Hector
New Graduate Making a Difference in Waukegan
Lake County Workforce Development qualifies individual jobseekers for tuition assistance when pursuing short-term occupational training and education that leads to a high-demand/high-wage job. Funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) grant. The goal is for unemployed and underemployed individuals to gain the necessary skills and industry credentials to compete in the current market.
Hector first stopped in the Job Center of Lake County in October 2021, after a friend told him the Job Center might be able to help him find a job. At the time, Hector says that he was “bouncing around from warehouse to warehouse” after spending seven years in jail.
Hector qualified for tuition assistance under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). After completing assessments and discussing options with a Workforce Development Career Specialist, Hector decided to enroll in classes at the College of Lake County in the spring of 2022. Hector did a lot of research before selecting a major in computer information technology with a focus on cyber security. He chose this because it was a stable career that had job security while allowing him to pursue his interest in technology. Hector says he was nervous but “took a leap of faith.” He graduated with an AAS degree in Computer Information Technology in December 2023.
While completing his degree, Hector successfully landed a job as an Outreach Specialist with the Lake County Peacemakers, an organization dedicated to preventing gun violence. Hector works with at-risk individuals to get them on the right track. “Working with at-risk individuals is a passion of mine because I can try to help them not go down the same path I did.” He says that he points people to Workforce Development to add a certificate or degree to their portfolio. “If you want a good-paying job you need to go through some type of training or school. Workforce Development makes a huge difference in the community and getting young people in the mindset of education to help them obtain better jobs.”
In February 2024, Hector started working in a full-time internship for System Engineering at Packaging Corporation of America. He also continues to work as the Outreach Specialist for the Lake County Peacemakers and is a full-time student with DePaul University as he pursues a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. As the founder of the Chess for Champions Academy, Hector spends his “spare time” teaching chess to young people. He reminds other people in career transition, “It is okay no matter how old you are to be nervous to change careers or go back to school. It is common to be nervous. Take the time to go through the process and make sure you do lots of research to choose the right career path. It is going to pay off in the long run.”
Read more of Hector’s story on the International Chess Federation’s website.