Derrick Martin, Compton
Workforce Challenge:
Derrick worked for Uber Technologies as a Scooter Technician for 18 months, when someone caught the COVID19 virus and the shop was closed. After attending a Cerritos SELACO AJCC orientation, Derrick learned about resources available and applied for COVID19 relief funds to assist with paying rent and other financial support. Derrick had looked for employment on the Internet. He also networked and followed up on job leads, but the work he was getting was not steady and he continued to search for something more stable. He said that his biggest challenge was trusting himself, staying confident and diligent in his search for employment and trying to not be afraid to explore new opportunities.
Workforce Solution:
After enrolling at the Cerritos AJCC and working with a career counselor, Derrick was able to access funding, attend online job search workshops and receive resumé assistance. He was also placed into a full-time work experience program at Grocery Outlet where he excelled.
Workforce Outcome:
After about 3 months, through a friend who owned a company, Derrick was hired as an independent contractor to deliver and assemble furniture. Though he is still receiving job offers from other companies, Derrick is happy earning a good salary at the furniture company. Because the manager at Grocery Outlet was so pleased with Derrick’s performance, Derrick was eager to complete his work experience hours and continued to do so part-time on the weekends.
Derrick stated, “Thanks to SELACO and the great employment specialists like Renee Galvan and others for enabling and aiding me to recognize my abilities, as well as how to apply those abilities that helped me to become as successful as I can be.”
