Temp Work Allowed Me to Learn Manufacturing Skills – And Shine in a New Career

By Jezabel Southard

Posted on July 20, 2018

A desire to learn and grow may be all that you need to spark the next move in your career. That’s all it took for Xavier McArthur.

For over four years, he consistently worked in customer service roles. But he didn’t feel fulfilled. He wanted to learn more.

“I haven’t had many jobs,” Xavier shared. “I’ve always just wanted to get as much experience as possible.”

A coworker told him about TERRA Staffing Group and he decided to reach out to the Beaverton branch for help with getting a second job. Xavier set up an interview with Ariell Cha, Staffing Specialist.

“He was very eager to start something new and hands-on. He’d been working at the same place for two years and wanted to get into manufacturing. He really wanted to gain experience and build his resume,” she said.

Ariell told her team about Xavier’s flexibility and interest in learning new skills. With the help of Beaverton Recruiter Samantha Skach, they were able to keep him consistently employed through temporary assignments.

Xavier didn’t mind doing temp work. He figured that was the best way to explore his options before finding what he really enjoyed.

Samantha shared, “He was always reliable with attendance and gave great feedback about what roles he wanted to pursue.”

The Beaverton team placed him in some temporary warehouse and packaging roles before finding him a job as a temporary machine operator for a plastic injection molding company. This would ultimately be his first step towards his new career.

The longer he was in the role, the more he really started to enjoy it. And the client really liked having him on their team. So much so that they decided that they wanted to flip his temp assignment to a temp-to-hire position.

And we’re happy to share that Xavier has just been converted to a full-time, regular employee!

“We were looking for someone who was eager to learn the role and that’s what Xavier was. He learned quickly on the machines and was moved over to assembly because he was showing leadership promise,” the client shared.

Xavier enjoys the work he’s doing and appreciates having stable hours. Plus, he feels like he works for a company who takes care of their employees and makes people feel special.

“People are finally recognizing I get the job done. I’m easy to work with and learn quickly,” he said.

TERRA was Xavier’s first experience working with a staffing firm and he’s grateful he gave it a shot.

When we asked if he would recommend TERRA to friends and family, he exclaimed, “Yes, yes, yes – a million times, YES! When working with TERRA, I felt supported and knew they were always there for me. Ariell was constantly checking in with me. Samantha recommended different jobs and made sure they were the right fit.”

Xavier advises:

“If you’re looking for a new job, stay diligent. You can’t be lazy. And don’t procrastinate. You have to go after what you want. If you’re looking to change careers, follow your passion – whatever it is. That’s what drives you and helps you thrive!”

And we have more great news!

Xavier has also been promoted to Assembly Supervisor Assistant. He is responsible for training and can give delegations to other employees.

“It’s finally my time to shine,” he shared with pride.

Thank you for trusting TERRA with your first step in your career, Xavier. We wish you all the best!

How TERRA Can Help You

If you are looking for an opportunity to learn new skills and want to find a job that is right for you, we can help.

We work with employers across multiple industries who are always looking for great employees with a strong desire to learn and a willingness to try new things.

Getting started with us is simple. Just check out our current job openings.

We have offices in the Seattle-Puget SoundPortland-Metro, and Phoenix-Metro areas and our expert recruiters are waiting to speak with you!

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