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Beverly’s niece Erica McKenzie joins her on this episode to discusses the importance of acquiring skills and training to better position yourself for the current job market. While college is not for everyone, it is wise to look at the opportunities that a vocational program can offer.  Vocational programs can be completed faster, with less expense, and lead to good paying careers.  A great example of this is the health care industry, which is thriving in this economy.

Erica wanted a career program that would not require an extensive amount of time to complete so she enrolled in an eight-week course to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.   After Erica completed the course and fulfilled her clinical hours, she was then able to take the State Boards exam to obtain her certification. Erica worked in her home state for two years and was then able to apply for reciprocity from various states. Currently Erica is a traveling CNA and is working in South Dakota. By become a Certified Nursing Assistant, she has positioned herself to be able to:

• Travel around the country and work in a variety of long term and assisted living facilities.
• Pass a course that allows her to dispense medication to her patients.
• Work with a diverse group of people who has been able to teach her new techniques to improve her job performance, as well as expose her to different parts of their own culture.

Erica offers the following advice to listeners who may be considering a career change:

• Maintain multiple streams of income during the change.
• Find a job that you can enjoy.
• Before you choose a career, it is okay to do what you have to do until you are able to do what you want.
• When choosing a career, “don’t do it if you don’t want to do it.”  You are only wasting your time, and your employers time.

What has been the hardest adjustment since moving from Georgia to South Dakota?

THE WEATHER!