Sophia
Workforce Challenge:
After working as an Office Assistant for almost a year, Sophia had difficulty finding employment again. She searched for jobs online, networked and followed up on referrals, but her efforts were fruitless. She believed that her biggest challenges were her lack of experience, lack of skills and being discriminated against. Sophia ended up being unemployed for years and finally sought job placement assistance. A partner agency referred her to the SELACO WDB America’s Job Center of California in Cerritos.
Workforce Solution:
Sophia worked with a Career Development Specialist (CDS) who provided job coaching, constant encouragement, interview preparation and help with her resumé and cover letter. She also received support for car repairs, gas money, and professional clothing. Practicing with a typing tutorial on a SELACO computer, Sophia increased her typing speed / accuracy and obtained a printed typing certificate. She was also enrolled into Cerritos College where she completed 2 semesters of online paralegal studies earning her American Bar Association (ABA) approved certificate in a matter of a year. Afterwards, Sophia worked about 3 months as an intern at a family law firm in Whittier but preferred a change and interned an additional 4 months at a personal injury law firm in Norwalk.
Outcome & Benefits:
When Sophia’s internship at the Norwalk law firm was completed, she persisted and continued to volunteer at the same firm for a few more weeks, until she was eventually hired permanently as a Legal Assistant. Her job duties include case file management, preparing personal injury demand packages, making record requests and much more. She said that she enjoys the location, hours and job duties of her new job. Sophia stated, “I will never forget the great help which I have received from SELACO’s case manager, Renee F. She is the most excellent case manager that I have ever had! Her compassion, her understanding of the needs of her participants, and her passion for going above and beyond in order to provide the best assistance, are the major factors which enabled me to keep going and to not give up on my job search journey. I am very thankful for all the amazing assistance I have been receiving from SELACO.”
