Apply for jobs you are interested in even if you only meet some of their requirements. Depending on the position, employers might hire motivated individuals who learn quickly and provide them with skills training on the job. If you meet a portion of a job’s qualifications but believe you can still succeed in that role, apply. Include examples of your work ethic and ability to learn new skills in your resume.

  • Prepare for interviews: Research common interview questions, create responses for them and practice those responses before you get invited to an interview. If you are well-prepared, you will be more confident and comfortable when you go into your next interview.

  • Follow up: Immediately after a job interview, send the hiring manager a thank you note. If you have not heard back from them after a week, follow up with a phone call or an email. When doing so, show your excitement and interest in the job. While you wait for a response, continue searching for and applying to jobs that interest you.


If you need assistance, we are here to help. Forward Careers hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm, Mondays - Fridays. We can meet virtually or in-person at our locations or community hubs.

Save the Date: Fall Job Fair
Due to the pandemic's unpredictability, we have a tentative job fair planned for:


October 13, 2021
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Waukesha County Expo Center


Save the date. Job seekers will be asked to register in advance to monitor gathering size limitations, if any. Details will be shared as the date draws closer.
Center for Financial Stability

La Casa de Esperanza offers a variety of financial stability services to community members. Services include:

  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
  • One-on-one Financial & Credit Coaching
  • Financial Education
  • Homeownership Assistance
Literacy Services

Literacy Services of Wisconsin is now serving adults in Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties. Services include:

  • One-on-One Tutoring, virtual or in person
  • Small group classes
  • GED preparation
  • High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) Programs / Adult High School
  • Reading instruction – all levels
  • Improve writing and/or math skills
  • Dyslexia support / Intensive remediation program
  • English Language Learning (ELL/ESL) – all levels
  • Citizenship preparation
  • Assistance with Driver’s Education prep, driver’s license restoration
  • Remote learning help for parents
  • Connect with local job opportunities, access skilled-trades apprenticeship programs
  • Digital literacy / computer skills – devices available for student use
  • Assistance* with internet/phone bills, transportation, work-related costs (*must be FoodShare eligible)

Remote Civil & Expungement/Pardon Legal Advice Clinics

The Remote Civil Legal Clinics provide FREE legal consultations on issues like Landlord/Tenant, Small Claims, Eviction Sealing, Family Law, Child Support, Estate Planning, Adult Guardianship, Wills and much more. Clinics are over Zoom and allows people to meet with trained legal teams over their computer or Smartphone. The law students take all the notes and drafting of the legal documents. Items are emailed or mailed via USPS directly to clients.
 
The Expungement/Pardon Clinics provide FREE legal advice to individuals who are seeking a pardon or expungement for the criminal records in Wisconsin. Individuals with criminal records may often experience negative consequences beyond their convictions, often that are decades old. Having a felony conviction can affect all aspects of a person's life.

The Expungement/Pardon Clinics are held on Wednesdays from 1 pm - 4 pm, by appointment. Clients are able to meet with an attorney for FREE for 1 hour to learn about specific legal options available to them and the process.

Follow-up appointments are also offered to ensure that clients receive all the guidance they need and have all their questions answered before submitting any applications or paperwork. Volunteers who can directly assist our Spanish-speaking clients are also available.

To make an appointment:
Forward Careers, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer & Service Provider. If you have a disability and need information in an alternative format, including language assistance or translation, and/or need assistance with this information, please contact us at (262) 695-7800 or call through Wisconsin Relay Service 711. Funding provided by the WOW Workforce Development Board through the Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act/Emergency Recovery Grant/Department of Corrections Windows to Work, Department of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Labor H-1B TechHire Grant, Department of Children and Families - John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, Women & Girls Fund of Waukesha County, & United Way of Washington County,