Kelly Coty is a 751-member living the saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Despite experiencing her second layoff in the past few years (after hiring into Boeing in 1989), she is optimistic about her future and eager to start training to begin a new career.
Kelly is a step ahead of many other Boeing employees facing layoff because she can answer their most pressing question: "should I retrain and if I do, what field will most likely result in a job upon completion of a program."
In January, Kelly will begin Green River Community
College's one-year medical transcription program -- a field that
not only promises future career growth, but capitalizes on Kelly's
excellent typing skills. The new job will also give her the ability
to work from home and allow flexibility in setting her hours.
While she is registered and waiting for classes to begin, getting to this point required diligence, initiative, time and patience to navigate through the complicated process of finding a suitable retraining program that met the available government programs' criteria.
Immediately upon receiving a WARN notice, Kelly met with a QTTP career advisor to learn the procedure to qualify for Commissioner Approved Training (CAT) or Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).
Kelly noted, "Even after I decided on the school and education program, there was still a lot of work to be done. Getting approved for CAT and TAA is time consuming and often very tedious - especially when you are going through the stress of a layoff near the holidays. I had to visit the college, counselors and QTTP several times before I was registered for winter quarter."
QTTP Career Advisor Judith Lilly noted, "When I met with Kelly, she was serious about using retraining benefits to enrich her life and gain skills after layoff. She had never been to college before and was a bit apprehensive but remained focused in getting through the process. She thoroughly researched her program, visited the college two or three times a week, attended worker retraining and WorkSource seminars to confirm her decisions. She met with two counselors to set up a tight, defined program that would give her a better future and meet with the CAT and TAA guidelines. She is a great role model for her co-workers and for those of us at QTTP who try to assist our clients in this difficult time."
Kelly noted, "I appreciate all the hard work the Union and QTTP have done to ensure there is a safety net for members who get laid-off. When I was laid-off last year, I was recalled before I could start a retraining program and utilize the extensive education benefits available. This time I started early so I can have a new career with a bright future after Boeing."
Call 1-800-235-3453 to schedule an appointment with a QTTP Career Advisor.