Below are comments from letters we receive as well as testimonials from anonymous evaluations we administer at our workshops.

“Dear Stephanie,

I have landed this position due to my training at AACIL, so my advice is this:

1]  Keep updating your profile on LinkedIN

2]  Keep updating your resume on Michigan Works

3]  Believe that Senior Citizens can get jobs-I am 64

4]  Believe that people with Disabilities can get jobs-I am blind in my right eye

5]  Practice Interviewing at every opportunity

6]  Take the part time short term jobs because you never know what they can lead to

7]  Never give up!

8]  Network, Network, Network!”

Thanks again,

Bill, January 2012

“Dear Gary and Lisa:

Thank you for setting up this terrific forum [on interviewing techniques] this evening. Experiencing Sheryl, Tom and Ed was really useful and insightful. I look forward to speaking with you soon. Please know that your guidance has been and is really helpful.

Thanks for all you folks do for all of us lucky participants.

Best Regards,
Walter Shwayder”
February 2011

“Hi All, Just a quick note to let you know that as of this past Friday, I have accepted an offer from Plasan North America to be their Program Manager for all their Automotive work here in Detroit.  I am very excited to be going back to what I do best, and am thankful to have had Gary, Lisa and the staff at the AACIL to coach and support me through the past 5 months. Thanks for all your help!

Everyone… stay positive…!! The message that Lisa and Gary are putting out there works. Keep the faith and good luck to all of you.” Mark Sienko via LinkedIn, November 2010.

“I just wanted you to know that I found a GREAT job at the hospital. I am a service coordinator on Mott 6, helping with admitting and discharge of patients, and helping families out while they are with their child! Thank you so much for the wonderful seminars which helped me find out what my new industry would be! I never would have been able to do this without all of your help!” September 2010

“I regret not finding Ann Arbor CIL Career Services sooner in my job search and being able to take advantage of the various programs. ALL of my interviews were a result of networking, personal or professional references, or through Linked In. All of the resumes and cover letters I sent through the various job boards resulted in exactly ZERO responses, even when following up with personal calls and emails. Keep networking!

Thanks to everyone for their help and encouragement.” Joseph Boczar, July 2010

“I found out this morning I’m being hired by Essen BioScience as a tech. It pays almost what I made [at my last job], so I’m going to be able to keep my home, etc. … It really is true that knowing somebody makes a difference. [The person hiring] remembered me from the 90’s – that I was a good reliable person, etc. I was cutting it really close as I was living on savings and there isn’t much left.

… I wanted to thank your organization and especially [Ann Arbor CIL Talent Connector Lisa Mangigian] for all your help, advice, leads, encouragement, etc.  It really made a difference.

Thanks again.” Shawn Scanlon, July 2010

“The programs you guys put on this Spring were thorough, well founded, and practical. They helped me to navigate the process of job search, networking, interviewing, and negotiation.”  May 2010

“I really enjoyed the seminars/workshops I attended and were well-worth my drive from Grand Blanc, about an hour drive.” March 2010

“Dear [PWI Staff member],

I am even older than your Mom and you inspire me and gave me faith with all your workshops…incredible! The job as a pharmacist technician has a lot more to it than I thought, but I like it. I start part time 20hrs. Everything you talked about really made an impact in my job search.” January 2010.

“I am traveling about 50 miles one-way to attend this workshop. It is motivating and makes me feel better about overcoming my personal situation.” December 2009.

“The instructor often noted excellent examples about the job-search process, that made everyone feel relaxed about a very depressing subject, finding a job.” December 2009.

“This workshop did so much more than convey the winning theories and methods of networking. [It] rekindled the strength, confidence, and belief in myself and my skills, which had tended to get lost and forgotten after years of doing work I didn’t like much, and months of discouraging employment prospects. I highly recommend this workshop.” May 2009.

“This program showed me through hands-on application the potential of the PIE (networking) method. In a matter of days I was speaking with people within industries I am interested in working. More people need to take advantage of an excellent resource: other people!” August 2009.

“The networking technique taught is an extremely helpful tool in getting comfortable with interviewing with strangers and in getting the best job for you.”

“Wow! I feel extremely confident after attending last week’s workshop and this week’s workshop. I now know what I want to do, in which industry and, and how to ultimately get an employment interview. The process I learned was invaluable! Thank you.” June 2009.

“The workshop covered topics we don’t like to talk about or even acknowledge as job seekers, and taught us how to move past those obstacles.” February 2009.

“I want to personally thank you and entire AACIL team for giving me the confidence to get out there and look. As a result of [the PWI staff member’s] recommendation to use LinkedIn, I found the job opening which ultimately hired me. I am grateful to everyone at AACIL … for offering such fantastic workshops to the public.” September 2009.

“This class will help me not just in interviewing but also in life.” December 2009.

“This is a wonderful workshop and the employer panel was an enhancement not to miss.” December 2009.