Success Stories

Anthony, a client from 4 years prior, returned to YES after finishing his first year away at college.  Anthony had been working at McDonald's when he became a vegan and wanted to change jobs. Having seen a new restaurant called Veg'd being built nearby, he applied, returning to YES to prepare for the interview to which he had been invited. Anthony was matched to a volunteer whose whole-house fast food experience would help Anthony understand the scope of work and sharpen his interview skills.

After his interview, Anthony called Program Manager Michelle, providing his Veg'd interviewer contact information. Michelle called to recommend Anthony and learned Christine had never employed someone with learning differences. Christine wondered if Anthony would be able to handle more customer-facing and register responsibilities than he'd had at McDonald’s. She and Michelle agreed that providing positive encouragement and a little extra time would likely ensure his success in those tasks, and Christine was willing to try. 

Three months later, Christine reported that Anthony quickly became her all-time favorite employee by making every day special, and often greeting customers by asking if they were ready to "enjoy the best meal of your life".

Isaac’s family, led by a single, hearing-impaired mother, was in danger of losing their home in just two weeks. YES’ Program Manager, Michelle, flew into action and simultaneously provided Isaac with YES training and connected him with the HR manager at Wyndham Hotel.  Isaac landed that job, sparing his family what could have been a devastating and untimely move. Isaac is now able to contribute to his household regularly and he has let us know how happy he is in his new position.

Since she was only 15 years old at the time, Maria was concerned that her lack of experience would reflect in her interviews with employers. Through participating in the YES program, Maria learned to draw on stories from her life that highlighted her qualifications and experience to interviewers. Maria was encouraged by YES staff to attend the OC Fair hiring event at the YES House for the vendor Tasti Chips .The hiring manager for the company loved Maria and hired her on the spot. This past summer, Maria worked at the OC Fair again, and even took a second job as a hostess at Descanso Restaurant.

“I began getting support from Youth Employment Service in 2016. They’ve supported me in not only finding job openings and other opportunities, but they’ve also helped with mock interviews, resume building, resume enhancing, along with anything having to do with professional support. They facilitate the job process and work with you to find the best options. I really appreciate this nonprofit and the skills they’ve given me to use every day in the real world.”

Miriam was encouraged to attend the YES program by her mother. After completing the Employment Skills workshop, Miriam was determined to land a job at Trader Joe’s. One of the key points that she learned at the workshop was to research the companies where she applied. Miriam spent time reviewing Trader Joe’s website and learned their history and culture. The next day, she confidently went to Trader Joes’ and spoke to the manager on duty. She was given an application, which she completed and returned the same day. She secured an interview and the manager was impressed with Miriam’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the organization and job position. The following day, Miriam was called back for a second interview with a senior manager, who offered her the job on the spot. When Miriam’s family relocated to Cypress, Trader Joe’s happily helped Miriam with transferring to a new store location, where she currently works.

"After a lot of rejection, I realized I needed more than just a degree; I needed an outstanding resume to get and ‘ace’ an interview. Then fate came into play. I saw the YES sign, entered the door and knew something incredible was going to happen. I learned how to build an eye-catching resume and how to conduct myself during an interview to convey confidence. They taught me the proper skill set when you step outside their door and start job hunting. Even when you finish the program, they continue to help by inviting you to networking nights and sharing job postings. They truly do not rest until you achieve your dreams!” 

Today, Alatab loves his job as a Cloud Application Engineer at Open Text, a leader in enterprise information management.

Spirited, sharp and articulate, YES grad Jose Torres exudes the attitude and enthusiasm we’d all like to see in our employees. “I love this job, and it wouldn’t have happened without YES,” he admits. Jose, an 18-year old Santa Ana resident, has had other jobs. But it wasn’t until YES connected him with Ultra Mobile, did he get passionate about work. Of everything he learned in the YES program, he thinks the mock interview is the most valuable. “My video interview with Ultra Mobile went so well that they hired me on the spot, and I started less than a week later,” he explains. After only three weeks on the job, Jose’s responsibilities expanded to include financial responsibilities and data entry. He is eager to start at Santa Ana college, grateful he and his supervisor have arranged a mutually beneficial schedule. Supervisor Annie Tran says: “Jose is just a champ! He impressed us with his professionalism during a video interview and we hired him right away as a temporary employee. His smile and can-do attitude earned praise on his work and attitude, as well as a spot as a permanent part-time employee.”