Local Manufacturer Molds New Hire with Help From On-The-Job Training Program
Northern Industrial Wood was in need of an Administrative Assistant to help the General Manager with everyday activities, such as answer phones, accounts receivable and payable, placing orders, etc. They were having a difficult time finding the right candidate because the business is located in a small, rural community (Lincoln, MI).
Michigan Works! posted Northern Industrial Wood’s Administrative Assistant position on the Pure Michigan Talent Bank and shortly thereafter they were able to find a good candidate for the position.
When Northern Industrial Wood’s General Manager, Joel Blohm, interviewed the candidate, he felt she would be a good fit for the position, despite her not having all of the right qualifications. With help from Michigan Works!, Northern Industrial Wood enrolled the new hire in an On-The-Job Training program to get her the skills needed to succeed in the position.
Joel explains, “Recently, we had an opening for an Administrative Assistant position and weren’t having success in finding a qualified candidate until we pulled a resume from the MI Talent Bank. We interviewed the candidate and upon their acceptance of the position, we were able to participate in the On-the-Job Training Program to fully train the candidate for this position. In doing so, we now have a great individual working on our team who has shown great success at what they are doing and continues so each day.”
The new Administrative Assistant is also thankful for the training she received thanks to the On-the-Job Training program, stating, “Over the past 3 years, I have bounced around from several jobs trying to find the right fit. At first they all seemed to be working out fine and they would keep me busy, but after a couple months things slowed down to where I was bored of the job so I would move on to the next one. Three months ago, I was contacted by my current employer about an Administrative Assistant position they had open, and it sounded exactly like what I had been looking for. I accepted the position and still to this day enjoy coming to work and enjoy the people I work with.”