I need TABE help...lol i am so excited!!! I start school in FALL for PCT!!!

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 9, 2014

Hi @justbeachynurse what do you men by those who already have been looking for work? I am assigned to a job specialist and try to see her twice a month and email her once a week so she remembers me. Should I focus on applying on the job site or calling places and wri the numbers down on the job search sheet to turn in?

Check with the job specialist but in my area those that were looking for work all along were given priority over those that did not look for work prior to WIA orientation assuming they would get funding simply because they were unemployed.

Being under/unemployed is one criteria but candidates must also be actively seeking employment (defined as submitting applications for jobs reasonably qualified for at least 3x per week) to be eligible for WIA education grants.

jamiross007 · Aug 9, 2014

Hi, how did the TABE test go?

I am still waiting for my scores!!??? I will get them in the mail. I cant wait!! The program starts sept 9th. I just want everything all ready so i can relax a little before school

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Aug 9, 2014

Check with the job specialist but in my area those that were looking for work all along were given priority over those that did not look for work prior to WIA orientation assuming they would get funding simply because they were unemployed.
Being under/unemployed is one criteria but candidates must also be actively seeking employment (defined as submitting applications for jobs reasonably qualified for at least 3x per week) to be eligible for WIA education grants.

Thanks for sharing and you answered my question. I did want to know how many times to apply. One question, did it matter if you apply for jobs electronically on their website or write down places you called on paper and turn it in to the job specialist? The reason I ask is because I know there is one tht may stand out over the other and I really want to get this rolling. Lol. Thank you soooo much!!!! Your great help.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Aug 9, 2014

I am still waiting for my scores!!??? I will get them in the mail. I cant wait!! The program starts sept 9th. I just want everything all ready so i can relax a little before school

Awww hang their and keep your head up high :) you got this!

Graduatenurse14 · Aug 9, 2014

@jamiross007~ I know the waiting is difficult and it's hard to relax! Sending good luck that the scores are good!

@tasha92337~ Congrats on the 12.9 in Math!! I didn't see that score very much when I was administering the TABE!

I looked online for test strategies mention to avoid answers with words "only, never, always, etc) reading comp is my problem such as main idea (skim topic sentences?) and the authors tone/structure/purpose. Should I learn the clue keywords and signas words reading comp? (problem solution vs. Cause effect vs. Persuasive, vs compare contrast)
Author tone should I learn the signal words ans context clues?

Yes, all of the above strategies will help. You are probably taking the TABE at a one-stop career center that may have tutors available so ask your Job Specialist about it. If there aren't any at that site, there are lots of other places that provide "brush up" classes for adults looking to go back to school or re-enter the workforce. Check with your local Goodwill as they provide a lot of literacy service, large urban churches in my city have run excellent adult classes, try this site too: National Literacy Directory

Also, this is very, very important!!! You must find out from your Job Specialist exactly how to document your required job search and what jobs "count." It can be printed out from the web or have her write it down for you. The WIA funds can only be disbursed according to strict guidelines. See what JustBeachyNurse wrote.

There can be different guidelines for different ways WIA funds are distributed so don't listen to someone who is in another program even though they can look similar and have some of the same criteria. For example: You may be getting your job training funds through an Individual Training Account (ITA), have to take the TABE and have a Job Specialist and Joe Shmo may be getting his job training funds through a TANF program, has to take the TABE and gets a Job Specialist yet the other requirements to obtain the funds are very different.

You can PM me and I will keep checking this thread too. Good luck!! Writing all of this makes me miss my Workforce Development career!

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Aug 9, 2014

@jamiross007~ I know the waiting is difficult and it's hard to relax! Sending good luck that the scores are good!
@tasha92337~ Congrats on the 12.9 in Math!! I didn't see that score very much when I was administering the TABE!
Yes, all of the above strategies will help. You are probably taking the TABE at a one-stop career center that may have tutors available so ask your Job Specialist about it. If there aren't any at that site, there are lots of other places that provide "brush up" classes for adults looking to go back to school or re-enter the workforce. Check with your local Goodwill as they provide a lot of literacy service, large urban churches in my city have run excellent adult classes, try this site too: National Literacy Directory
Also, this is very, very important!!! You must find out from your Job Specialist exactly how to document your required job search and what jobs "count." It can be printed out from the web or have her write it down for you. The WIA funds can only be disbursed according to strict guidelines. See what JustBeachyNurse wrote.
There can be different guidelines for different ways WIA funds are distributed so don't listen to someone who is in another program even though they can look similar and have some of the same criteria. For example: You may be getting your job training funds through an Individual Training Account (ITA), have to take the TABE and have a Job Specialist and Joe Shmo may be getting his job training funds through a TANF program, has to take the TABE and gets a Job Specialist yet the other requirements to obtain the funds are very different.
You can PM me and I will keep checking this thread too. Good luck!! Writing all of this makes me miss my Workforce Development career!

YOU ARE AMAZING @graduatenurse14. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. Thank you @justbeachynurse for helping me as well :)

I need to contact my job specialist. I have her email address and stay in contact with her via email. I do want the health care grant so I need to ask her what "jobs" count. I know she sent me several papers that had jobs from maximhealthcare. The thing is I don't want to get hired by any jobs I apply for from her. Isn't that the point?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 9, 2014

YOU ARE AMAZING @graduatenurse14. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. Thank you @justbeachynurse for helping me as well :)
I need to contact my job specialist. I have her email address and stay in contact with her via email. I do want the health care grant so I need to ask her what "jobs" count. I know she sent me several papers that had jobs from maximhealthcare. The thing is I don't want to get hired by any jobs I apply for from her. Isn't that the point?

