I Didn’t Give Up When Faced with Adversity and Turned a Temp Job into a Fulfilling Career

By TERRA Staffing Group

Posted on November 24, 2021

Sean Fisher, TERRA Success story

Life sometimes throws us curveballs when we least expect it. Some people get knocked down and have a hard time getting back on their feet.

Others, like Sean Fisher, dust themselves off and keep moving forward.

Because Sean isn’t the type to give up in the face of adversity. And he isn’t afraid to go after what he wants, no matter how hard it is.

It’s this resilience and determination that enabled him to find his way back to an industry he loves after the pandemic disrupted his life — and allowed him to turn a two-day temp assignment into a fulfilling career. 

We asked Sean to tell us his story. 

“I started working in manufacturing right out of high school. And I enjoyed it! Seeing immediate results from your efforts, experiencing how your work impacts a company, being instrumental in improving a product… It’s a great feeling. 

So, I worked in manufacturing for many years.

Then COVID-19 hit, and I lost my job. I collected unemployment for two weeks — and I couldn’t stand it. I had to keep working.

To try to get ahead, I took a job in food service. Eventually, to make a few extra bucks, I got a job at night, cleaning medical facilities that dealt with COVID-19. Honestly, it was kind of dangerous. But I’m not sure I fully realized how bad it could’ve been when I took the job.

Not only was the work a little unsafe, it was at night, making me feel so disconnected from the rest of the world. I slept when other people were awake, and vice versa. I didn’t want to keep doing it.

So, I put feelers out to see what else might be available. When I saw that TERRA’s Mesa team was recruiting for people with manufacturing experience, I thought. I’d give them a call.

I connected with Christina Nitescu right away and we discussed my work history. She told me about a manufacturing role that she thought might be a good match. 

Unfortunately, that particular job didn’t work out. It was a little far and I was wasting too much time on the commute.

I let Christina know and she connected me with the rest of her team. They were quickly able to find me another manufacturing position. This job was only supposed to last two days, and the pay was a bit lower, but the drive was much better! 

Around the second day, it was clear to me that the job was turning into a week-long position. At that point, I realized that I wanted it to last longer. It felt comfortable. I enjoyed the people and the atmosphere. And I also really liked the location.

I decided to ask one of the leads if I could do anything more to help. After she gave me something to do, I asked her point blank if she was looking for anybody full-time. 

She saw me as someone who’s interested in learning, recognizes where help is needed and brings value to the team. And she decided to take me on and train me.

Thanks to that, the job went from two days, to a week, and then it just kept rolling. A month and a half later, they asked me to stay permanently. I was ecstatic!

I love my job. The people I work with are really awesome and interesting! A lot of them speak Spanish and they’re teaching me to speak it a little. I enjoy being a part of the conversation, even if I don’t always have a clue. I get to learn a lot and see different perspectives. It’s really fun.

The location is also extremely convenient. I used to have to drive to many different places for both my restaurant and cleaning jobs. Now, I have a home base. I enjoy not having to deal with gas prices and car wear and tear.”

The key to Sean’s success?

“Be truthful to employers and to yourself. Try to continuously improve. And, if you really want the job, learn everything about it. Once you understand how your work relates to others, you’ll also understand your added value and be able to show your worth.”

Congratulations Sean! Your determination, hard work and proactive attitude are inspiring! 

We’re so glad to see you in a position that both meets your needs and allows you to learn new, valuable skills. 

Team Up With TERRA

Ready to take action and find the right job for you? Try partnering with TERRA!

We work with many local companies across a variety of industries in the Seattle-Puget Sound, Portland, Phoenix, and Denver metro areas. Our recruiters are eager to help you find your next opportunity! 

Contact us to learn what jobs might be available to you.

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