Ana's Story

Client: Anna
Program: Paid Work Experience
Department: Business Services

Ana is a dedicated, hard-working employee that was laid off from her job in March 2023. We first met in February 2024, a couple months after her return to the U.S. from her native country overseas.  Ana was unable to hide her frustration and sadness when sharing the challenges she faced when securing permanent employment. She was professional and had a strong- work ethic, she earned a higher education degree from her home country and had over 15 years of experience in her field, yet she was unable to secure an entry-level job. Ana felt defeated, but with encouragement, she was receptive to coaching from her Career Services Workforce Specialist and took the time to work on the basics: building a marketable resume and identifying and addressing her personal barriers to employment. Ana’s first language is not English, but she did not let that stop her from pursuing good work opportunities. She actively sought ways to improve her English by enrolling and attending English Language classes at Modesto Junior College. Ana stayed determined and continued to apply to jobs and work on her interview skills with guidance from her Business Services Job Developer. In July 2024, Ana’s efforts paid off: Ana was able to take advantage of permanent position with a local housing authority in her field of expertise. Today, Ana continues to produce quality work and strives to reach new goals.