1.What motivates you to wake up and go to work?
The simple answer is that I love what I do. I really want to help clients find a satisfying career path not just ‘a job’. Each client I meet with I think “what can I do to help this person achieve their professional goals”. My goal with every person I meet is to move past surface answers and find out what they are looking for. You really have to listen to people. Take notes and then use your life experience to give them the best possible advice. When you provide them with a job lead, you need to be prepared to advocate for them to the employers. I know what it is like to not be sure what you want to do with your life. I suppose I understand what the people I speak with are going through. I know it is never too late and a motivated individual can turn their life around. I also enjoy connecting with employers and building relationships. My experience at previous jobs has helped me do this job. I try to make a positive difference in people’s lives every day.
2.Tell us a about your job at JVS SoCal?
I am the Business Services Supervisor. My team’s job is to meet with clients. Send them current, relevant job leads. Follow-up up on those job leads by advocating for our clients with the employer. Connect with employers. Let clients know about employer job postings, set up recruitments, capture unenrolled veterans who attend the recruitments. Make regular client and business outreach calls to more effectively do our job. Document everything in Caljobs and Salesforce. Promote team events. There is a lot of work to do but there can be no more important job then helping those who have served our country.
3.How has your work changed since the COVID-19 pandemic started?
My job has changed in all sorts of ways. First of all. We are working from home. At first it felt strange, but it is surprising how normal it has become. We have daily team meetings. We contact one another all day long. We are still serving those who served. We continue to reach out to clients and employers by phone. Our recruitments, workshops, and other events are virtual now. At first that was different but it has it strengths. Anyone with a computer has access to us. We are currently reaching out to clients who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19. They are struggling so our calls are of the upmost importance. Perhaps the biggest change is the employers. The economy of today is not the same as 90 days ago. There are less jobs out there. Employers are not sure if they will be able to rehire people they let go. We are providing crucial services and it is a privilege to do my part.
4.Tell us something unique about yourself?
Here are a few fun facts. I love having friends and family over. I love blues, rhythm and blues, and number of other kinds of music. I love going out to dinner (I hope we can do that again soon) and am fearless when it comes to food. I serve on the security team at my synagogue and when I was a teenager, I worked at Baskin Robbins in Studio City. One day none other then Marlon Brando came in. I served him. It was really the only time I was truly star struck.