Not exactly. If you don't make a reasonable effort to find work that you are presently qualified for you may be disqualified. (Ie applying for jobs that require education and licensing that you don't have). I know someone who was recently (in the past few months) disqualified on the east coast for not only making up their job report but the few real applications were mostly for jobs grossly under qualified for ( CPA, pilot, physician, nurse practitioner) They were applying under the un/underemployment grant not the welfare/TANF. The person thought they were very clever. The job specialist was shocked at the brazen disregard for the rules and intent of the grant but was forced to disqualify based on the false listings of job applications on the report.

If you live in a high unemployment area the odds of getting hired before you qualify for the grant is not too great. Especially if you have "common skills "(such as general secretarial) that there would be hundreds of applicants for a single job. I think WIA is only available for the un/ underemployed in areas of high unemployment.

Graduatenurse14 · Aug 10, 2014

You're welcome!

I really love Workforce Development and it's nice to put it use again! Until I started teaching adults in a GED prep class funded by TANF funds, I had no idea how much effort and money our federal/state/local government's put into having a competent workforce in this country.

The thing is I don't want to get hired by any jobs I apply for from her. Isn't that the point?

I don't understand this quote. Why don't you want a job that she tells you about? You don't have to only apply for job leads that she gives you but they must meet the criteria. JustBeachyNurse gives a real life example of someone attempting to game the system and lost. I'm not at all saying you are trying to do that but her example shows that the government is serious about granting funds to people who truly meet the criteria.

@JustBeachyNurse,

I think WIA is only available for the un/ underemployed in areas of high unemployment.

Kind of. Ideally, the Individual Training Account (ITA) funds are to go to High Priority Occupations. It is worth the government's time and money to train/educate people to work in those fields for the overall well being of the State/Region's economic health. They won't pay for an industry that isn't showing growth or projected to show growth. All states have the info available on their Department of Labor's website and the one stop career centers in every state have lots of info in user-friendly formats like a brochure.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 10, 2014

Exactly what I experienced. When I was unemployed (I qualified for WIA but had another source of funding ) I remember not just any training qualified. There were required classes and there was a maximum time frame. So if I had a couple of semesters left on a bachelors degree in a needed area, say my area needed more CPAs. My WIA would have paid for a summer & fall semester then I sit the CPA exam post graduation.

Some candidates wanted pre-req's and ASNs paid for (denied). One was a paralegal but didn't want to do that anymore, there was a high vacancy rate for paralegals. She just needed a quick certification class. She wasn't happy but was back working in a month. They denied surgical tech training requests as there were more unemployed techs than available jobs. One desired to be a paramedic. However 2 years of EMT experience is required before consideration for paramedic training in my area (he wasn't an EMT) and most basic EMS is volunteer. Plus there is a training fund that pays for volunteers to complete basic EMS training. Denied.

I almost forgot about this experience. I remember the basic skills testing. If you didn't hit a certain score you had to remediate until you met the basic HS level. I was one of a handful that fully passed the day I tested. There were also career battery tests to pass. Resume and interview workshops. Not everyone was approved for first choice job training. Only 7 out of 100 students entering in my nursing class were approved for WIA funds. Once the financial aid packages were complete only 3 used the funds and all were approved for unemployment extensions by WIA/PIC if they did not receive maximum UE claim benefits.

It is my understanding that The goal of WIA is to put you back to work not get you the training of your dreams. If there are jobs you are qualified you within a reasonable distance from your home, at an expected pay rate you are obligated to accept the job. You don't have to take a 50% pay cut but if the wages are market value enough to support the treasonable cost of living in your area you are expected to take the job, not wait around hoping to get accepted to school. You should apply where the counselor suggested

Graduatenurse14 · Aug 11, 2014

@JustBeachyNurse,

Great story!! It is heartening to see some take advantage of the excellent workforce development programs we have in this nation!!

The goal of WIA is to put you back to work not get you the training of your dreams.

100% correct and every state's needs are different so it's very important for those interested in WIA funding to look at their specific state.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Aug 12, 2014

What does it mean when one of the jobs you applied on the site called? Does that mean I no longer am not eligible for the job training funds?

I spoke to my job specialist today and sent over my proof of job searches. She was pleased and said she will fwd email to my advisor and recommend I attend a workshop. Well later today, I got a call from one of the jobs toda and seeking advice on how I can still get job training money.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 12, 2014

What does it mean when one of the jobs you applied on the site called? Does that mean I no longer am not eligible for the job training funds?
I spoke to my job specialist today and sent over my proof of job searches. She was pleased and said she will fwd email to my advisor and recommend I attend a workshop. Well later today, I got a call from one of the jobs toda and seeking advice on how I can still get job training money.

If you get hired you are no longer eligible as the goal is gainful employment not desired training. Just getting called does not disqualify you.

If you are offered a reasonable job (old job you made $17/hr and lived within your means. New job offers $17-20/hr and you decline you are non longer eligible. New job offers $8.50-9/hr you need to discuss with your counselor as that may not meet your living expenses.

Again if your current skills and experience are sufficient to land you gainful employment you do not need WIA training funds.

The goal of WIA is not a grant or financial aid to get you the job training you desire. The goal is to get you back to work.

Honestly I'm surprised your counselor is even considering vocational nursing as a qualified program since the unemployment rate for new grad, inexperienced nurses is >40% and likely higher since many international nurses are challenging the NCLEX-PN for LVN licensing in CA.