When Almeina Greenhill went to her last job interview, she had been out of work for a year and things were getting to the wire. Being told by the hiring manager that she wouldn’t be needed for the role she was interviewing for, was enough for Alemina to almost lose hope.
On top of that, Almeina’s phone wasn’t working, which is how she ended up at Goodwill Columbus’ Work and Community Services (WCS). Unaware that she was in one of our people services locations, Almeina got an unexpected surprise when Cody at the front desk, introduced her to WCS Director Tiffany Martin.
“After four minutes of talking to Miss Tiffany, I realized this was a job interview,” said Almeina. Unfazed by Almeina’s current situation, Tiffany was more interested in Almeina’s background and the special connection she already had to Goodwill.
When asked if she had experience working with individuals with disabilities, Almeina shared that her son is autistic and previously went through Goodwill’s Project Search, a 24-week program that provides participants with direct work experience in a logistics-focused Job Readiness Training program. “Project Search helped my baby and if I can help other children with the programs offered at Goodwill, that’s a blessing,” she said.
Shortly after walking into her nearest Goodwill Columbus site, Almeina’s day made a turn for the best and was offered a position as a Training Specialist! “We try to hire a variety of people,” Tiffany said, “parents of children with disabilities have a different perspective that is important in the work that we do, it super exceeds everything.”
Although Almeina has only been with Goodwill Columbus for a month, the Work and Community Services team has already made a lasting impact. “When I first started, Miss Tiffany said we’re like a family here. This is the first time in 20 years that I actually believe that,” said Almeina.
“This job came right on time.”
