State disability agencies

[Dreamstalker]

The state agency here in Massachusetts that I'm working with is a mess.

I was/am supposed to be getting job training/search help. That was limited to an interviewing skills seminar over a year ago. By their own policy a case is not to be closed until a client holds a job that they can fully support themselves with, mine was closed when she found out about GameStore (calling it "part time" was being very generous, no way in Hades could I support myself on $100/week). So back on the waiting list which I should never have been put on in the first place.

I did hook up with an employment coach in the same agency over the winter, but she and I are at a serious impasse regarding "career goals". Yes, my original goal 1+ years ago was "computer support", but due to the state of the economy I feel it's in my best interest to broaden my skillset. I'm looking at pharmacy tech or billing, at least to take the classes and exams so those jobs are an option.

I can't get approval as "I can't see how this works with your [now obsolete] career goals." Good Lord. So any class I want to take needs to directly mesh with career goals?

Right now I'm trying to get the promised funding to take the Network+ exam. You would think that, since that does have to do with my original career goal, it wouldn't be a problem. Nope. Apparently, they don't want to do anything at all until the exit interview from my neuropsych test...which isn't going to tell anyone anything they didn't already know about me.

[Slytovhand]

Beaurocracy.... nuff said!

[AFPheonix]

If you want to do pharmacy tech, for the love of sweet baby jesus, don't waste your money on classes. Just get hired on part time at a pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS. They will train you on the job, put you through classes for the national exam and pay for your books, and pay for your state and national certs.
Then, you can just get in as a float tech, make sure stores in your area know you're available, and voila, if you don't suck, you will have as much work as you want. In my chain, as long as you have at least one shift every 28 days, you can keep up benefits and employment with them.
And they'll still pay so you can renew your licenses, you get notifications for Continuing Education stuff that gets put on by drug reps in the area (you get swag and a free dinner just to listen to these guys talk, and you get CE credits also that you need to renew your national cert.)

[Dreamstalker]

Now I've found a community college course--computer forensics--that does fit with my "career goals". Can I even get acknowledgment that my caseworker got what I sent her about it? No...

The good news is that everyone will be at this exit interview so maybe I can corner her then.

Apparently, on July 1 those of us in the state who are unemployed will be eligible for up to $10K for "retraining" or classes. You have to apply; I hope to get my butt over to Newtonville on Monday and see what's needed.

[BlaqueKatt]

If you want to do pharmacy tech, for the love of sweet baby jesus, don't waste your money on classes. Just get hired on part time at a pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS. They will train you on the job, put you through classes for the national exam and pay for your books, and pay for your state and national certs.

And my local hospitals put little to no credit in "national certifications"-as a matter of fact they would rather hire someone with no experience over a nationally certified tech-as it's easier to start with a "blank slate" than to have to teach a new way that may be totally different than what the classroom taught.

[Dreamstalker]

My mom was talking to an acquaintance yesterday--she is a pharmacy tech and can't find work even with a couple recruiters/agencies helping.

I'll see what happens tomorrow--my primary concern is getting the funding released for my Networks+ as well as convincing the employment specialist to let me get a resume out there (she's of the viewpoint that I shouldn't put anything out there until the resume is "finished"--according to those I've showed my version to, it's perfectly fine).

[AFPheonix]

And my local hospitals put little to no credit in "national certifications"-as a matter of fact they would rather hire someone with no experience over a nationally certified tech-as it's easier to start with a "blank slate" than to have to teach a new way that may be totally different than what the classroom taught.

Perhaps, but several states, including mine, require you to get a national cert in order to retain your state license. No license, you can't be back in the pharmacy.

It's not a bad thing, it just makes sure everyone is up to speed on the basic math we use daily in our job, that we know the laws that govern our profession, and makes sure we know a lot of the basic generic/brand names of drugs and what they're used for. The CE ensures that we have half a clue about current stuff that's going on, even if we as techs aren't allowed to counsel on anything.
However, you do occasionally work with a wet-behind-the-ears pharmacist who doesn't know his head from his butt and you can kind of "help" them with stuff that they don't know.

[Dreamstalker]

I was mostly right about the exit interview; didn't really tell anyone anything new. It is an updated evaluation which I did need.

My counselor still doesn't seem to gather that I am capable of working part time and taking classes part time (hell, I did it for four years post-highschool), especially if said schooling is web-based. Said classes will also dramatically improve my chances in a job hunt, and if a job dovetails with class material then that's even better. So she doesn't even want to think of my taking classes...but that's why I'm in your system, to get funding for classes that will help me get a job!