Lighting the Way to a New Career

Sometimes the next clear step doesn’t seem so clear; that’s why a trusted guide is helpful in lighting the way.

Eugene Mission R3 guest William Webb said he needed encouragement and guidance as he moved forward on his career path. Volunteer Tim Rochholz had the lamp.

Tim, a former middle school teacher, principal, and administrator in the Eugene 4J school district, has been offering career support to Mission guests. His background also includes work as a human resources director, so he knows how to support guests as they prepare their resumes, focus their job search and prepare for interviews.

 The coaching partnership has paid off. With Tim’s help, William said he was able to obtain a new job at Winco with better pay, working conditions, and benefits. His new position also has growth and advancement potential, unlike his former work as a dishwasher.

“I was really excited,” William said. “I have a lot of retail experience, so as positions open up there, I’m comfortable applying to them.”

William said Tim assisted him in several areas, including narrowing his job search, preparing his resume, and even driving him to and from the job interview, which relieved a lot of stress.

“I had applied to other jobs and thought other people were more qualified than me,” William said. “I thought I was wasting his time, but he supported me. He said, ‘yes,’ I could do it.”

Tim said the guests he coaches all need different levels of support. Most people have had jobs before, so that’s something to build on. Some guests have worked their whole lives but lack resumes, and he helps them create the kind of resume that is both authentic and puts their work experience and attributes in a positive light.

“A lot of the work is just learning how to present themselves,” Tim said. He recently took a guest shopping for interview clothes and helped another get a driver’s license so he could drive to the work site.

“What’s great about the Eugene Mission is that guests are taking classes and working on addressing their challenges, so when they get to me, they’re ready to take that step into the workforce,” Tim said.

The deeper work, beyond resumes and job searches, is about gaining confidence, Tim said. We must learn how to talk and think positively about ourselves. When we do, a world of opportunity opens.