WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsCareer Counseling Offered to Chippewa Valley Residents

Career Counseling Offered to Chippewa Valley Residents

Eau Clarie (WQOW) - More people are starting the job search in the classroom.

The bad economy hasn't hit the Chippewa Valley as hard as other parts of the country, but jobs have still been lost.

News 18 is giving you a look inside a program that helps people get back into the workforce. The Educational Opportunity Center is a federally funded program that can give valuable advice.

Since August, counselors with this program have met with about 450 people in western Wisconsin. They see more than 1,100 people a year and this year, they're planning for even more.

The director of the Educational Opportunity Center says one recent interview sums up the type of person they're seeing right now.

"This woman said 'I'm going to go into nursing, I've never been interested, I don't really want to do it,' but she had been laid off twice this past year and she said she couldn't have that happen anymore," says Dr. Pam Holsinger-Fuchs, director of the Educational Opportunity Centers.

Which is how a resource like the EOC can help. The office gives advice to those who need additional training or education to get back into the workforce.

"I've seen a number of people that have been doing construction jobs. And of course with the downturn in the economy, there's a lot of layoffs there. We've done some things with Linens and Things," adds Holsinger-Fuchs.

Counselors can help direct people to any college in the U.S. but a lot of the people they see stay right here in the Chippewa Valley.

"A lot of people are looking for training so they can get a job right away because financially they can't afford to be unemployed. And I think CVTC is really geared towards non-traditional students, maybe people that can go in for a year or two and get back into the workforce," says Holsinger-Fuchs. 

The Eau Claire office serves 10 counties in western Wisconsin.

Counselors will be at the CVTC campus in Eau Claire on Tuesday. To schedule an appointment call 836-2024.