Robert Westfall Named Work Ready's Job Seeker of the Month

CUMMING – Robert “Bob” Westfall Jr., resident of Cumming, has been selected as Georgia Work Ready’s 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. In 2010, 13,134 unemployed Georgians have become Work Ready Certified and at least 3,100 have found jobs.

“By signing up for the Work Ready assessment, Georgians are taking control of their professional futures,” said Governor Perdue. “Work Ready gives job seekers the confidence they need to ignite their job searches, and gives employers the confidence that their businesses will excel with Georgia’s top-notch workforce.” 

Westfall worked in corporate relocation sales for most of his career. When the economy dipped, his industry was seriously impacted, leaving him without a job for the first time in almost 30 years. Surprised to realize that finding a job proved to be a challenge, Westfall enrolled in a master’s degree program in human resources. While attending, he learned of a Human Resource Management Specialist certification program offered at Gwinnett Technical College that could be completed through a 35-class hour program. He enrolled in the program, which has reacquainted him with current HR practices and businesses strategies, as well as given him insight into younger students’ outlooks and perspectives. A friend then introduced him to Work Ready. Westfall researched the initiative online and, impressed by what he read, made an appointment to take the assessment.

“I am very glad that I took the assessments. Work Ready proved to me that I am a qualified worker at a good level,” said Westfall. “It is also providing me with the opportunity to improve my scores by taking skills gap training in order to improve my certification level and become even more valuable in the market place.”

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 incentive 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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