After deciding it was time for a change of scenery in the workplace, Gloristeen Roberson set out to find a new career field that would allow her to build upon her management skills and manufacturing experience.
Through Pitt Community College’s BioWork Certificate Program, Roberson explored her interest in the pharmaceutical industry and found it to be an ideal fit. Just three months after completing the certificate, she accepted a supervisory position with Thermo Fisher Scientific in Greenville.
Gloristeen Roberson
“The BioWork certificate prepared me with hands-on experience and educational information in the pharmaceutical industry,” Roberson says. “My new role gives me more opportunity for growth, and I look forward to what lies ahead.”
In addition to training for employment with biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing companies, Roberson learned how to update her resume, prepare for interviews, and navigate through difficult workplace situations.
“The BioWork Certificate Program is a three-night-a-week commitment for three months but one that will open long-term career opportunities for you,” she said, adding that by the time she completed her training at PCC, she felt qualified for work in the pharmaceutical manufacturing field and ready to begin searching for jobs.
“(The certificate) was well worth the investment and makes me feel good to know we’re saving lives with the products manufactured at Thermo Fisher,” Roberson says. “It was a great fit for me.”
Shannon Givens
Like Roberson, Shannon Givens also completed Pitt’s BioWork Certificate Program and found gainful employment with Thermo Fisher. She enjoys her job as an inspector and takes pride in doing her part to make sure the company is manufacturing quality pharmaceutical products.
Prior to joining Thermo Fisher, Givens worked for Roanoke River Correctional Institute. Though the job paid well and offered good benefits, it came with a lengthy and expensive commute. Not wanting to move from her hometown, Givens opted to seek a new line of work and enrolled in PCC’s BioWork training.
“I wanted a change in my career, and PCC helped with that,” she says. “The certificate gave me the skills I needed.”
As a Thermo Fisher employee, Givens is again making a decent living with good benefits. Her work schedule has improved immensely, and she’s enjoying the company’s “welcoming environment” and her friendly co-workers.
To others considering a career change, Givens offers the following advice: “remain focused, have faith, and give everything you do your best.”
