SAN ANTONIO –

Each week there are more signs the economy is on the rebound.

Last month employers added 243,000 new jobs, dropping the unemployment rate to 8.3 percent. That’s the lowest it’s been in three years.

Millions of Americans are still out of work though and it can take several months or even years to get hired.

With more people competing for fewer jobs many out of work Americans are finding they have to change careers to find a job.

After four years of processing medical insurance claims for United Health Care, Betty Alexander found herself unexpectedly unemployed in April 2010 after a massive layoff.

“I was scared,” Alexander said. “I knew I had to get out there and hit the pavement and find a job but it’s not easy.”

Alexander applied for unemployment and immediately started searching for a new job.

“I didn’t do the normal job search,” Alexander said. “I did 50 to 60 job searches per week trying to find something.”

When she couldn’t find a job Alexander turned to Workforce Solutions Alamo for help.

“I knew that the first time that I met Mrs. Alexander I knew she was special,” said Sandra Ozuna, Alexander’s case manager.

Ozuna was impressed by Alexander’s level of commitment and convinced her to take part in the agency’s displaced worker program which offers additional training and skills for the unemployed.

“We try to polish them up and make them that shiny diamond that’s going to be out there and they’re going to want you,” Ozuna said.

Alexander decided to go back to school to get her LVN degree. She completed the training while taking care of her two daughters and 15 foster kids. Workforce Solutions Alamo helped her make mortgage payments and provided assistance with her utility bills to help increase her chances of success.

In October 2011, 18 months after losing her job, Alexander was hired by Silver Creek Manor as a charge nurse.

“Sometimes it’s hard to find a job when you start a new career but they believed in me enough to hire me and give me that chance,” Alexander said.

While she admits being unemployed for over a year was stressful and challenging Alexander said she never gave up. She now encourages others to keep fighting.

“There are chances and opportunities out there but if you’re sitting on the sofa they’re not going to come to you, you got to get up and go find them,” Alexander said. “Don’t give up hope, there is help out there you just have to go and find it.”

Alexander loves her new career and she’s now working full time while going to school to become a registered nurse.

She said Workforce Solutions Alamo played a big role in her recovery. Her case manager said Alexander was successful because she stuck to the program and was motivated to find a job.

“She’s an exception, she did a lot for herself,” Ozuna said. “It’s very hard, it’s hard to find a job, you’re competing against a thousand people for one job.”

Article source: http://www.ksat.com/news/Mom-uses-unemployment-to-start-new-career/-/478452/8616942/-/uo0p93z/-/index.html

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