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Success Story: Joseph

A career is different than a job. Read and hear a story about a man who started working at a job. He liked his job and wanted to advance. With work experience, time, and more education, he turned his job into a career.

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Hi. My name is Joseph. I came to this country about 10 years ago. I only went to school for a few years in my country. It was difficult finding a job when I moved here. I could not speak English or understand English very well.

My first job was in construction. I knew how to work hard. I liked my job. My supervisor said I was a good worker. I had on-the-job training. I learned how to be a roofer and I learned how to be a drywall installer.

I worked during the day and went to school to learn English at night. After a few years, I could understand more English and I could read and write English, too. Learning English helped me in my job. I wanted to learn more so that I could advance in my job.

I decided to try to earn my GED. It felt like it took me a long time to earn my GED, but it was worth it. A few months ago, I started an apprenticeship for carpentry. My apprenticeship will take three years. I learn in a classroom and at my job. After that, I might go to technical college in the future to earn my certificate as a building inspector. It will take a lot of work, but I like my career choice.