On a busy night in a cramped emergency room, a security officer stands watch at the hospital entrance—a steady presence in a rushing sea of scrubs and white coats. Patients flood in, doctors hurry past, and tensions run high. To many, he is simply part of the scene, but behind the uniform is a lifetime of experience that most could never imagine.
Before serving the people of Endeavor Hospital, Efrain built a life in Guatemala as a lawyer, advocating for justice and serving his clients. His work put two children through school and anchored his family for over 20 years. Before that, he served in the U.S. military for 11 years. So when life demanded change, he stayed calm and adapted once again.
His world shifted dramatically after his wife’s sudden cancer diagnosis. Her case was severe, and Guatemalan doctors gave her only three months to live. Knowing she could access life-saving care in the U.S., Efrain packed up his family and headed for Chicago, trusting that his work ethic and impressive background would help him land a job quickly. However, that proved far more difficult than he had hoped.
“I was really lost in how to get a job because it had been so long since I left the United States,” he admits. Despite applying relentlessly, he struggled until a resume overhaul by our Skills for Chicago team turned his luck around. “Back in Guatemala, the resume is really long. Mine was like four pages, and your clerk told me it was too long. She helped me do it right—the way it’s supposed to be here in the States—so people paid more attention to what I had to say."
After that adjustment, Efrain quickly received multiple job offers and found the perfect match for his military background in his current role at Endeavor Health. He is a grounding force in an otherwise chaotic environment, and in turn, has found stability in a company that welcomed him with open arms. His job allows him to provide for his wife and family which is his most important goal. Nowadays, he enjoys spending more time with them, going on runs with his sons, and watching movies with his wife, who has been steadily improving for over a year.
Efrain’s ability to remain level-headed and disciplined continues to serve him well. It’s also the advice he gives to others: In moments of uncertainty, stay calm and move forward with purpose. His story is a reminder that there is always more than meets the eye and that it is never too late to pivot to a bold new path.
