I initially came to Goodwill Industries of St. Clair County (GWISCC) via a situational assessment from Michigan Rehabilitation Services in 2007. I was a single mother of three children at the time of entry. Prior to arriving at Goodwill I was having an extremely d
ifficult time making ends meet, could not find a job and had no idea where to begin. I felt frustrated and defeated.
Through my assessment it was determined I had a knack for production tasks and Goodwill provided work for me in their production shop. During my stay, Goodwill discovered I also had an affinity for, and an interest in, housekeeping. I was then referred for Goodwill’s Community Based Assessment Program.
Goodwill was able to temporarily place me at a local hotel where I was able to experience a vocational interest. Through this placement I determined that I really wanted to work in housekeeping. So, I set out to interview for housekeeping positions. I met a dead end when I realized I had certain work barriers that prevented me from successfully interviewing.
In 2014, I attended Goodwill’s Soft Skills Program designed for individuals with barriers to employment. During the program, I learned how to successfully overcome my anxiety affiliated with interviewing and learned many things about myself that I was unaware of which held me back from clinching the job. Subsequent to attending the program I had a new sense of confidence and a new set of interviewing skills and tools which ultimately helped me attain my current job at the Fairfield Inn.
Without the Soft Skills Program I would have remained stuck in my anxiety of interviewing and been unable to find a new job. While I will miss everyone at Goodwill I have graduated into a better job and one which I know I will really enjoy.
I am happy to share with you through my experience at Goodwill Industries I have learned how to be more positive. I have acquired the resources and knowledge for job searching, but mostly I benefited from Goodwill’s Soft Skills Program. I feel that my newly acquired outlook from being a part of GWISCC has given me a better life both personally and professionally.
