Tell us about your current roles at Yale.
Now that I am part of the Yale community as a custodian, I can say that I truly enjoy working with my team. I feel lucky to have coworkers I can trust and collaborate with. Teamwork is very important in our job, and we support each other every day.
My daily responsibilities include maintaining clean and safe spaces across campus. I always try to do my best and take pride in completing my duties well. This May, I will be celebrating nine years working at Yale University, which makes me very proud.
You participated in Local 35’s Custodial Trainee pathway program. What was the experience like? How does the culture of learning and development at Yale impact you?
When I was hired as a Custodial Trainee, I had the opportunity to learn many new things. Although I already had experience with some custodial duties from previous jobs, my supervisor and the Custodial Team Leader helped me gain even more knowledge and confidence in my work.
One of the most valuable parts of the training was learning how to use different cleaning machines and equipment. This was something I had never learned in my previous roles, and it helped me develop new skills that I continue to use today.
What advice do you have for other jobseekers?
My advice for other applicants is to sign up for New Haven Works and never give up on what you want to achieve. Keep trying, keep preparing yourself, and continue learning. The more knowledge and skills you have, the better your chances will be.
Keep applying and stay consistent. Sometimes it takes time, but if you stay focused and determined, opportunities will come. It took me a while to reach my goal, but in the end, it was all worth it.
What is next for you?
Before working at Yale, I worked two different jobs and barely had enough time to spend with my kids. As a single mother, it was very difficult. When my children got sick, I had to stay home to take care of them, and I would lose pay because of it. One of the benefits I appreciate most about working at Yale is having paid time off and the security of knowing I will still receive my full paycheck when I need to take care of my children. I also have paid vacation time, which allows me to spend quality time with my kids. Having one stable job instead of two has made a huge difference in my life and has allowed me to be more present for my family. These benefits and the stability provided by working at Yale have truly changed my life and my children’s lives for the better.
My next goal is to continue growing professionally. I would like to keep learning and eventually move into a higher-level position. I don’t want to stay in the same place forever—I want to continue improving and developing my skills. On a personal level, my goal is to keep becoming a better person every day, both in my career and in my life.