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Destinos & Empowerment: Making Connections to Career Resources & Success | National Able
Paola Arias was born and raised in the state of Cojedes in Venezuela. “It’s a state with lots of nature, trees, and cows,” says Paola. As an ambitious and self-motivated person, Paola worked hard to pursue her undergraduate studies in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. When she was accepted into…
Destinos & Empowerment: A New Arrivals Series with National Able Network -- New Arrival Finds Community, Career, and Belonging | National Able
Destinos & Empowerment: A New Arrivals Series with National Able Network “I never had a plan to go anywhere [outside of Venezuela],” says William Paul Mijares, a 46-year-old new Chicago resident, “But things were getting worse every time. I couldn’t find a job.” William was well-prepared for three different careers…
Destinos & Empowerment: A New Arrivals Series with National Able Network | National Able
From the Frontlines Strolling down 18th Street in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, it’s nearly impossible to miss the artistic and cultural footprints left to be admired throughout the centuries. Pilsen has been the bedrock for newly-arrived immigrants since the 1840’s. The streets of Pilsen are paved with years of hope, hard…
PLANTING THE SEEDS TO JOB SEARCH SUCCESS: THREE TIPS FOR A BLOOMING CAREER | National Able
As the spring season kicks off, and we see the budding of trees and flowers all around us, it is also the perfect time to reflect on your career growth and goals. During this season, take a fresh look at your resume, your LinkedIn profile, and your overall job search…
#1 Question to Ask in an Interview: What is your Culture of Learning? A Member of Able’s Team Reflects on Our Learning Culture | National Able
A recent article from CNBC.com challenges employees to ask their leaders about what kind of “culture of learning” is available to them take advantage of. In this case, a culture of learning is everything from career coaching and development to taking risks and rewarding performance improvement. In essence, a healthy…
On the Journey to a New Career | National Able
Elizabeth Delgado was born in Gurabo, Puerto Rico and immigrated to Chicago at the age of fifteen. As soon as she arrived, Elizabeth’s priority was to find work. During that era, jobs were scarce and especially so for new arrivals, so Elizabeth like many others, quickly accepted factory work. And…
Career Coaching: The Secret to Success! | National Able
Rosita Villagomez Aguirre had learned to support herself when she left home at the age of 14. With a daughter to care for, Rosita quickly began working in construction. “I grabbed a cutting blade and measuring tape and got to work at the sites myself,” she recalls. Rosita was a…
You just got promoted at work – or did you? Explaining dry promotions | National Able
Now that performance review season is over for most companies, news about promotions and salary increases should start making the rounds soon. Traditionally, a promotion is expected to come with a raise. But recently, some companies are beginning to offer what are called “dry promotions” — or a promotion into…
Equal Pay Day | National Able
It’s Equal Pay Day! As we honor the significance of today, it’s important to recognize its history. In the 1940s while World War II was in full swing, women workers were directly replacing male workers who were drafted to serve overseas. These women were quite literally doing the exact same…
Passion for Training Leads to New Career | National Able
Rohini Patel earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University. As she entered the job market, she quickly began her career in the Information Technology industry. She says, “Engineering is process improvement which is what IT is at the end of the day, so it was the right…
“I’ve learned that the only way to fail is when you quit.” | National Able
Shaun Gray’s brothers, father, and grandfather all served in the U.S. military. So, when Shaun was just 17 years old, he too quickly enlisted. “My father was in the Navy and my brothers were in the Army, so I had to somewhat upstage them, and I joined the U.S. Marine…
One Senior's New Life with Purpose and Grac(ie) | National Able
At 72 years young, Cynthia Claude Rawson, a Fort Dodge, Iowa resident, has a happy work and home life with her cat, Gracie Kitty. It wasn’t always this idyllic; Cynthia has overcome many challenges throughout her life. She discovered she had a learning disability and that led to tough moments…
REBOOTING IT CAREER AFTER RETIREMENT | National Able
Jessie Castaneda was born in Chicago, and raised in the city during the 1960s and 1970s. After dropping out of high school, Jessie enlisted in the U.S. Army where he found structure and drive. It was in the Army that he completed high school and earned college credits. Upon being…
Creating Resume Magic at National Able Network | National Able
