Meet Darius Johnson,

Darius Johnson was introduced to Goodwill Career Center in Cartersville through his Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency counselor. He realized he needed to start prioritizing himself and his future, and his first step was to find a career that could help him be financially secure. Darius had some barriers to overcome, including health and a lack of reliable transportation, but he worked with a Goodwill team member to explore ways to mitigate these barriers so he could participate in training.

With the reassurance of the career center team, Darius decided to enroll in the forklift skills training program. His optimism and great work ethic were apparent immediately, and he was determined to take full advantage of this new opportunity. Darius not only expressed his intense desire to be in the forklift class, but he also showed it by consistently arriving on time, actively participating in class discussions and projects, and assisting his peers. In addition to the hands-on forklift training he received, Darius also took part in job readiness training provided by the Cartersville skills instructor—all this at no cost to him.

Darius’s forklift course was taught at Chattahoochee Technical College, where he earned three certifications: Sit-Down Forklift, Electric Pallet Jack, and Standing Reach Lift. He also earned his OSHA 10 and First Aid/CPR certifications. He knew that these classes and certifications were vital to his success in the forklift industry.

After successfully graduating from the forklift program, Darius received assistance from the Goodwill team to find employment in a training-related field. After revamping his resume and participating in interview preparation, Darius was invited to interview with Amazon and then hired! He is now a full-time employee and earns $20 an hour.

“I enjoy my job!” says Darius. “I plan to stay at Amazon long-term and, when the opportunity presents itself, I’d like to advance in my role.”