Osvaldo's Success Story | Hillsboro, OR
Before entering OHDC’s program, I was working at Oregon Harvesting, picking blueberries. Every day I would receive a gallon bucket to fill. We were paid $1.75 per bucket. I wasn’t a good picker, so I was making minimum wage. It was exhausting work, especially in the morning because it was cold and wet. After 10 or 11 it was really hot, sometimes 90 to 100 degrees and I didn’t like it.
My goal when I started was to get more endorsements and get a better job. I also wanted more experience driving trucks because before I started, I didn’t have any experience driving. I got my CDL in 2006, but I never drove or used it, so every time I applied for a job, they wouldn’t hire me because I wasn’t qualified. They required experience to drive. So when I started at OHDC, they sent me to Elite Truck School to get my Hazmat, Doubles and Triples, and Tanker endorsements. When I was at the school, the driving instructors taught us how to drive, how to turn, to use the gears correctly, how to hook up the trailers, etc. |
My goals changed a lot while I was in the program because I got more experience. I now know how to hook a trailer and got experience filling the logbook.
While in OHDC, I had the opportunity to do a Work Experience at the Washington County Habitat for Humanity Restore as a driver and helped in the store. It helped me a lot because I was driving a box truck, and I was driving every day up to 150 miles a day. I also gained customer service experience because I was sent to people’s homes to pick up donations, and I had to talk with them. Also, when I interviewed for my job, the owner saw my experience on my resume, and he asked me about it. He was very happy when he heard about my work with them. I think having the job helped me out a lot.
I also took the computer classes with Victor and Rosetta Stone. It helped me a lot because my English is a lot better. Also, I took the Customer Service class and Short Term Job Readiness classes, which helped me understand the importance of how to treat customers and having a good attitude.
While at OHDC, I learned a lot, especially on the computers with Rosetta Stone and in the trainings with Victor. I also learned how to apply for jobs, fax and email resumes, and how to interview.
While in OHDC, I had the opportunity to do a Work Experience at the Washington County Habitat for Humanity Restore as a driver and helped in the store. It helped me a lot because I was driving a box truck, and I was driving every day up to 150 miles a day. I also gained customer service experience because I was sent to people’s homes to pick up donations, and I had to talk with them. Also, when I interviewed for my job, the owner saw my experience on my resume, and he asked me about it. He was very happy when he heard about my work with them. I think having the job helped me out a lot.
I also took the computer classes with Victor and Rosetta Stone. It helped me a lot because my English is a lot better. Also, I took the Customer Service class and Short Term Job Readiness classes, which helped me understand the importance of how to treat customers and having a good attitude.
While at OHDC, I learned a lot, especially on the computers with Rosetta Stone and in the trainings with Victor. I also learned how to apply for jobs, fax and email resumes, and how to interview.
Now I am driving and working for S & M Steel, where I have been working for two months making $14 an hour with benefits. It’s a good job, and I have excellent partners, and the owner is a good guy. The manager is a great person too. They send me to the job sites with the information. When I was in the field, I worked so hard and made only $8.50 an hour, and I was tired and hungry. Now I’m driving... driving... and driving… dropping off the loads... and I am happy.
I recommend OHDC because it helped so many people, especially farmworkers. I recommend the CDL program because OHDC makes it easier to finish. If you want to leave nursery work or farmworking, I recommend you contact OHDC. I really recommend CDL because there are many local jobs for those who are interested. |