Tyrone Coleman was out of work for almost two years before finding a Goodwill of Central Arizona Career Center.
“I was despondent because my house was on the verge of repossession and I had depleted my entire 401(K) to pay my house bill,” said Coleman. “My unemployment was exhausted, so I was desperately turning over every stone I could to find a job. Even though I was a college graduate, my skill set was outdated.”
Luckily, Coleman was referred to a Goodwill of Central Arizona Career Center.
Coleman said he was evaluated, tested and received funding to gather a number of certifications required to update his skill set to the most recent standards.
“With Goodwill’s help, I was provided classes and necessary training to take and successfully pass the industrial certification in computer, CompTIA , A+ and Network+ , and I became a Microsoft Certified Professional,” Coleman stated.
After completing the course and exam, Coleman decided to further his education by enrolling in Cisco entry-level courses. While taking advantage of the services offered by Goodwill, Coleman’s new skills qualified him for a position at Freescale Semiconductor.
“That time allowed me to volunteer at Goodwill in the IT department, where I was given a bit of real-world experience, and I was able to give a little bit back,” said Coleman. “Goodwill liked me so much, they hired me part-time, and then elevated me to full-time status, where I’m increasing my knowledge in information technology. I received another Microsoft certification in Windows 7 just this month.”
Coleman said he is thankful for the community program at Goodwill and the services they offered him.
“Goodwill was able to keep my foundation and family strong.”
