The Challenge
Julie’s passion for helping people led her to seek out career experiences in caregiving roles. Her previous positions at a daycare, assisted living facility, and group home allowed Julie to further hone in on her interests and ideal workplace. Julie knew that she wanted to continue helping people, but had not quite found the right fit for her.
The Process
Julie first learned of Lifeworks through her sister who happened to be an employee at the Apple Valley location. Julie was looking for a summer job before starting college and Lifeworks was seeking additional help in Day Services.
After working with the organization for three summers, Julie knew that she wanted to join the team fulltime: “At Lifeworks, the environment is so friendly – everyone is welcome. I enjoyed my job and coming to work.”
Julie applied, was offered, and accepted a Service Specialist position, where she provided direct care to program participants. Her success led to a promotion to a Career Development Facilitator, giving her insight into the day-to-day lives of the people and families we support.
After five years with Lifeworks and earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology, Julie wanted to further build her skillset and experience. She accepted an opportunity to join the administration team at Lifeworks Eagan where she served as a Fiscal Support and Administrative Assistant. She was then promoted to a Service Coordinator where she helped people navigate funding and meet state-mandated requirements, including managing training, staffing, and reimbursements.
Julie’s career path at Lifeworks has helped her provide high-quality services to the people we support. She reflects, “It’s been really nice having the different perspectives. I can walk people through experiences that may be new to them because I understand how the processes work together.”
In addition to her role in Fiscal Support Services, Julie also serves on Lifeworks Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, a group responsible for fostering a greater understanding of cultures represented in the communities we serve. They regularly offer onsite educational seminars for staff that focus on removing barriers and promoting inclusive environments.
The Outcome
Now in her 15 year at Lifeworks, Julie is a Fiscal Operations Supervisor where she oversees a team that provides support to families while managing key metrics and processes to ensure participant satisfaction.
“The position I am in now is really the best of both worlds. I get to help a large amount of people access services while at the same time build lasting connections in the communities we serve.”
Lifeworks ability to offer opportunities for employees to grow both in their skillsets and within the company has helped people to reach their goals.
Are you looking to build your experience and make a meaningful impact in your community? View our current job openings.
Lifeworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and are committed to employee health, wellness, and work-life balance. We offer competitive pay and extensive benefits, including generous paid time off, affordable and comprehensive medical package, retirement plans, and much more.