Faces of Workforce: Paige Marley

Meet Paige Marley, Employment and Training Consultant, Youth and Young Adults.

What Is Your Role at FCWS?

I'm essentially a case manager; I specifically support youth and young adults aged 16-24 with career exploration, job preparation, job search, connections to trainings and education, and much more! I also help support the general operations of our center by assisting with Job Search Support walk-ins and appointments, facilitating workshops, participating in job fairs, etc. I love supporting our wonderful Frederick community!

What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Work?

I enjoy a lot about the work I do here at FCWS, but I especially enjoy working with the individuals on my caseload. Each person is wonderful and unique, and it's such a pleasure to help guide them through their journeys and watch them grow! I'm also lucky enough to genuinely enjoy the people I work with, my coworkers are all amazing people, and I greatly value all that I've learned from them.

What Does “Workforce Development” Mean to You Personally?

Workforce development to me is a lot of things, but I tend to focus on the job seeker side of it. Whether it be gaining new skills to advance in your career, finding resources to help you transition to a new job, or accessing supportive services to overcome barriers to employment - workforce development a personalized journey that can help people achieve their professional goals and often times even improve their overall quality of life.

Share One Accomplishment, Project, or Moment That Makes You Proud of the Work You Do.

Something that makes me proud of the work I do is getting to see a participant on my caseload light up when talking about their chosen career pathway. A lot of the individuals I work with come in having little to no idea what they want to do career-wise, so it's always so exciting to see them explore their interests and skills and connect those to a field that they are sincerely interested in pursuing. It's an added bonus when we're able to approve the funding for them to receive an industry recognized certification, further their education, or even get their driver's license so that they have better access to job opportunities.

What Is One Thing People Might Be Surprised to Learn About Your Role?

One thing people may be surprised to learn about my role is that there is a lot of background work that goes on. I'm constantly doing research, entering case notes, and keeping track of participant data. This is where my organizational skills really kick in!

What Is Your Top Career or Workforce Tip?

Workforce development is a continuous process. Keep learning, stay adaptable, and always seek new opportunities to grow.