Cassandra Stinson, a 34-year-old West Chicago native and mom of three, began her career in the healthcare field about 11 years ago. “My auntie was working in a direct support position, and when I found out more about what it was. It appealed to me instantly,” says Cassandra. Over the…
REFLECTING ON THE RIGHT TO WORK IN 2024 | National Able
“Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.” Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.* Every day thousands of individuals make the difficult and dangerous journey to the United States, by land or sea,…
New Certification & New Resume Sparks New Career | National Able
David Guillen is originally from Moroleon, a small town in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. At the age of 3, his family moved to Chicago and he spent the rest of his childhood raised between the two countries. A constant presence during this time was David’s older brother who taught…
National Able Network Shines Bright During Career Changer’s First Job Search in 32 Years | National Able
George Drain worked at a metal engineering organization for 32 years. He was an absolute expert in shaping and forming metal! Unfortunately, the organization went out of business in early 2023 and George found himself unemployed. The very first thing George did was visit the Near West American Job Center…
Calculating a New Career After Retirement | National Able
A Veterans Career Path: From In-Person Warrior to Cyber Warrior Mark Hopkins spent 30 years in the U.S. Army where he had about nine different roles from commander to inspector general and many in between. Mark’s very last assignment was at West Point where he held a teaching position in…
As Holidays Approach, Seasonal Hiring Highlights Economic Uncertainty | National Able
The period between Halloween and the December holidays is usually when shoppers are out in force and retail businesses bulk up their staffing to meet the rush. This year is no different in those regards, but with one key change from the recent past: seasonal hiring is declining to pre-pandemic…
A Veterans IT Journey! | National Able
Jasmine Tutson is a go getter. By the age of 24, Jasmin worked in a variety of roles including Certified Nursing Assistant, Electrocardiogram technician, and phlebotomist – just to name a few. Her thirst for life experience, growth, and knowledge was limitless. In 2012, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy.…
Q&A with Chief Program Officer, Alejandra Sinecio : Workforce development, an inclusive future, and advice for first-time job seekers in the US | National Able
Q: Why is important to celebrate and highlight the workforce development industry? A. It’s important that we showcase the careers in our communities! Monthly and weekly celebrations like National Apprenticeship week, and especially Workforce Development Month which just occurred in September, provide an opportunity for our workforce ecosystem to come…
New Career Goals = New RemarkAble Resume! | National Able
Kym Simmons worked in the banking industry for most of her career, however her dreams and aspirations changed in March 2023. It was during this time that Kym decided to pursue a career outside of the corporate world, so she connected with National Able Network to begin her new career…
National Hispanic Heritage Month: Si Se Puede | National Able
This National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Able Network honors the achievements and contributions Hispanics and Latinos have added to the United States. As a workforce agency, we can’t help but look at the ever-lasting impact Hispanics and Latinos have had on elevating rights in the workforce. From protections for farm…
Curious How Much That Job Pays? Salary Transparency is Coming to Illinois | National Able
Outside of “will I get the job?” the most burning question jobseekers ask is “how much will it pay?” It’s an important question, too, because it’s crucial to know whether your career move or new job comes with a pay bump or a pay cut. Salary is usually negotiated, but…
Diving into Data: An Ocean & Logistics Specialist’s Career Journey | National Able
Daniel Adame is an ocean export and logistics specialist with more than 20 years of experience. He began his career at a company that valued his expertise so much he stayed on for 17 years! Being part of the company as well as a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps…
A RemarkAble Career Pathway | National Able
Angel Cintron is a 48-year-old Chicago native who has almost 20 years of experience in industrial design with specialized concentrations in consumer products and toy design. From generating 2D and 3D files for use across multiple departments to conducting color studies and user analysis, Angel has done it all. One…
Hybrid Work is the New Normal | National Able
The Covid-19 pandemic prompted massive societal changes, from a volatile economy, to lower income inequality, to wider acceptance of hybrid work. Hybrid work is an arrangement where employees split their work between the office and their homes. Common schedules might be working from the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for…
