Thanks for sharing your story with us! Let’s start at the beginning. Can you tell me what you were up to before Year Up United?
I used to be a delivery driver. I liked the job, but I realized that it would never provide the kind of growth that I was looking for. I was also in school at the time, but financial constraints put me in a difficult place where I would have money for one semester but not the next. That stress is really what forced me to consider a non-traditional route.
Can you share how you learned about Year Up United?
I had known about Year Up United for years! My sister and brother-in-law both graduated from Year Up United’s job training program and got full-time roles. Seeing their success is what gave me the confidence to make a change.
I decided to enroll and complete the Banking & Customer Success training, which was appealing because of its accelerated program length. It felt like a reasonable time investment for trying something completely different with the financial obligations I had!
We would love to hear about your experience during the Learning & Development phase of the Year Up United program. What was it like for you?
The Learning & Development phase of the program was amazing. Skills like how to set up an email signature, time management, and how to work with the entire suite of Microsoft programs were incredibly valuable to me. Something else that stands out was the support of Year Up United staff when I needed extra help or flexibility because of my part-time job. Thanks to their support, I was able to complete my training and earn my internship with E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley.
That’s great to hear you felt supported! How was your internship?
My internship phase at E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley was pretty academic! We started the internship with a decent amount of writing, followed by a testing phase to assess what we had learned so far. Both the writing and testing were focused on our knowledge of the E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley platform, computer literacy, and situations we might encounter on the job. A major plus during my internship was that I was able to meet a lot of people — particularly people who were fairly high up in their job roles. It was great to be able to use the professional communication skills I had learned, but also to network within the company I knew I wanted to be at one day.
Any part of the journey you’re excited about or particularly proud of since graduating from Year Up United?
I’m proud of my ability to stay motivated throughout the program. It wasn’t always easy, either. Life is full of distractions, so I would make myself go to the library at specific times to make sure that I always got the work done. Staying motivated was also tricky when I wasn’t immediately converted into a full-time role at E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley. Fortunately, I made the seamless transition to the secondary part of my training – focusing on the SIE exam study portion, from Year Up United to the YUPRO Placement* program where I received additional support and guidance in getting hired.
Can you tell us a little bit more about your time with YUPRO Placement, Year Up United’s staffing firm?
Through YUPRO Placement, I had access to additional resources and coaching that would eventually support securing my full-time job opportunity at E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley as a Financial Services Relationship Manager. During the program, I was part of small group coaching that was meant to prepare me for the job role I wanted.
During my time at Year Up United, E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, and YUPRO Placement, I had a number of mentors that were integral to launching my career.
One person that really stood out was Andre Brown, a coach at YUPRO Placement. I was able to speak openly with him, share the things that I was finding difficult in the process, and receive assistance with keeping my resume up to date. Some really solid advice he gave to me was how to stand out in a pool of applicants through follow up questions and requests for feedback — this was something I really appreciated! It sounds simple, but I really do attribute so much of my success to YUPRO Placement.
"Jordana is the definition of taking advantage of an opportunity. From day one, she showed up ready and receptive to all feedback and opportunities to grow. Not only was she a leader in her group, she was also the top E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley intern. As a Year Up United alum who also started out in the Financial Industry, I connected with Jordana instantly as she showed the drive to become a powerhouse in whatever she pursues. I am very proud and honored to have been able to coach her.”
We are so happy to hear that! Any advice you want to share with someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
Don’t let the fear of falling behind stop you from taking a chance on yourself. Year Up United can help you get the kind of career that will pay off in the long run!
Everyone’s path is different, and we at Year Up United are proud to be part of the journey.
At Year Up United, we deliver comprehensive workforce solutions that drive material impact on individual lives, businesses, and communities. You can learn more about the programs and services Jordana participated in below.
YUPRO Placement*: YUPRO Placement is Year Up United’s mission-driven placement firm championing skills-first hiring by sourcing, recruiting, and advancing historically overlooked talent. We are bridging early career talent and skills gaps through innovative workforce solutions that drive positive social impact and business outcomes. YUPRO Placement’s high-touch, high-support professional development model integrates seamlessly at E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, ensuring talent on contract assignments have the tools and resources they need to thrive at work. Talent receive support from onboarding to on-the-job peer counseling, to full-time employment and beyond, ultimately achieving career and economic mobility. Learn more here.