Her resum茅 reads: mother; dairy farmer cleaning barns, milking cattle; healthcare assistant for the sick and elderly.

Sharon Hamming has done it all.

But when allergic reactions to latex gloves and chemicals started getting worse, Hamming knew it was time to find a new path 鈥� one that would give her hands a much-needed rest.

Only, after decades of physical work, she didn鈥檛 know how to look for that new trail.

鈥淚 felt like I was falling behind in computer skills,鈥� says Hamming. 鈥淚 started to worry, thinking that I would slip through the cracks. Without computer skills, I thought I wouldn鈥檛 be able to find a job where I didn鈥檛 need to wear gloves or have my hands in soapy water.鈥�

And then she walked into the WorkBC Centre in Vernon.

鈥淚 had gone to WorkBC years ago when I got out of farming and they helped me get into the healthcare assistant program right away,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his time, with their help, I took an administrative assistant training course.鈥�

Upon completing the course, Hamming entered the WorkBC Wage Subsidy Program, which provides temporary wage subsidies to employers looking to hire and, in turn, provide work experience and skills enhancement for eligible program candidates.

Equipped with her newfound skillset and backed by the Wage Subsidy Program, Hamming put together a resum茅 that demonstrated her decades of hard-earned work experience and newfound digital literacy skills.

That鈥檚 when she found the perfect job: a receptionist position at Morgan鈥檚 Glass in Vernon.

Now, Hamming spends her days answering the phone, scheduling appointments, quoting products and services and providing excellent customer service as the frontline of the family-owned and operated business that has spent more than 60 years serving the glazing needs of private and commercial customers.

鈥淚 see this as my retirement job,鈥� says Hamming after joining the Morgan鈥檚 Glass team in December 2022. 鈥淚 really wanted to get my first year under my belt so I would feel more confident in my position and with computers. Now, I know what I鈥檓 doing and I鈥檓 only going to get better.鈥�

Beyond finding a career that brings her joy and peace, Hamming says she will always remember her time with WorkBC and how the team helped her push past her employment barriers.

鈥淚n the beginning, I felt alone in this process, and I think that a lot of women my age will understand that feeling,鈥� she says.

鈥淲hat I really learned through this process is that we鈥檙e not alone. Because of WorkBC, I had people on my side. When you lack confidence, you start to believe that you鈥檙e failing and that everyone around you is succeeding. Through this program, I realized that I鈥檓 not failing. WorkBC helped me regain my confidence.鈥�

If you or someone you know is looking for meaningful employment, WorkBC is there to help at 250-545-2215 or .