Not just a job: STEPS graduate launches a career in service

Like many participants in the STEPS job-readiness and job-search class, Taniesha Coleman questioned whether the mandatory, four-week course was necessary. The single mom of two had been out of the workforce for a couple years, but thought her resume and interview skills were adequate.

Still, having no childcare made holding a job feel impossible. And accepting another fast-food job offered no long-term appeal. 

“I wanted to find a position I loved. I wanted a career, not just another job. And that’s what they focus on in STEPS. They didn’t try to get me into ‘any job,’” Taniesha said. “They helped me get the job I really wanted.”

On Day 1 of class, she decided to fully commit. 

“I made a promise to myself that I would give it 110 percent, because the life I was living wasn’t what I wanted for myself and my children,” Taniesha said. 

That dedication paid off. Taniesha gained new skills, friends and a confidence boost she didn’t know she lacked. The program, a part of CalWORKs, provided childcare and tons of support. 

“Best of all is the way staff members Tammara Adams, Jim Anderson, Chris Buhler, Russell Robinson and others believed in me – allowing me to believe in myself. There’s no doubt that the STEPS class changed my life,” she said. 

Within three months of starting STEPS, Taniesha launched her career with Shasta County. Now a peer support specialist in Children’s Mental Health, Taniesha inspires hope in young people and walks with them toward recovery. 

“I have been hired at the county to do what is truly my passion,” she said. “This accomplishment didn’t come without challenges. My past made employment difficult, but the staff never gave up on me and neither did I.” 

The first two weeks of the STEPS (Start Towards Enrichment, Power and Success) class is in a classroom setting and contains interactive activities to give job seekers the edge they need to succeed. This includes mock interviews and job-specific resume writing. Clients spend the final two weeks of STEPS engaged in job searching. A facilitator provides individualized job search monitoring and coaching. Watch a video about the STEPS program here.

Taniesha’s advice to others headed to STEPS is, “Give it your all, be honest and trust the staff. They are passionate about what they do and genuinely care,” she said. 

For more information about the STEPS program, visit Shasta County CalWORKs.