Paula

In 2022, after 16 years as a mortgage underwriter, Paula* was unexpectedly laid off. Despite holding an undergraduate degree in accounting from her native country of Mexico and having extensive experience in the U.S. mortgage industry, it was challenging for her to find a new position.  

“As soon as you are laid off in that industry, you become obsolete right away.”  

Paula needed income quickly to help supplement her husband’s military benefits. She was able to secure an accounting role with an insurance company, but unfortunately, the salary was less than half of what she had previously earned. She decided that to increase her income, she’d continue to search for new opportunities in different career fields.   

“I came across a Fresh Start video on Facebook, and what caught my attention was that it was created for women and that there was a training for semiconductor technician positions.”  

Growing up on the border of Mexico and the U.S. near El Paso, Texas, Paula felt a familiar connection with manufacturing companies. Her first two jobs after college were in the accounting departments of two manufacturing companies in Mexico, so the idea of working in semiconductor manufacturing felt like a realistic possibility.   

“Getting into the semiconductor industry felt kind of like going full circle, and I’m looking for something like that with a lot of opportunity.”  

Paula applied for Fresh Start’s semiconductor technician program and was excited to join a cohort beginning in October 2024.   

“It is completely different from what I was doing most recently in insurance, but I know I can do it…I’m hoping to get into it, earn a better wage, salary, and benefits. At 50 years old, I’m looking for stability, somewhere I can stay until I retire.”  

Although excited about how the program could change her future, she was nervous to return to a learning environment after so many years.   

“I was afraid that it would be so technical that I wouldn’t be able to do it because I didn’t know how the class was going to be. But I went to class, came home and studied, and I was amazed that it was actually fun and easy for me.”  

She was pleasantly surprised when the semiconductor technician curriculum included learning about electrical circuits.   

“In high school in Mexico, I studied electronics, and in the semiconductor class, everything came back to me. I still remember the schematics, and that made me so happy.”  

With her nerves around the class calmed, Paula turned her attention to improving her resume and interview skills.   

“I hadn’t had any interview practice and that was scary. I completely botched the first two mock interviews because I didn’t know how to answer simple, yet broad questions like, ‘Tell me about yourself.'”  

Paula said Fresh Start’s mock interviews, and the feedback and ideas she received gave her more confidence to tackle upcoming interviews. Plus, it was much easier to build confidence with a newfound sisterhood of friends to cheer her on.   

“Here, now, I have friends! We studied together and cheered for each other. Right away, I felt a sense of support from the group of women in our class. I’m hoping we can still support each other even after the program ends.”  

As she completed and graduated from the semiconductor technician course, Paula reflected on her training and how it altered her definition of success.  

“Success is no matter what challenge is thrown at me, I can surpass that. It’s that I can get through the challenge and say yes, I did it.”  

After completing the program, Paula continued to confidently apply for jobs within the manufacturing industry. She aimed to find a role that would fulfill her goals of increasing her income and creating job stability towards retirement.  

“Fresh Start has given me the opportunity to see that there’s more that I can achieve…It begins with how friendly [the staff] are and they offer a wide range of services. We know that if we ever need help in the future, we can reach out and ask for help.”