Michael Smith is a dream employee. He takes the initiative to see what he can do to help his department. When a new project opens up, he volunteers to help with it. “I like to shine in my work assignments and create a demand for my services,” he says. “I did a lot of hustling on the street in illegal ways, but now that I’ve turned my life around I’m still a hustler trying to climb the ladder – but in legal jobs!”

In April 2006 Michael started in Goodwill’s job-training program. During his 10 months in the on-the-job training program, he first worked at our Van Ness store, then at the front desk of Goodwill’s San Francisco headquarters. Soon he was recruited to work at the eStore (which was just launching at this time). In December 2006 he was named eStore Employee of the Month.

When his time in the job-training program was over, Michael was hired on as a donations attendant, and soon after he was offered the position of Employment Training Specialist with Goodwill’s welfare-to-work Community Jobs Program (CJP). “In that job, I set up a training and counseling system for all the CJP clients,” said Michael. “I had already trained lots of folks at the front desk and at the eStore, so I had lots of prior training experience to draw on.”

Michael’s most recent promotion came last December, when he became a CJP Career Advisor. In this role, Michael works with CJP participants for six months, making sure they are fulfilling their work requirements. “I love being a Career Advisor because it’s my chance to return the favor that was given to me,” said Michael. “A few years ago my Career Advisor saved me. I was so discouraged that I wanted to drop out of Goodwill’s programs and go back to my life on the streets. But my Career Advisor convinced me to keep trying.”

Before joining Goodwill, Michael had lived on the streets and served time in jail. “I grew up surrounded by drugs and gangs, and I got involved in a lot of it,” said Michael. “But I finally decided I wanted to change my life, and that’s when the Sheriff’s Office referred me to Goodwill.”

Michael says thinks about his job all the time – even in his sleep. “I tell my clients that I might look cool, but I’m not - I don’t show any favoritism,” says Michael. “I tell them that if I give them a cushion, that’s not helping their future.” I love helping my clients get jobs and develop professionally, just like I was helped.”