Jennifer Willis Named Work Ready's Job Seeker of the Month

ELBERTON – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Jennifer Willis of Elberton has been selected as Georgia Work Ready’s first Job Seeker of the Month, an initiative that recognizes the hard work and determination of Georgia Work Ready job seekers to validate their core job skills and improve their job prospects.

“The Work Ready program is making a meaningful impact on the lives of Georgians,” said Governor Perdue. “We want to share these stories so that their successes will encourage others to take the assessment and get trained to seek better employment. By providing training to our residents, not only will they have the chance to make a better life for themselves and their families, Georgia’s businesses will thrive with the talented workforce they need to be successful and contribute to Georgia’s economy.”

After being laid off in 2008, Willis enrolled in Athens Technical College in Elberton’s business technology program, where the Work Ready assessment is part of the curriculum. After earning a silver Work Ready Certificate, Willis applied for an internship with the city of Elberton’s Historical Preservation Program and was later hired permanently.

“Without the Work Ready Certificate I could not have obtained this job,” said Willis. “Working at the Historical Preservation Program has changed my life. Before going back to school and working for the city of Elberton, I would not have been exposed to my current field. I learned that not only am I interested in the functions of local government, I have developed a passion for historical preservation.”

Each month, www.gaworkready.org will feature a success story of how earning a Work Ready Certificate has improved a job seeker’s confidence and availed them with new employment opportunities. Certificate holders are encouraged to visit the Web site to share their stories about how earning a certificate has encouraged them to seek skills gap training and better job opportunities. Featured Work Ready individuals will receive a $100 pre-paid gift card in recognition of their hard work.

Georgia’s Work Ready initiative is based on a skills assessment, certification and skills gap training for job seekers and a job profiling system for businesses. By identifying both the needs of business and the available skills of Georgia’s workforce, the state can more effectively generate the right talent for the right jobs.

For more information on the Work Ready initiative please visit the Web site at www.gaworkready.org .

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