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January 31, 2020

Mariia at Workforce Partnership office

Mariia Sirenko knows firsthand the challenges of finding quality work as a creative. After applying for many entry level graphic design opportunities and not getting any responses through sites like Indeed.com, Facebook and Internship.com, she began to feel discouraged.

“Both of my parents are professional artists,” says Mariia. “I feel connected to art and design and enjoy creating beautiful pieces of work, so I’m always looking for career options that will allow me to be creative.”

While wrapping up her Interactive Media Certificate program at San Diego Continuing Education, she was referred to the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s TechHire program—part of a a nationwide movement that aims to level the playing field for tech jobs–by her professor.

In August 2019, Mariia had her first meeting with to complete her Individual Employment Plan. By September, Mariia identified an internship that was within her skill set. Just three days later, was she was meeting with an employer for an interview.

“The interview went great and I especially loved my interviewer, Johanna. She was sweet, supportive, and although I didn’t have much experience, she was open to building on my strengths and training me on the rest.”

By December, Mariia completed her 150-hour long paid internship with ClickFund as an assistant social media marketing intern. She began using her creative skills while learning and developing new ones.

“Every Wednesday and Friday I had phone calls with my supervisor to discuss strategies and progress achieved,” she says. “Plus, it was nice to have a paycheck to look forward to.”

During the last two weeks of her internship, Mariia inquired about employment opportunities because she wanted to stay with the company. She was offered a part-time position as a social media marketing manager. While the position was temporary, she gained experience that she can carry with her as she continues to explore the field of digital marketing.

“I’m very grateful for the help and support TechHire provided when I needed it the most,” says Mariia. “It was a wonderful, smooth and easy experience, which allowed me to begin my professional career as a graphic designer and marketing specialist.”

Mariia is currently seeking employment as a digital marketer and is open to graphic design and digital marketing opportunities. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

For more information, visit workforce.org/techhire.

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