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Wouldn’t trade
My first exposure to CareerMakers dates back to 1986 while working at Tektronix. At that time, their name was The Employment Connection. As a Human Resources Manager for Tektronix, I needed out placement support for "downsized" employees, and learned of The Employment Connection from a coworker. The employees who enrolled in their program gave me glowing reviews!
In 1988, I once again needed out placement support at Tektronix, with major downsizing again taking place. I contacted Pam Gross at The Employment Connection, which had evolved into CareerMakers. Their out placement philosophy remained the same; shortly thereafter, Pam presented the services and support offered to my Group Vice President and his staff. CareerMakers received the go ahead to provide out placement support to all affected employees.
That's how I came to be a CareerMakers Grad - my position would be eliminated, so I immediately enrolled in the Lifetime program in October 1988. Using the networking and interviewing skills learned and developed at CareerMakers, I was successful in landing a new position as Corporate Trainer at Epson Portland Inc.
I kept in touch with Pam and Peter Paskill over the years, and met with multiple CareerMakers Grads who were conducting their informational interviews. Once again unemployed, I used the networking process, and soon thereafter, shared the good news of gainful employment at Norm Thompson.
In July 2001, my position eliminated, I had the option to select any out placement service in Portland, and again chose the CareerMakers' two-week Lifetime Program. While I noted a few adaptations and improvements to the content of the program, the biggest difference was in me! In the 13 years since the first time through the program, my needs and desires had evolved. The program gave me the opportunity to really explore those changes in depth. The personal enrichment and satisfaction I experienced - this second time - far exceeded my expectations.
I chose CareerMakers because of the approach they take in assisting people in first defining what it is that the individual wants out of life, and then, developing a plan to get there. My experience with other "oak and brass" out placement services left me wanting. I loved the sense of family that permeated CareerMakers and the Graduates of their program. I felt that the staff (and the other participants in the program) truly cared about me and wanted me to be successful in my quest. I wouldn't trade that for anything!
Randy Fortson
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