In the third installment of our Day in the Life series, we are checking in with Will Macheel, one of the two Milwaukee fellows. Read on to find out how Will spends his days in the Milwaukee office. To find out more about Will and why he chose the Work First Fellowship, you can read his “Meet the Fellow” post here.
by Will Macheel
Workforce development is simultaneously a rewarding and messy field, with many competing solutions and ideas aiming to improve workforce attachment and people’s quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic heightens both of these aspects of workforce development.
Since the start of my Work First Fellowship in Milwaukee, I have been providing mostly in-person services to our TANF and Ticket to Work clients. My role has been modified and transformed in various ways throughout my time at America Works of Wisconsin in response to the ever-changing nature of the pandemic economy. I have assisted with employment services for Ticket to Work clients (SSI / SSDI beneficiaries), handled front desk duties, supported the training team with the facilitation of Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) tests, and may soon be teaching a virtual tablet technology and asset-building class for Wisconsin Works (TANF) clients. In addition, I have been working on my research project, which examines two-generation welfare-to-work models and related barriers for workforce attachment.
Below is a sample of my daily schedule, although these responsibilities may change by the following week!
9:00am - 9:30am: Administer TABE test, and career interest and strengths assessments forTANF clients.
9:30am - 10:00am: Conduct resume update appointment with current Ticket to Work client.
10:00am - 11:15am: Facilitate orientation appointment for incoming Ticket to Work client, discussing the client’s short- and long-term career goals and how the employment services provided by our Ticket to Work program may be of assistance to them.
11:15am - 12:00pm: Draft email campaigns for our Ticket to Work clientele, such as sector-specific job leads, virtual training opportunities, and community and civic resources.
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Cover the front desk. Duties include assisting visitors with registration for TANF and housing emergency programs, as well as providing information on our operations and community resources.
1:00pm - 2:00pm: Eat lunch with Alex Guterbock, “fellow” Milwaukee Work First Fellow, which includes our routine caffeinated stop at local café, Canary Coffee!
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Contact Ticket to Work clients to provide employment services and enroll them in America Works virtual trainings (shoutout New York City fellows!)
3:00pm - 4:00pm: Make outreach calls to prospective Ticket to Work clients, providing information on the program’s employment services and scheduling orientations.
4:00pm - 4:30pm: Meet with Ticket to Work supervisor to discuss program progress and potential projects such as a virtual job club and partnerships with community organizations.
4:30pm - 5:00pm: Continue Fellowship research project by conducting literature reviews and designing survey-based and statistical research methods. Providing employment services to vulnerable populations during a time of public health and economic uncertainty has been a valuable and perspective-altering experience.
I hope you enjoyed my “Day in the Life”!
Check back on our blog for our upcoming Day in The Life posts to see what the other fellows are up to!