Searching for a job and finding the right place to work isn't always easy. For Andrew, filling out applications, stepping into unfamiliar situations, and navigating new workplaces often felt like an uphill climb. Before coming to Deseret Industries, he worked a variety of jobs—mostly warehouse positions—but nothing felt like a true fit. 

That changed when his bishop pointed him toward Deseret Industries. It was exactly the kind of supportive opportunity he had been looking for, and Andrew was eager to improve his job skills from the start. He was drawn not only to the job training but also to the purpose behind the work.

Andrew has always been someone who wants to feel connected to the work he does and know that it's making a difference. When he learned about DI’s humanitarian efforts and the impact behind every donation, he knew this was a place he wanted to be part of. 

"That makes the work meaningful to me," he says. 

Outside of work, Andrew is a reader and writer. He loves diving into fiction and spending time writing fan fiction—creative pursuits that speak to the same part of him that is drawn to meaningful, purposeful work.

Andrew works in the processing area, one of the most active parts of the DI store. His role involves bringing donations into the building, moving items within the processing area, and helping coordinate shipments to other DI locations when needed. It's steady, physical work, and Andrew has thrived in it. 

One of the highlights of his time at Deseret Industries has been becoming forklift certified, a skill that has increased both his confidence and his ability to contribute in his role. Andrew has also had the opportunity to further develop important workplace behaviors such as professionalism, productivity, and teamwork—behaviors that will prepare him to succeed in future workplaces.

At the heart of Andrew's experience at Deseret Industries is a sense of satisfaction.  

"I feel fulfilled knowing that I'm helping people that need it," he says. 

That sense of purpose is what gets him through the door every day and what he hopes others take away when they think about what Deseret Industries really does. His advice to anyone considering joining the team is straightforward. 

"Above all else, if you want to work at DI, understand that you are working to help someone else's welfare,” Andrew says. “We are working to help people."

Andrew hopes to continue building his job skills at Deseret Industries, which he knows will open doors to better employment opportunities in the future. He dreams of ultimately becoming a fire watchman for the national forest, keeping people safe from wildfires and serving his community in a meaningful way. But for now, he's exactly where he wants to be, doing work that matters, in a place that supports him, for people who need it. 

Inspired by Andrew's story? Learn more about the DI job training program to see if it would be a good fit for you or someone you know.