Relocating from Northern Virginia for her husband's job, Sarah Gililland set out to volunteer and network as a first step to finding meaningful work in Lexington.
A fellow volunteer suggested she apply for temporary work through STEPS, as a fast-track to making connections at UK. Sarah found working with the STEPS team refreshing and affirming:
"I graduated during the height of the economic recession and had experiences working with other temp agencies. With STEPS, I felt welcomed into the UK family unlike other agencies where I felt like a number in a system and received advice to be more aggressive and not be myself."
With her bachelor's and master's degree in business administration and marketing, Sarah was matched with a role in customer service and communications, which she's held for six months.
Finding value in this first job in her new city, Sarah said,
"even if it's not my forever-job, it's getting my foot in the door at an institution with unmatched benefits and such a positive work environment."
In addition to appreciating her kind colleagues, she has been impressed with the growth opportunities UK offers. From on-the-job trainings for enterprise technologies, to taking advantage of workshops offered by other UK groups such as the Center for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching, Sarah says she feels confident about developing her skillset and network within the UK community.