For Naomi Sablan, finding a job meant more than securing employment. As a permanently and totally disabled veteran and mother, she needed work that offered the flexibility to care for her children while helping her navigate a difficult period in her life.
At the time, she was dealing with several personal challenges. A tree had fallen on her house, a tornado had damaged her fence, and she was no longer receiving child support. With so much happening at once, finding a job felt increasingly out of reach.
“I was hopeless. I thought there was nothing left to do and that there was just failure,” Naomi said.
Taking the First Step
Although she knew she needed help, walking into a Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast office was not easy. Naomi said she initially parked outside, unsure of what to expect or whether she would be judged.
As a veteran, she wanted to speak with the veteran representative, Mr. Tim. When she arrived, however, a job fair was taking place, giving her an unexpected opportunity to explore employment options.
“Walking through those doors changed my life,” she said.
Workforce Solutions staff helped Naomi set up her Individual User account on WorkInTexas.com and make sure her information was complete. They also guided her through the steps she needed to move forward with her job search.
A New Opportunity and a New Role
Eight days after her initial visit, Naomi received a message from Shauna, a Workforce Solutions staff member, asking if she would be interested in a supervisor position with Allied Universal Services. After a phone interview with Lewis, Shauna’s supervisor, Naomi was offered the position.
Today, she works as a supervisor with Allied Universal Services.
Naomi remembers thanking Shauna for giving someone like her a chance. Her response stayed with Naomi:
“Thank you so much for giving a nobody like me a chance,” Naomi recalled telling her. “And she said, ‘You are definitely somebody.’”
Building Confidence Beyond Employment
For Naomi, the opportunity brought more than a new job title. She says the experience helped her regain confidence and recognize her own worth. She has also seen that change reflected in her children.
“My life definitely has changed. I have more confidence. I have more self-worth. My children see it,” she said.
Naomi encourages others who are looking for work or facing barriers to employment to reach out to Workforce Solutions, whether they are veterans or not.
“If you need help, Workforce Solutions is literally it,” she said.
Her experience is a reminder that asking for help can be the first step toward a new opportunity.
You can watch her whole testimony here:
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