Determination, Drive, Tuition Assistance, and an Alternator Help Tiffany Start a New Career

Tiffany initially came to the Michigan Works! office for assistance in filing her Unemployment claim. Michigan Works! Career Navigators helped her with her claim filing process and helped her complete the Register for Work requirement. After hearing about the tuition assistance programs available, Tiffany came back the very next week to see if she could begin the application process to receive assistance for an upcoming Phlebotomy program. She also attended a UIA required RESEA Workshop at Michigan Works!, where she created a new chronological resume that highlighted her caregiver/healthcare experience.

After completing her tuition assistance application, Tiffany continued to utilize the Michigan Works! Resource Room in order to complete her UIA weekly work search requirement and bi-weekly UIA Certification Questions. Shortly after, Tiffany learned her tuition assistance was approved, thanks to funding from the WIOA Adult and MiREACH programs.

Over the next two months, Tiffany attended her Phlebotomy courses at Mid-Michigan College and obtained her certificate of completion. Unfortunately, just one week after completing her coursework, Tiffany’s alternator went out in her car, hampering her plans for starting her interviews. Once again, Michigan Works! was able to assist, and thanks to Barrier Removal Employment Success (BRES) funding, her Career Navigator was able to help with the costs of the car repair.

With a running vehicle, Tiffany was ready to interview. She used the resume she had created during the workshops she previously attended and only had to add her new certification. She also utilized the interview skills that she gained in the RESEA Workshop as well. 

Tiffany is happy to report that she is no longer collecting UIA benefits and is now earning enough to be self-sufficient, having secured full-time employment as a Phlebotomist at Quest Diagnostics.