Ashli H.’s interest in the finance industry was sparked after working in a store in downtown Chicago. With her customer service and cash handling experience, she was ready to take her career in a new direction.
She applied through Skills for a Teller role with a bank in 2018. She was hired and received the banking experience she needed. Since then, she gained supervisor teller experience, and was recently placed by Skills at Associated Bank in a Banker role. We talked with Ashli about her experiences working with Skills and Associated Bank since she started this past April.
What brought you to Skills?
I heard about Skills through my mom’s friend. She said it was an organization that could help me get a good job, so I went to the website and applied for different roles I felt I qualified.
How was your experience working with the Skills?
I worked a lot with Skills during my job search, and everyone was nothing but amazing! I went into the office to attend a workshop, where they worked with me to revise my resume and provided interview tips on what to say and what not to say. It really helped.
How did it feel when you were offered the position with Associated Bank?
I was excited and surprised! After I applied, I attended a group interview with Skills, where I was submitted for the role with Associated Bank and heard back from them almost instantly. Just a day or two after my interview, they called me back with an offer. I was excited to even be considered for the role.
How have Associated Bank and Skills helped you grow?
I just passed my final exam and will soon be taking the panel portion to receive my banker certification. Once I receive that, I’ll be able to open accounts and receive incentives and bonus pay. Being in this role has sharpened by customer service skills and allowed me to be more personable working with clients face-to-face. It was a blessing to get this job with Skills’ help.
Would you recommend Skills to other job seekers?
I definitely would recommend Skills and I already have with my friends and family! I tell them to go to Skills’ website because Skills offers people to the opportunity to get better paying jobs in roles that aren’t normally available through a recruiter. I feel like not a lot of people know about Skills, which is why when I hear about people looking for a job, I tell them to check out Skills.