Zy’Keia was a new mom of two boys and was passionate about making sure she could give them the best life possible. She knew she wanted to be with an employer who would not only uplift her career ambitions, but also one that would support her life as a parent. It was important to her that she was with a company that would support her being a working mom, and she also wanted to find an employer that offered growth opportunities.
After working with Skills, Zy’Keia was hired by Bank of America as a Relationship Banker. She now feels like she is supported in every way...not just as an employee, but also as a mom. She is excited to be with a company that is willing to foster her growth and is thrilled to see how bright her future can become.
What brought you to Skills?
I was in desperate need of a job. I was a new mom of two boys and my desire to be able to take care of them had me searching high and low for job opportunities!
How was your experience working with the Skills staff?
My experience was super easy [with Deanna and Malaysia]! I remember receiving emails with great job recommendations and applying for all of them! I was able to attend a group info session on Zoom with Skills which led me to Bank of America!
Bring me back to the moment when you were hired. How did it feel?
I was happy! ESPECIALLY since this was my first high paying job! My celebration was during the summer. I was hired in August, but my start date wasn’t until October. Plenty of time to prepare and get my childcare needs in order.
How are you liking your new job so far? How has Bank of America and Skills helped you grow?
I love my job! I’m learning new things every day and that’s what I love the most. I was not knowledgeable about bank accounts, credit cards, CDs, stocks, IRAs, etc. before my job. I’ve only been there for a year so I’m still learning, but I love it there.
What opportunities has this job provided for you?
They’ve provided great opportunities financially! As my seniority grows, I see more opportunities career wise. My position is like step one. There are so many different levels to which you can elevate. I’m super excited to see where I’ll be in three to five years.
What are your career goals and how do you feel Bank of America will support them?
As of right now I honestly don’t have a specific career goal besides being able to take care of my kids as a single mom, and still be able to be a good mom. Bank of America definitely supports this. We have so many resources for moms, like back up care and childcare reimbursement. We have support groups all over the world. Eventually once I figure myself out and learn my place in the company, I can definitely see myself as a Team Leader – to teach people like myself how to elevate in our company.
Would you recommend Skills to other job seekers?
Yes! Simply because Skills gives you the confidence and support to apply for jobs that you probably thought were out of your league. I know for me personally, in the past, a degree was needed to have a good job, but Skills for Chicagoland’s Future showed me different.
