A Mother Finds New Hope

After several years of consistent employment, Maria found the Fremont-based company she had been working for as an assembler had outsourced its manufacturing operations overseas in 1997. Little did she know this closure was only the first in a series of company closures that would impact her life.

Over the next several months she would find herself repeatedly working for companies that decided to move their manufacturing overseas. By the time she came to Goodwill for employment assistance, she had been unemployed for six months and was in a desperate situation.

Maria came to Goodwill with limited English skills and five children for whom she was primary caregiver since her husband had been recently sent to prison. She didn’t know how she was going to pay her mortgage. She said she was frightened for her family’s immediate future.

A friend referred her to Goodwill’s San Antonio Fruitvale Community Learning Center, where Goodwill staff began to work with her to obtain employment. In the past, she had always obtained employment through word-of-mouth. Our staff introduced her to more proactive and comprehensive job search methods. Her resume was developed, and she learned how to complete an application correctly. She practiced interviewing and received other job search training including the use of email and faxing her resume to employers. Most importantly, Maria’s confidence began to improve.

Recently, Maria started working full-time as a machine operator at company that learned how to be competitive with overseas competition for high-end medical device manufacturing. She is making $15.00 dollars per hour, and her work hours allow her to come home and be with her children after school. Maria said that the most important assistance provided by Goodwill was the confidencebuilding their help provided and the willingness of staff members to listen to her concerns and problems.

* Name changed to protect the privacy of the Goodwill participant.