Before connecting with Humanim, Eric had faced long periods of unemployment and significant gaps in his work history. He had some construction experience and a GED, but was still struggling to find work. Ready to get back on track to find a good job, Eric took advice from a friend and enrolled in the Baltimore Elite Service Training (B.E.S.T.) Customer Service program offered by Humanim. This training is offered through Maryland’s SNAP E&T program.
B.E.S.T offered Eric a six-week, classroom-based customer service training that taught soft skills, job search techniques, and customer service skills focused primarily on a retail/hospitality environment (but transferable to other settings). Through this program, he earned a professional certification from the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation. The certification provided Eric with an industry-recognized credential that helps employers distinguish and recognize his qualifications as a customer service professional.
The program gave Eric confidence in his ability to find work and succeed on the job. He became a leader to his peers within the program and Humanim staff describes Eric as a model participant of the B.E.S.T. program, showing up every single day on time, ready to learn, and determined to work.
After completing the program, Eric was hired by a deconstruction firm—where he worked carefully to take apart buildings and recycle or donate building materials to organizations like Habitat for Humanity—one of the three social enterprises of Humanim. Eric was first accepted into the company’s 90-day paid training program and eventually was hired in a full-time position. He is now earning $11.50 per hour with benefits.
His future there seems bright—although he has been with the company for less than a year, he was placed with their most skilled team, one that has the opportunity to travel widely to work on different deconstruction sites. Eric looks forward to continuing to learn new skills and growing with the company.
