Training Program Helps Luis Ramirez Plan for College and Career

Jobs Waiting is a career readiness and workforce development program in the Hudson Valley that helps young people gain critical skills needed to enter the workforce and create upwardly mobile career paths. It meets the needs of young people and meets the needs of employers in the region by providing a pipeline of talent. This story is one in a series of program success stories.

After graduating from Poughkeepsie High School, Luis Ramirez got a job selling phones for AT&T. He was good at it. He moved on to Best Buy, working in the company’s sales department and customer service office. He spent one holiday season working at Tiffany & Co. in New York City, commuting over two hours each way to gain experience at a company renowned for their customer service. He liked working with people and helping others.

At the same time, he saw college in his future. His parents wanted him to go, and he wanted to further his education, but he wasn’t sure what he wanted to study. By then, some of his high school friends were graduating from college. He saw that they weren’t necessarily going into careers associated with their degree.

“The last thing I wanted to do was go into debt for a college degree I wasn’t sure of,” says Ramirez.

Career Path

He saw an ad for Jobs Waiting, and was intrigued by the concept of career readiness. Learning about four different career sectors — information technology, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare — also appealed to him because he was eager to understand more about growing employment sectors.

“I had been reading about how big healthcare is in the Hudson Valley, but I wasn’t interested in the clinical side,” says Ramirez. “I learned that the administrative side of the industry is growing, and that appealed to me.”

The Jobs Waiting program exceeded his expectations. In addition to gaining knowledge about different industries, he learned how to better sell himself and understand his own personal and professional assets. He gained self-confidence, sketched out a career path in the healthcare industry and planned for the future.

So what does his career path include?

First, he is gaining experience in healthcare. He interviewed for a volunteer position at MidHudson Regional Hospital, where he started this month. Next, he will pursue a medical billing and coding certification at Dutchess Community College. Ultimately, he plans on a bachelor’s degree in health science.

The support he received from Jobs Waiting is what helped give him a push in a specific direction, he says. He also had the opportunity to serve as a leader in his group, which solidified his desire to be in a helping profession.

“I really appreciate finding a program like this,” says Ramirez. “It made a difference for me, and now I can make a difference for others.”

Sign up for a Jobs Waiting career readiness training near you!