By Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana Communications Manager, Jenny Kakasuleff
Jasmine Bible was 17 years old when she got her first job as a cashier at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana (Indianapolis, IN). She struggled to find reliable transportation, stable housing and dependable child care for her son with special needs. Eager to advance her career, Bible took advantage of every opportunity available to her through Goodwill®.
She worked her way up from an hourly associate to an assistant store manager, then consulted with a Goodwill Guide. A Goodwill Guide is a career and life coach who works with our retail employees, students and other program participants, with the goal of helping them achieve long-term independence.
After discovering her interest in nursing, Nathan Miller, Bible’s Guide, encouraged her to enroll in a Certified Medical Assisting course. Upon receiving her certification, Bible worked with TalentSource®, Indianapolis Goodwill’s in-house job placement team, to seek outside employment.
She was offered a position in the health care field but accepted a promotion to site leader at Goodwill instead.
“Nathan told me about opportunities that allowed me to enhance my skills. This effectively doubled my salary,” Bible said.
Now in her ninth year at the Indianapolis Goodwill, Bible has achieved financial stability and worries less about how to provide quality care for her son. She continues to work toward her own professional goals and a better future for her family.
“Bible is young, smart and driven. She used the tools available to her to increase her skills and marketability,” Miller said. “I have no doubt that she will achieve whatever she sets her mind to.”
Today, Bible is managing her own retail store and pursuing a degree in business administration. She plans to continue climbing the career ladder at Goodwill.
“I love working for a company like Goodwill that asks its employees, ‘how can we support you?’” Bible said.
