Dryden (WSYR-TV) - The thousands who have lost their jobs since the economy started to sink will tell you it's tough -- if not nearly impossible -- to find work.
Still, some are fortunate they qualify for federal training dollars so they can go back to school.
Wednesday, dozens who were laid off from BorgWarner plants in Cortland and Ithaca had their educational options laid out for them at a fair, and many are hopeful they will find new jobs.
In an ironic twist, these men and women have come to the BorgWarner room at TC3 to hunt for a new career.
Still, nobody seems to mind -- or perhaps they haven't noticed -- because they have something far more pressing on their minds.
Milton Lee, a father of four, was laid off from BorgWarner last August after more than a decade of service. Even as he closes in on his 48th birthday, he's optimistic this fair will help him start over.
“Solar energy, I know, is more in the future, and I think I'd be really good at doing something like that. So, if I can find something in there, I think it's going to be great,” Lee says.
Lee likely has the right idea, and it's one shared by many of the people in the room with him. He wants to take the free training and position himself to find a job in an industry that's growing.
“Probably, Milton would go to work for someone who is offering these services, who is looking to employ someone with certification. And let me tell you, there are several companies that do this,” says Katie Stoner of Performance Systems.
Performance Systems in Ithaca trains energy auditors, and Milton thinks its one-week program may be his best bet.
One helpful hint that was offered to fairgoers Wednesday -- before you settle on a new career path, speak with potential employers in that industry to be sure they are still hiring.
