Brianna Clark went from crafting sandwiches to a career in construction, all thanks to Job Corps.
She was working at Subway in her hometown of Coeburn, Va., when a staff member from Flatwoods Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center came in for lunch. The staff member chatted with Brianna and learned she was interested in finding a career with better pay, so they recommended she enroll at Flatwoods.
Brianna joined Job Corps and decided to pursue the Carpentry pre-apprenticeship training area. As part of her free career training, Brianna had the opportunity to work in a paid position at Vertical Access Solutions, a commercial scaffolding contractor, for work-based learning.
Brianna graduated from Job Corps in 2019 with carpentry credentials from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Her instructors helped her join the union, and she landed her first post-graduation job with American Demolition as a laborer. Now she works for Precision Pipeline and has worked her way up from warehouse laborer to environmental laborer making $22.50 an hour.
She credits a lot of her success to the on-the-job experience and hands-on training she received in her time at Flatwoods Job Corps. She’s even the proud owner of a new pickup truck and camper that she plans to travel in.
Brianna’s advice to incoming Job Corps students is simple: “Take it seriously and learn as much as possible. It’s free training, and the instructors are there to help. They can help you advance in a trade and learn more life and leadership skills.”
Graduated from Job Corps in: 2019 Employer: Environmental Laborer at Precision Pipeline Hometown: Coeburn, Virginia Submitted by: Hannah Purdy Notes:
Salary: $22.50/hour
Source: Jill Branham, Vocational Development Specialist, USDA-Forest Service, Flatwoods Civilian Conservation Center