Where Purpose and Passion Intersect: Revisiting Lauren
March 12, 2021 By // StepUp Wilmington
Did you know that only 27% of people who obtain a college degree actually have a job related to their major? This can be attributed to a number of factors, ranging from many jobs not necessitating a specific field of study, to labor-market disparities that make it difficult for people looking for jobs to find one that fits their exact passion and skill set.
Lauren is one of the many people who was struggling to find a job that fit her degree before she came to StepUp Wilmington for assistance.
Though she was born in Virginia, Lauren was raised in Wilmington, which she considers to be her true home, and she has a heart for taking care of the people in her community. But while she has always been open to taking any job where she can help others, what Lauren truly desired was a position where she could use her medical degree. It was while she was working as a substitute teacher at Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW) that she found out about how StepUp’s services could be the key to making that happen for her.
After signing up for Job’s Week with StepUp, Lauren was taken aback by how personable and committed she found the organization’s Talent Managers to be. “StepUp’s staff was so easy to relate to … just having their encouragement and seeing their support system and how they worked together motivated a desire in me for a specific work environment. It really pushed me forward to achieve my own goals.”
“And they don’t just find you a job and then you don’t hear from them anymore,” Lauren continued. “They actually check in with you and continue to share resources and ask you about your needs. It really feels like you’re getting an extra set of friends.”
After her time with StepUp, Lauren was able to secure a position as a Community Health Worker with New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Her advice, “Just do it. Come to StepUp with an open mind and stay positive throughout the process. The point of their advocacy is to get you a job that you’re going to love and want to stay in. And believe me, they’ll go the extra mile to get you into that job.”
Regardless of whether you have a degree or not, contact us at StepUp Wilmington to learn how you can find a job that fits your needs and your passions!
