Mollie Ehinger had a great job as a general manager at a restaurant where she had been for 14 years. She never thought, if the time came, that finding a new job would be difficult.
“Boy, was I wrong,” she said.
After health issues forced her to resign from the restaurant, Ehinger assumed getting a new job would be easy because of her college education.
However, after searching for a few months without any luck, it was suggested to her that she go to OhioMeansJobs Cincinnati – Hamilton County.
Ehinger had very little computer experience and used the agency’s computer skills classes. The last time she’d updated her resume, she did so on a typewriter.
“I was kind of getting lost in cyber space,” she said.
She attended numerous classes at OhioMeansJobs Cincinnati – Hamilton County to learn Microsoft Word and Excel. She also went to resume and interview workshops.
Ehinger also worked with career coach Kevin Curry.
Curry, who is employed by Mature Services to work part-time at OhioMeansJobs Cincinnati – Hamilton County, helped Ehinger with her resume.
“We actually went over her resume and critiqued it,” he said, describing how they added and took out different things to make the resume ready to send to potential employers.
Curry also helped with Ehinger’s job search.
“He was always there to answer questions for me,” Ehinger said.
When she was ready, Ehinger started applying, with Curry’s encouragement, for what she considered “dream jobs,” one of which was at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.
After 10 months of unemployment, Ehinger landed a job at the Zoo’s famous Basecamp Café as a shift lead.
The Basecamp Café is the greenest restaurant in the United States. Everything is compostable and it is the most popular restaurant at the Zoo.
“So far, [I’m] just loving it,” said Ehinger, “there’s not a happier place in the world.”
Although the position is seasonal, Ehinger hopes to be able to stay on through the Festival of Lights, the zoo’s holiday event. However, if she is unable to do that, she is already thinking ahead for when she has to find a new job.
“I’m not going to fall down again,” she said.
Ehinger’s advice to anyone currently searching for the job: “Don’t give up. Just don’t give up. There’s something for everyone.”
She also encourages people to network. She thanks OhioMeansJobs Cincinnati – Hamilton County for all of the agency’s help and support.
