For four years, Yaritza Ramos was a stay-at-home mom and dedicated volunteer. As much as she enjoyed this stage in her life, she wanted to enter the workforce – but she wasn’t sure where to start.
“I didn’t know the first thing about writing a resume or how to interview for a job,” she confessed.
She saw an ad for New Choices and learned there was a class starting the next week. Yaritza’s English was limited, but the program staff assured her they would work through it together. “Taking the New Choices class was definitely a challenge and big step for me,” Yaritza explained.
With each week, Yaritza’s English got a little stronger, and she learned critical workforce skills. “I created a resume and cover letter. We were taught interviewing skills, how to answer questions, how to dress, what to expect, and we practiced,” she said.
On top of that, Yaritza learned budgeting strategies and how to better organize her finances.
Soon after graduating, with help from the New Choices team, Yaritza accepted a job at First Citizens Community Bank as a teller and recently became a home owner. “I have been at my job for more than six months now. I love my new career,” she said.