Emma got discouraged during her job search by rejections she encountered while applying to multiple jobs. After encouragement from her father and a meeting with CareerForce in Hutchinson, she was referred to Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota (GESMN) to help meet her career goals.

Emma’s goal was to secure a stable job that would allow her to become financially stable so she could live on her own, "Thanks to Goodwill... I got everything I wanted,” Emma said.

Emma worked with Phyllis, a career navigator, on her job search. “Even through multiple job rejections...it's a rough job market out there, with my career navigator at my side I didn't get discouraged, I kept going,” Emma said

Phyllis helped Emma gain confidence.

“It's easier to clarify what I want and figure out how I'm going to get there now,” she continues, “in the past few years I have grown more assertive and able to advocate for myself and my needs. I don't need to have a 10-minute anxiety attack before making a single phone call anymore.”

Emma is now working at a call center. “You don't persevere through hundreds of job applications for almost a year for the fun of it; you do it because you want (or need) a job, because you want to live on your own, because a personal project you're working on requires a slightly higher budget than you can afford after paying all your essential bills.”

Learn more about how Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota can help you meet your career goals or text JOBS to 71492 for career and training resources.

To help others get connected to career resources or to learn more about our services and programs please visit www.GESMN.org/impact .