CHLOE

AGE: 20
POSITION: Cook
EMPLOYER: Marriott International

Chloe had held jobs before, but when she came to YJC, she was looking for direction—a greater purpose for her path. After reading through YJC’s client success stories, she decided she wanted a success story of her own.

Upon becoming a YJC client in 2020, Chloe participated in workforce readiness training and started working with a career coach, gaining valuable tools like interviewing skills and a sense of professionalism. She raves about her time with her career coach, saying, “It has been so amazing with my coach Francesca. She is very helpful in everything.”

After completing her initial training, Chloe enrolled in This Way ONWard (YJC’s Old Navy program) and landed a position as a brand associate. While Chloe’s time at Old Navy earned her valuable customer relations experience, she realized cooking was her passion—a passion she wanted to pursue. YJC set her up with two Paid Work Experiences (PWEs) to get her moving forward on a culinary path: program manager at World Business Chicago’s Food Stop and culinary program assistant at YJC. YJC provided transportation assistance to make sure Chloe could get to and from her PWEs.

Chloe excelled at her PWEs, where she not only was immersed in the exciting world of food but also had a chance to hone and flex her skills in people management, logistics, guest experience coordination, and general administration.

Next, YJC set Chloe up with an apprenticeship at UNITE HERE Chicago Hospitality Institute (UHCHI), where she studied under culinary experts, gained entry into a cooking union, and earned an American Hotel Lodging and Hospitality certificate. Chloe graduated with flying colors, with her proud mentors cheering her on.

It gets even better: Within a week of completing her UHCHI apprenticeship, Chloe got a permanent job as a cook at Marriott International!

“YJC has given me the confidence to understand what career path goal I wanted for myself and that it was achievable,” Chloe says.

Chloe is enjoying her new job, noting how fun it is to learn new cooking techniques and attempt different cuisines. And she doesn’t intend to stop there: her plan for the future is to start a private catering business. YJC is supporting Chloe in building that dream through ongoing coaching.

From seeking direction to being well on her way to her professional dreams, Chloe is a true success story. Her advice to other young people? “Trust the process. Nothing is gained without hard work. Trust yourself and others around you. It’s never too late to follow your dream.”