When you’ve worked for the same employer for 22 years, it’s a bit of a shock to suddenly find yourself out of a job. Not only do you lose your job, your income, and medical benefits—you lose daily contact with people you’ve known for years, your regular daily schedule, and a piece of your very identity.

That’s what happened to Ron Womack when he was laid off from his technical writing position at Retech in November, 2001. However, Ron soon learned through a Mendocino Works “Rapid Response” visit that being laid off made him automatically eligible for intensive employment and training benefits under the dislocated worker program.

Ron visited the Mendocino Works Employment Resource Center and soon found himself coming in on a daily basis. “I’ve always worked in an office—ever since I was in college. Coming into the Resource Center filled a void—the isolation—I experienced after losing my job. It gave me back the interaction with others I had lost and made my job search so much more comfortable.”

Since Ron had enjoyed full-time employment since 1970 without having to apply for jobless benefits, he was especially pleased to have the Employment Development Department (EDD) professionals in the same office as Mendocino Works. “EDD gave me quick answers to filling out forms and accurate answers to my questions. The staff knew just who to call in Sacramento if they needed to confirm answers to my questions. In spite of the heavy workload a year ago, answers were both fast and accurate. The level of professionalism on the part of Mendocino Works and Employment Development were remarkable.”

Once he had several versions of his resume completed, Ron discovered “Job Club,” a weekly two-hour gathering of people just like himself—all looking for work. Sharing stories and experiences of job-hunting with others created an informed, supportive network which broadened everyone’s perspective.

Ron’s job search took a long time—about four months. There were times when it was hard to stay upbeat, focused, and positive. The proactive approach of the staff at Mendocino Works encouraged him to look at things a different way, try another angle, and consider the possibility of applying skills he already had in a different career.

Mendocino Works covered all the bases—rather than feeling locked into one path, Ron began to envision many possible directions that lay before him. Ron even found himself going to Ukiah Chamber after-hour mixers, as a guest of Mendocino Works—an ideal networking situation. “Meeting people in a social situation is much more relaxing, and also a great way to size people up. I even obtained an interview, and while I didn’t get the job, I gained a valuable contact and the possibility of future contract work.”

It was the all-encompassing aspect of services that yielded eventual success. Ron never felt like “just a number” at Mendocino Works – he always felt like someone who truly mattered. When he sat down to talk with Carol Jarvis, lead Employer Service Representative at MPIC, she made calls to employers on the spot. “She knew so many local employers – she couldn’t guarantee I’d get a job, but she could guarantee I’d be considered. It’s nice to know you have an ‘ace up your sleeve’ like that—it’s something you can’t get from applying to help wanted ads on your own.”

Ron found his ideal job in March of 2002, as a Manufacturing Support Engineer for LectroTherm Process Systems in Cloverdale. Although Ron had many marketable skills he still lacked some of the skills directly related to the position. Mendocino Works worked with LectroTherm on drawing up an On-the-Job (OJT) contract whereby LectroTherm was reimbursed for half of Ron’s wages for four months while he trained in areas such as configuring the control system, overseeing product testing, and updating AutoCAD drawings.

Ron is very happy with his new job, and, with all fourteen areas of his OJT contract marked “excellent” and one “very good,” LectroTherm is very happy with him. He’s hoping this job will be his last, but should anything unexpected happen, he knows the door is always open at Mendocino Works.

Ron Womack