In September 2019, the Young Professionals were first introduced to Matao B. when he contacted the Michigan Works! Career Center looking for full-time employment. He was a motivated nineteen-year-old but lacked work experience.
Matao was soon involved in an on-the-job training opportunity earning $12 per hour as a materials handler. He successfully completed the 480-hour training period and remained a full-time employee with the company.
After some time, however, he wanted to research other opportunities that he thought would be a better fit. Matao was interested in marketing and sales and expressed that he wanted to explore those fields. Additional career assessments confirmed his decision to develop an employment plan for this career pathway.
Matao attended job clubs to create a cover letter and two resumes, one to reflect his current work experience and another to apply for marketing-related jobs. A week later, a potential employment opportunity with State Farm was found. A job shadow was arranged for Matao with a State Farm office to help him understand what the career was all about.
Following the job shadow, he knew this was a career he wanted to pursue, and he interviewed for an open position with the company. He secured the job as a CSR/Dialer and began in March 2020. He believed the position at State Farm would not only allow him to grow and advance in the company but also to help support his family now and in the future.
Despite these trying times during a pandemic and being a new employee, Matao’s employer saw his potential. State Farm kept him on staff to work from home and to start the process for obtaining a property and casualty insurance license. He began taking an online class through Kaplan and once he completes the exam, he will be promoted to a sales position.
Matao’s career in the insurance industry is going strong because he possesses a positive attitude, an admirable worth ethic, and he remains flexible to reach all the goals he sets for himself.
