And Now for Something Completely Different - David Erickson
If you had ever called the “Cable Guy,” it would have been David Erickson who sent someone to your house anytime between 8 and 4. Although it seems that all cable company employees have this leisurely work schedule, that was not the case for David who supervised all broadband cable installation in Eugene and neighboring cities. It was David who had the stressful and relentless task of managing teams of installation employees twenty-four hours a day. He was dedicated and hard working, but when the company merged departments last year, David was laid off from his position. After a thorough examination of his working career, David decided he did not want to return to an industry that was stressful, and where the work ethic was “you are not measured by what you do, but by what others don’t.” This personal revelation brought David to the Walmart Brighter Futures program because he wanted to explore careers that could really be right for his future. David knew he no longer wanted to be employed in a “fear based business” that does not value “old industry loyalty.” By using career mapping tools, he had the opportunity to identify what he did not want to do, and through this process of elimination he was able to focus on what he did want.
As a result, David moved in a completely different direction and decided to pursue a career in health occupations. He attended a four-day Healthcare Professions Orientation, which introduced him to a variety of career options in the health industry, and Sterile Processing piqued his interest. The role of a Sterile Processing Technician is to perform all sterilization functions with basic surgical instruments. One of the primary contributing factors toward David’s interest in a career in Sterile Processing is that technicians work independently and he would be responsible only for himself and the quality of his own work.
After choosing a career goal, David began to build a plan that would make him employable in that capacity. As a first step, he enrolled in a Certified Nursing Assistant program at Lane Community College. With the help and support of the Walmart Brighter Futures program he completed the CNA program and recently received his state certification, which allowed him to find employment very quickly at a residential care facility. At the same time, he continues working on his long-term academic plan and pursuing the Sterile Processing program. David’s goal is to begin the Sterile Processing Technician training in Spring term. After completing the course and passing a national exam, he plans to complete his 400-hour clinical training at River Bend Medical Center. Based on his research, he is optimistic about the prospects for employment at that facility after completing his program.
When asked about his experience in the Walmart Brighter Futures Program, David says, “I learned to get out what I put in. I participated 100 percent, and as a result, I have a clear goal and a plan for making my future what I want it to be. I am now much more confident about my career path and I am thankful for the amazing support I received from participants and staff in the program.”
