Skills Stories

Simone A. – PrepareRI Stories

December 20, 2021

Simone Alvares

2021 PrepareRI College Intern

I am a senior Biology major and Art minor at Providence College. I applied to PrepareRI and was given the opportunity to work for Amgen Rhode Island, a biotech company with a mission to serve patients. I had stressed to PrepareRI during the interview process that I truthfully did not know where I see myself in the next few years. They placed me where they saw me best fit. And now, I have been given the opportunity to go back to Amgen as soon as I graduate to work as a leader in their 2-year rotational program. PrepareRI gave me the amazing opportunity to work for Amgen and find my true passion in the biotech field. I would not have been given this awesome opportunity without the help of PrepareRI’s Internship Program. I will forever be thankful.

Michael M. – Ready.Set.Work! Stories

November 11, 2021

Michael Meier is a 19-year Civil Service Veteran, having spent 11-years in the U.S. Air Force and 8-years in Federal Law Enforcement. Michael is highly organized, career focused and a goal-oriented professional with talent for adaptability, strategic planning, and problem solving. Michael joined the August Ready.Set.Work! Veteran’s cohort to fine-tune his resume, gain expert interview advice, network with local Rhode Island Veteran’s, and establish a foothold into the changing workforce.

When asked about Ready.Set.Work! , Michael said, “Ready.Set.Work! helped me reset my focus and dial in on the direction that I see my career going. This training brought inspirational tools and methods that will benefit my career goals and ambitions.” Michael recently was accepted into the September cohort of the Process Technician training, and looks forward to rebranding himself to a new career pathway.

Michael Meier

U.S. Civil Service Veteran

Click here to sign up for updates on when the next Ready.Set.Work! program will take place

There’s No Substitute for High-Quality Education

March 12, 2021

It has been no secret to anyone – especially students, parents, teachers and school administrators – that this has been a difficult year in public education. Whether virtual, hybrid or in-person, everyone has been working tirelessly to ensure schools continue to operate at the highest level possible.

At SkillsRI, we try to remain agile and creative in providing customized workforce solutions as a demand-driven workforce intermediary, and in the last six months we have proudly supported Providence Public Schools in placing 129 substitute teachers to help keep school operations running.

Financial Stability for a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce

March 12, 2021

Fidelity Investments, a multinational provider of financial services with corporate headquarters in nearby Boston and a major presence in Smithfield, RI, recently teamed up with SkillsRI on an accelerated hiring initiative with a focus on diversity and inclusion recruitment goals. The SkillsRI recruitment team engaged candidates for remote roles ranging from Technology Service Specialists, Client and Customer Service Representatives and Call Center Representatives.

In just over one month, SkillsRI helped 45 individuals secure employment with Fidelity in Smithfield, RI. Of the data available to us, 65% of the hired candidates were female and 53% of hired candidates were individuals of color. This type of success paves the way for a fruitful partnership moving forward.

Oricel M. – Skills Stories

October 23, 2020

“I’ve spent my entire career working in customer service, but when COVID-19 hit in March, I lost my job. It wasn't easy, but I chose to see it as an opportunity to try something different and pursue a career in the medical field as a certified nursing assistant. I enrolled in a one-month program in Massachusetts and immediately started looking for jobs. Unfortunately, every open position required a one-hour commute from Rhode Island, which wasn't sustainable for me. I applied to various facilities across Rhode Island, but nobody could hire me with a Massachusetts license. It was frustrating, and I couldn’t imagine my hard work going to waste. As the days went by, I continued my search for a solution and came across Skills for Rhode Island’s Future’s accelerated training program for CNAs. It felt like the perfect program to get me back on my feet quickly. In just two weeks, I was able to get a valid temporary license in Rhode Island and was finally able to start working again. The SkillsRI staff guided me through every step of the process, and they truly cared about seeing me succeed. With the help of the SkillsRI team, I’m now on a path to a better future in the career path of my dreams, and I get to make a difference in my home state.”

Oricel M.

Accelerated CNA Training Program

Looking to kickstart or advance your career in the medical field? Click here to view the opportunities in healthcare on the SkillsRI Back to Work job board.