“Embrace the opportunity [Job Corps] offers. It’s a huge steppingstone into any kind of career you would want in the future.”
Growing up in Ogden, Utah, Thaddaeus had always known about the Clearfield Job Corps Center but never understood the impact of the program until he experienced it himself. Before joining Job Corps at the age of 22, Thaddaeus held down a variety of odd jobs: a teacher’s assistant, customer service representative at Home Depot and finally a caretaker for an elderly veteran. It was this caretaker role that spurred his interest in helping people and inspired him to pursue the Advanced Emergency Management training program at Job Corps.
“Job Corps is a place that gives you all the tools to help yourself. Take full advantage because you will never get that kind of help again.”
When his instructor advised him to consider applying to the Advanced Training program, he jumped at the chance immediately. He remembers thinking, “This sounds like a job I want. Not just a job I’d be good at, but one that would be a fulfilling job.”
In his Advanced Emergency Management training program, he earned a 0865 Site Inspection Course Certificate and OSHA 30 credentials, which qualified him to apply for a position with FEMA. With ongoing support from his instructors and Career Transition Specialist, he was successful in the application process and was offered a position as an Operations Specialist Manager. In his role, Thaddaeus now goes to areas of need to help personnel and people understand processes as they fill out forms for assistance.
“Job Corps is a place that gives you all the tools to help yourself. Take full advantage because you will never get that kind of help again.”
He is looking forward to working with people all over the country to improve their lives for the better.