“I was at a point in my life that I did not want to stay in the career I was in,” said Megan Quigley on a recent Monday morning. Outside, the air was cold. Snow had blown in overnight. But inside a cozy office at Burlington’s Howard Center, Megan radiated the warmth and energy of someone with a new lease on life.
She was just beginning the second week of her new job as a care manager for the agency’s adult intensive services program, a position she landed through CCV’s Career Pathway Entry Program. CPEP provides an on-ramp for career seekers and changers, allowing students to explore industries, participate in job shadows, and gain college credit. Tuition is free, and students even earn cash while they learn, giving Vermonters a low-risk way to start or change a career.
For Megan, a busy mom of two teenagers, the 6-week online training was easy to access. “You could do it from the comfort of your home, or wherever you needed to be,” she said. “The instructor of the class was wonderful, the students were all…changing careers, we all took part and helped one another and supported one another. It was just a really good vibe. When you logged on you knew that your next two and half hours were gonna be worth your time.”
CCV partners with dozens of Vermont employers to give CPEP participants hands-on exposure to different job opportunities in the fields of healthcare, human services, and manufacturing. Employers range from large companies like BETA Technologies, to hospitals across the state, to non-profits like the Counseling Service of Addison County.
Megan’s job shadow at Howard Center ultimately solidified her decision to apply for her current position. “I got to meet people here…I got to show them who I am, and then just watching and seeing what goes on in different programs here. Just the job shadow itself—that made all the difference, and then it made me be sure that yes, this is where I want to apply.”
Lisa Martiny, Megan’s supervisor, said that Megan’s application stood out because of her CPEP experience. “Just seeing her interest, the fact that she went back to school to change her career, that she did the job shadowing—that was appealing to us when we saw her résumé and when we met her.”
Megan’s own life experiences inspired her pursuit of a career in human services. She and her daughters went through some struggles, she said, but there were people who provided a safety net. “They made us feel human, and I felt that it was important to return that, because it was such a valuable gift for all three of us.”
CPEP was an entryway to that new career path, and it started with being a student again. Megan reflected that returning to school as an adult gave her a clearer perspective.“I struggled in high school and in college my first go round. I just didn’t have the ability to really understand what it is I needed to do to be successful. I guess I didn’t know myself very well at that time,” Megan said. “What changed going back to school is I know myself very well. I knew I wanted a complete change of a career. I knew that what is best for me is when I am helping others so that’s why I chose human services. I felt that it aligned best with my values. So going to school, I really wanted to be there.”
Also, Megan says—“I had fun doing this. That’s something else I would like to emphasize. Even within my first training here at Howard Center, that was fun to do. Everyone there wanted to be there. The instructors were fabulous. You were learning something that is very valuable, and you’re having fun while you’re doing it.”
“I would recommend the CPEP program to anyone who is considering a new career choice. The support is there. It might seem daunting, but once you start, that starts to melt away and then you realize ‘I can do this. I have the support I need.’ And that really makes all the difference.”
