Having a vision and a goal

RA came to the One-Stop Career Training Services Center after being laid off three years ago during the height of the pandemic. She had worked as a medical assistant but was finding it difficult to find employment that allowed her the flexibility she needed as a single parent to adequately care for her young child. RA met with her Career Navigator and shared her dream of one day owning a hair salon. It turns out that RA not only had a passion for the hair styling industry, but also had significant skills in hair design. Despite never having any formal training, she had been braiding the hair of friends and family for years and designed silk wigs, which she was able to sell for a very small profit.

After researching career pathways in the field, RA and her Career Navigator crafted an employment plan that would lead to sustainable employment, financial stability, and flexible hours in an industry for which she had a deep passion. Using a training grant provided by the One Stop Career Training Services Center, RA enrolled and completed a cosmetology program. Her instructors were impressed by her natural flair for hair design and commented that she was a standout student. Within weeks of completing training, RA received a job offer as a sales representative in an upscale salon, earning more than she did in her previous job as a medical assistant.

After passing her cosmetology exam and becoming certified and licensed, RA will be able to move into a hair design position with her current employer, which will continue to increase her income. RA credits her Career Navigator with providing her the knowledge, guidance and encouragement needed to start a new career journey, which she hopes will lead her to operating her own salon.