On The Road to Success with National Able Network | National Able
When Darren Stokes graduated from high school in Chicago, he immediately and eagerly joined the workforce. In almost every job he held, Darren’s motivation and ambition were easily recognized, and he quickly worked his way up to managerial roles. But Darren wanted a career pathway, and he decided to become…
The Tech Career ‘Shake’ Up: A Journey to Success | National Able
Alfred Davis-Shih graduated college in 2010. He quickly pursued his passion at the time working on the production side of TV commercials, short-form documentaries, news stories, and more. However, in 2014, Alfred decided to pursue a different passion: data analytics. He was offered an amazing job at a large, internationally-recognized…
What a Resilient Economy Means for Job Seekers | National Able
In the first half of 2023, news headlines sounded like canaries in the economic coal mine: Key Indicator Puts the Chance of Recession at 100%, The US has a 100% chance of tipping into recession within 12 months, and so on. The threat of a recession was not only serious,…
Women’s Equality Day: A Moment of Celebration & Reflection | National Able
Women’s Equality Day, celebrated on August 26th, is widely known as the day to honor the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment allowing women the right to vote which was signed in 1920 by U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby. A little-known fact is that the Women’s Bureau at the U.S.…
How a Workforce Development Agency Works | National Able
When people hear the phrase “workforce development” they tend to have a vague understanding of what it means, and they have almost no impression of workforce development agencies. But organizations like National Able Network and other workforce agencies serve an important role in helping people learn new skills, launch new…
Driven to Succeed: A New Career and a New Outlook on Life | National Able
When Benjamin Raya Rico was 15 years old, he and his family moved from Michoacán, Mexico to Chicago. Benjamin recalls being full of hope and determination and guided by the pursuit of a better life. The memory of this major transition remains very fresh, and Benjamin remembers adjusting not only…
How a Workforce Development Agency Works | National Able
When people hear the phrase “workforce development” they tend to have a vague understanding of what it means, and they have almost no impression of workforce development agencies. But organizations like National Able Network and other workforce agencies serve an important role in helping people learn new skills, launch new…
Driven to Succeed: A New Career and a New Outlook on Life | National Able
When Benjamin Raya Rico was 15 years old, he and his family moved from Michoacán, Mexico to Chicago. Benjamin recalls being full of hope and determination and guided by the pursuit of a better life. The memory of this major transition remains very fresh, and Benjamin remembers adjusting not only…
Women’s Equality Day: A Moment of Celebration & Reflection | National Able
Women’s Equality Day, celebrated on August 26th, is widely known as the day to honor the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment allowing women the right to vote which was signed in 1920 by U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby. A little-known fact is that the Women’s Bureau at the U.S.…
The Tech Career ‘Shake’ Up: A Journey to Success | National Able
Alfred Davis-Shih graduated college in 2010. He quickly pursued his passion at the time working on the production side of TV commercials, short-form documentaries, news stories, and more. However, in 2014, Alfred decided to pursue a different passion: data analytics. He was offered an amazing job at a large, internationally-recognized…
Summer Success Blog Series | How to Make the Best First Impression (Virtually!) | National Able
While the world is slowly returning to a new kind of normal, there are some changes that might be here to stay. For example, the pandemic has greatly impacted how employers connect with potential hires. Now, instead of getting to make your first impression in person, many interviews are conducted…
What a Resilient Economy Means for Job Seekers | National Able
In the first half of 2023, news headlines sounded like canaries in the economic coal mine: Key Indicator Puts the Chance of Recession at 100%, The US has a 100% chance of tipping into recession within 12 months, and so on. The threat of a recession was not only serious,…
Our First (Official) Juneteenth Celebration! | National Able
As we continue on our Equity Journey, we believe that recognizing and celebrating important historical events is critical to achieving adaptation. It is through education and by recognizing our collective history that we can correct the present and create a more beautiful future. For this reason and many more, it…