Career Services at Northeast KY JobSight Help Elon Corliss Make a Career Change for the Better

Embarking on a career change can be hard, but for individuals like Elon Corliss, the career services at Northeast Kentucky Career Center JobSight have been a lifeline to help him take the next step. His journey began with a connection from his former teacher at West Carter Middle School named Amy Greene who recognized his potential and encouraged him to explore what opportunities might be available.

Elon Corliss

Before hearing about Northeast, Corliss was working at Kroger in Ashland, KY. He wanted to work more hours than he was getting at the time, so he switched his focus to finding employment that would provide him more time each week to dedicate to building a career for himself.  

“I wanted to change jobs because I feel good when I'm working,” he said.

Corliss’s desire for a meaningful career led to his decision to enroll for services at Northeast. Having spent his childhood in the foster care system, he saw an opportunity to give back by working for Greene, who had been a supportive figure throughout his life and also operates a summer camp in Carter County with Little Dippers Childcare and Learning Center. He also knew that she was looking for someone to run the camp, and decided the career advisors at Northeast might be able to help him prepare for a change in employment.

A partner in the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network of workforce centers, Northeast Kentucky Community Action Agency (NKCAA) provides Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services in Carter, Elliott, and Lawrence counties under contract with Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP). Those services include programs for adults, dislocated workers, and youth between the ages of 18 and 24 who may need assistance honing skills such as résumé building or networking with local employers, or who need assistance being retrained or going to school. 

Corliss’s career advisor at Northeast, Amanda Hanshaw, played a pivotal role in connecting him with a work experience opportunity that would allow him to get valuable time on a jobsite and help him prepare for the job he hoped to land. Hanshaw’s guidance and interest in Corliss were instrumental in making the process seamless. He said he appreciated the personal attention and follow-ups, which made him feel motivated to stay on track. 

“My career advisor was very easy to work with,” he said. “She always took interest in what I was doing and would call my boss and ask questions to see if I was staying on track.” 

Hanshaw’s assistance proved to be a significant help for Corliss, and without them he believes he would still be working fewer hours than he wanted. The opportunity provided by the Northeast JobSight placed him in a role he loves in Olive Hill at the Little Dippers Childcare and Learning Center. 

“I would recommend Northeast to someone who was looking for a new job,” he said. “They changed my life and placed me in a position I would have never dreamed I would have done which is working with kids! I love my job!”  

If you live in Eastern Kentucky and are interested in applying for career and employment services, visit jobsight.org/locations to find your nearest Kentucky Career Center JobSight and contact a career advisor to get started.  

EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. The agency provides an array of workforce development services and operates the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network of workforce centers, which provide access to more than a dozen state and federal programs that offer employment and training assistance for jobseekers and employers all under one roof. Learn more about us at http://www.ekcep.org, http://www.jobsight.org and http://www.facebook.com/ekcep.