Andree’ Changed Careers with Construction Training

After earning a business degree and working in the corporate world, Andree’ was ready for a change.

“I’m pretty good at sales… but it wasn’t my thing,” he shared. “I was definitely more into leadership, team management, operations… being hands-on is my thing.”

Seeking a new direction, Andree’ found himself asking what was next.

While searching for new opportunities, Andree’ came across Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota’s (GESMN) construction training through an unemployment email. He remembered enjoying a college internship for a non-profit organization that involved community construction work and decided to give it a try.

“It dawned on me, ‘Hey, I liked that construction part,’” he said. “I just tried it out. I didn’t really have any goals at first… but being in the Goodwill-Easter Seals program showed me that I’m able to still use my leadership skills, my people skills, as well as being hands-on.”

Building Confidence and a Career

The 12-week construction training provides hands-on construction skills, industry-recognized certifications, professional coaching, college credits and job placement assistance at no cost to participants.

From day one, Andree’ was all in.

“I loved it a lot. I think everybody that worked there was super dope,” he said. “From the OSHA training to being out in the field and learning… it was super fun.”

He found excitement both in the shop and on real-world projects. “Being able to drive by and see what we did — just the whole overall experience was super dope.”

Andree’ also found a sense of camaraderie with his classmates. “We were all lost, not knowing what to do,” he recalled. “By the end of the program, we were all very confident that we wanted to work in construction.”

Beyond Construction Skills

The construction program went beyond technical skills. Andree’ credits GESMN instructors for helping him polish his resume, learning how to tailor his story for interviews and following up on job opportunities. He also learned about financial literacy through the Minnesota Financial Empowerment Initiative, which covered saving, banking and investing.

“They brought more to the table than just construction,” he said.

Today, Andree’ is a proud member of the carpenter's union and works for Braxton Construction Company as a framing carpenter. His goal? To grow into a superintendent role. “I really enjoy being a leader. That’s kind of my goal.”

A New Outlook on Life

“Being in the corporate world, I didn’t really feel valued. They also made me lose confidence in who I was,” Andree’ said. “Goodwill really helped me build that confidence back up.”

He now views the world with a new lens — spotting construction projects and seeing potential career paths everywhere. “There are so many different opportunities from Goodwill that they teach you.”

“Andree’ is the full package,” said Heidi, a GESMN construction instructor. “He has high emotional intelligence, good people skills, plus a desire to learn. I look forward to him being a leader within the construction industry.”

Andree’s Advice for Others

“My advice is just take advantage of it,” he said.

Andree’ encourages anyone — young or old — who’s feeling stuck to consider the program. “I think this is a super great program. Everybody needs to know about this and get involved.”

Learn more about the nearly 20 services and programs GESMN offers to create career possibilities.