Changing Outlooks

Sue Van Slyke – Job Seeker Specialist

“If you change the way you look at things – the way you look at things will change!” – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

This quote summarizes how Sue Van Slyke, Job Seeker Specialist, approaches her work with individuals seeking employment at the CareerLink. “There is always another way. There is always an answer,” Sue explains. “People get lost and overwhelmed. I help them to stop and sort it out. Many people don’t know how to do that.” Clients seeking assistance at the CareerLink often are frustrated, overwhelmed and emotionally drained due to their unemployment situation. Sue assists them to develop goals, develop a plan to reach each one and then develop new goals once the original ones are met. Sue wishes she had a before and after picture of each person who has reached their goals. “It shows in their smile,” she says. “This community has gone through many changes, the job market has changed, the economy has changed overall and the need is still there. I have seen customers reach great success in their lives and this is very rewarding.”

Although Sue has worked with numerous individuals in the job training industry over the last 28 years, the last 8 at GECAC, she states her heart leans towards the single parents. “They are the sole provider for the family usually. They wear many hats and play many roles, but they are the tie that holds the family in place. With direction and strength, they lean onward, maybe taking baby steps at times, but moving forward to reach their goals.”

Sue sums up GECAC in the following way:

If you asked me what GECAC is all about, I would say it is about the child who has the desire to learn, the teenager who needs a GED and hopes to secure a good job, the adult seeking a better job or retraining, the senior citizen who may need health care, a part-time job or computer skills. The list goes on, but GECAC cares and I appreciate the opportunity to be part of such a pronounced agency.