Three from Workforce Services earn career coaching credentials

JOLIET – Three Will County Workforce Services Division employees have earned the Certified Professional Career Coach certification from the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches, the career service industry’s longest-standing association.

Career Advisor Pam Abbott, Youth Advisor Erin Kohl and Dave Nichols, Mobile Workforce Center Facilitator/Driver, spent about six months working toward the designation, including submitting a testing portfolio that included documented coaching hours. They join others from around the globe who have earned the certification.

    “This certification verifies that our staff have the skills to provide individualized career services to our job seeker customers,” said WSD Administrative Manager Susan Flessner. “We are very proud of Pam, Erin and Dave for obtaining this certification, and are pleased to be able to offer a higher level of service to Will County residents who are looking for work.”

The three are the first in the Will County department to earn the designation, considered to be the gold standard in the career coaching field, said Flessner. While they are the first, they won’t be the last. She said other employees will soon begin the course.

The Certified Professional Career Coach program is directed by Diane Hudson Burns, a multi-credentialed, award-winning career coach and professional resume writer, and book author, and is sponsored by the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. The program includes six modules focused on long-term career management, workforce management, traditional and social media job search, interviewing, and more.

Will County WSD is under County Executive Larry Walsh’s office and is led by Flessner. For additional information about the Workforce Services Division of Will County, go to www.jobs4people.org.