Brian has been working closely with a vocational specialist for several months and this has ultimately led to paid employment in a job that aligns closely to Brian's career interests. Although it is an entry level position in an outdoors supply store, it is a job that could lead to advancement. Brian and his vocational specialist, Rob, clearly have a good working relationship, and Brian selected to focus on their partnership and Rob's specific skills that make him ideal for job seekers like Brian.
Background: "I had lost my job and I was having difficulty finding another job. A family member who happens to work for the agency said ‘Hey kid, would you say that you’re depressed about losing your job and the situation you’re in? “ Yeah”. “Well, have you ever considered counseling and talking to someone? Why don’t you come down to hear about the services and also hear about employment services we have and someone can work with you”. "I said 'How do you know this’ because at the time I didn’t know she worked here. So I came down and signed up, primarily as a means to an end for the employment services. I ended up getting a counselor and that did help. I got dressed a little bit more often, didn’t spend as much time in my pajamas, feeling sorry for myself.
Introducing Rob, vocational specialist: I ended up with Rob. And Rob is….. lets put it this way, Rob is a hard pill to swallow sometimes. That’s the nicest way I can put it. I’m trying to use my church language. But at least it is effective. He gives it to me straight and when I talk to Rob I can expect to hear the truth.
Determining job goals with Rob: "I knew what I wanted to do and I knew what I wanted to get paid for that. And I knew how I wanted to dress, look and act while doing that. Rob gently help me move past the misconceptions of my expectations versus reality. Um, no, no one’s going to pay me six figures to drink beer and shoot guns all day. Not necessarily in that order. Unfortunately, Anhauser Bush does not have a research and development research facility in this part of the country, nor do any major fire manufacturers research and development research facilities in this part of the country, so what available for a slightly more modest wage? Do you want to make money or do you want to do what you want? I’ve clunked along and done several things that I wanted to do, I’ve done several things that I wanted to get paid more for. And I came to a happy medium where I enjoy what I do and I think I can live on what I make.
Job seeking activities: "Okay, well right now I make minimum wage with opportunity for advancement. And I work at Sportsman Warehouse. So I’m not shooting cans and drinking beer. Technically I’s a camping associate but I do have my fingerprints in everything. It was very intentional to get a job at Sportsman's Warehouse. We spent 2-3 months practice interviewing. At least once or twice a month we went down and peeked in the windows. We’d say, ‘how’s construction going?”, “when do expect it will open?” We watched the internet and watched for when the job postings would go up and nothing was coming up, nothing was coming up, nothing was coming up. And then I get this phone call from Rob. “Hey, so they’re hiring for the manager”. “Really, its not on the website. Oh okay, I’ll go apply for it right now”. “ No, you’re not ready for that. You’re not going to manage the store”. A week later, “hey they just put up department manager”. “Oh good, I’m going to apply for that”. “ No, you’re not ready for that. If you apply for that job and get hired for department manager, you’re going to last 2 weeks and fall flat on your face. You don’t have the retail experience. Sales, you do, but a retail environment, no”. I think I’ll probably be a lead sales clerk by the end of the year but we’re coming up on the holidays now and there is too much training going on right now. The sales manager is a good boss, I have a lot of respect for her. Of the bosses I’ve had, she’s in the top 3".
Anxious for advancement: "I started off as a camping associate. I didn’t even get the department I wanted. I got camping. And the job was going to be competitive for who was going to be full time and who was going to be part time. There was another individual and she was better than me. So I was part-time and positions for department manager were coming available and I applied for every single one of them and I’ve been passed over repeatedly. So I wasn’t exactly happy about that.But now at least I am a full-time associate. One of the department managers is in the position I want to be and leaving so there is that opportunity. And realistically I’ve been there less than a year. And I started off as part-time so I am progressing and I am advancing. Its no way unrealistic to think I could be a store manager within 5 years. I haven’t had it yet but I think I could be a department manager within a year. And within 6 months after being a department manager, there’s a 6 month training program to be a store manager".
Continued support from Rob: "Rob is still helping me to capitalize on advancement opportunities. When it was time to apply for a department manager job we re-wrote my resume AGAIN. We did some preparation for that interview, reviewing questions. If I have any problems at work or going sideways, I can always call Rob and say ‘hey this is what’s going on and he’ll help me deal with it. He helps me with job advancement counseling and also job retention.
When asked if more people like Rob need to be hired for employment support agencies, Brian responded "Unfortunately, Rob is not someone you can replicate. Rob is a legacy. He was raised with certain business contacts, lots of contacts, in this town. Unfortunately you cannot build Rob, you have to find Rob".