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Karen Cousineau - I Will Work

Karen Cousineau - I Will Work

Karen Cousineau found her perfect job through Goodwill.

Karen was referred to Goodwill by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) in the hopes of finding employment that better suited her long-term career goals.

She had worked for many years as a cashier, but the Salem resident was looking to try something new – she wanted to work in an office.

At Goodwill’s Salem Job Training Center, Karen began job training while she and a case manager looked for the right job. As luck would have it, a position was open for a clerical assistant at the nearby DDS office in Beverly.

Of course, applying for the position was only half the battle. Karen still had to get the job, and that presented another challenge.

“It was a group interview. It was a lot of people,” she said. “I was really nervous.”

But DDS called her back and after a brief trial, Karen’s perseverance won the day and she got the job.

“I like working there,” she said. “Filing is my favorite part.”

And Karen quickly made an impact. Not long after being hired, she received an award for her determination at a DDS awards dinner.