The Private Industry Council (PIC) was pleased to serve as a valued partner to the Western PA Operating Engineers, beginning with preparation coursework on January 10th & 17th, 2026 and concluding with testing held from January 21st - 27th. Operating engineers are...
The Private Industry Council (PIC) Afterschool Program, funded through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, and administered by the state of PA made a meaningful impact on students and families in Fayette and Westmoreland...
The holiday season is a time of joy. However, it also comes with busy schedules, gift shopping, and year-end deadlines. Taking care of yourself is essential not just for your well-being, but so you can truly enjoy the holiday season. Here are some cheerful self-care...
Families enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start of Fayette County were invited to “Alphabet Safari” held at the Lemont Furnace Head Start Center on November 19, 2025. The theme of the event was to focus on language and literacy skills from the program’s school...
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Head Start / Early Head Start FAQs The Private Industry Council discusses frequently asked questions for Head Start and Early Head Start students. Private Industry Council operates the Head Start / Early Head Start program for Beaver and Fayette Counties in the...
In June 2023, Jennifer found herself unemployed from her General Manager position. She had to apply for Unemployment Compensation for the first time in 13 years. She was selected for the Re-Employment Services and Eligibility Assessments (RESEA) Program, a mandatory State program for those receiving unemployment. Jennifer participated in the program with a Career Advisor in July 2023. She had been applying for jobs but had been unsuccessful in finding anything that was comparable to her previous field.
As part of the RESEA program, a workshop must be attended, so Jennifer selected the Resume Workshop, where she met the Employment Specialist (ES) that she started working with. The ES worked with Jennifer in revising her resume. She was still applying for jobs, but just not getting interviews. She spoke with her ES about the barriers that she was encountering. Jennifer was interested in taking her management background and applying for Human Resources positions. She kept on encountering a roadblock because she lacked the certification needed for many of the higher-level jobs to which she was applying.
The ES suggested that she research training for Human Resources Professional in which she would obtain a Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) certification. Jennifer was extremely interested and started researching training programs offered under the approved funding. She found a 6-month program at Lenape Technical that she could attend online at her own pace. Jennifer went through the training process and was approved for funding and began the training in November 2023. Jennifer was required to apply for jobs as part of her RESEA unemployment requirements. Her ES suggested to her to put on her resume that she was attending the Human Resources Professional training and due to receive her SHRM certification. Jennifer finished her training 6 weeks early and was hired at a major bank in Pittsburgh, making $75,000 a year. Jennifer plans to continue her education by taking Project Management classes through the ‘SkillUp’ program offered by the State PA CareerLink®.
Jennifer said: “CareerLink provided excellent guidance and support when I was looking to go back to work after having my son. I knew I wanted to gain more professional experience in HR, so I started a 6-month program to help me sit for my SHRM certification. I loved that the program was self-paced, so that I could focus on being a mom too. I was even able to land a position in HR after attending a resume class and updating my pursued education. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to further my education and career.”
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