Cassie's Story

Cassie
WIOA/Welfare to Work
Career Services

My name is Cassandra, and my family and friends refer to me as Cassie. Working with Stanislaus County Workforce Development, I was assigned an amazing Workforce Specialist, June Sitala, who assisted me in navigating the important steps of job search and placement.

Workforce Specialist June put me through my Job Readiness classes where I was able to learn about employer’s expectations, creating resumes, cover letters, and most important, mock interviews. I was then able to participate in a paid work experience where I was placed with Heritage Ford Body Shop as an Auto Body Prepper/ Assistant. Here, I was able to gain more job skills with my vocational training and certification in auto body repair from Modesto Community College.

After my 6 months of paid work experience was completed, I did so well that I was hired on at Heritage Ford through SCWD on-the-job training. Unfortunately, after a few months, the company was sold to another owner and I found myself unemployed. My job developer was able to place me on another on-the-job paid site with Pabco Auto Body, where I am currently working as a shop assistant and learning more about auto body repair.  

 I want to thank my remarkable SCWD Workforce Specialist June Sitala who provided me with countless resources, advice, and program opportunities that enabled me to reach this point in my career.  

Thanks to SCWD job developers Yvonne Guerrero, Kyren Vasquez, and Carmella Pando Lee for matching my job skills to local employers who were able to give me paid work experience. It has been Stanislaus County Workforce Development's valuable programs and resources that have allowed me to succeed and I will continue to be inspired to work hard and achieve success.