Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota’s Financial Industry Training transformed Jeffrey’s career

“I’m very grateful for the experience. It’s been life changing in many ways,” Jeffrey said of his experience with Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota’s Financial Industry Training program. Jeffrey had worked in healthcare for 13 years but was interested in switching to the financial industry.

The Financial Industry Training program is a 10-week course to help prepare students for a career in the financial industry. The program includes preparation for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) certification exam, a key credential for high-level positions, along with career coaching and skill-building assistance.

Financial Training

Jeffrey learned industry-specific skills and is prepared for a new career in the financial industry. “My goal is to find an advisor position where I can grow and contribute to the company,” Jeffrey explained. “Before the program, when I applied to companies, I kept hearing about the SIE, but I didn’t know what that was. Now, I have the skills and resources to take the SIE certification, which is truly life changing.”

The program helped Jeffrey stay focused and determined. “I learned a lot of new things that I didn’t know before,” Jeffrey said. “The personal growth I’ve experienced in my hard and soft skills has been great. I’ve learned how to communicate better and set expectations for myself and others.”

“Over the 10-weeks, my instructor kept me on track, offering great coaching,” Jeffrey continued. “When you have an instructor like Dennis it’s hard to give up because he won’t let you give up on yourself. I also learned more about resume building and gained confidence through mock interviews. It felt good to receive feedback from employer partners.”

Invest in Yourself

Dennis, an instructor and career navigator, added that “Jeffrey understates his abilities. During the mock interviews, one of our business partners came out of the session and said, ‘I have two students to talk about,’ and Jeffrey was one of them. She was impressed, saying ‘He really needs to work for us.’ Jeffrey can make those impressions and I think he will do very well in this industry.”

Jeffrey’s advice to others is simple: “Invest in yourself. Use the resources available to you. It’s up to you take the knowledge and apply it moving forward.”

He also encouraged others to not be too hard on themselves. “I used to think a 50% on something meant I was terrible. But Dennis always said, ‘That’s 50% more than you knew before,’ which motivated me to keep learning and push myself.”

Register for an Info Session Today

GESMN’s Financial Industry Training class is starting soon. To learn more, register for a GESMN Financial Industry Training virtual informational session today!