Iftu finds path to career advancement through Avivo

Iftu wanted to advance her life and career through Avivo’s career education programs, but couldn’t make the time. She’s a single mother of two small children and needed to work two jobs to support her family, which didn’t leave time for career changes or advancement. That was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of her jobs, receptionist for a business in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, shut down quickly in March of 2020 due to the pandemic.

“My job closed… They laid me off. They laid off all employees,” shares Iftu. “So, I took the chance to go back to school again.”

“My job closed… They laid me off. They laid off all employees … So, I took the chance to go back to school again.”

Iftu contacted Avivo again, hoping to attend Avivo Institute of Career and Technical Education. She’d worked in IT in her home country, prior to her move to the United States in 2017. She was looking to re-enter the field and was excited about Avivo’s IT Training program.

Prior to her first day, Iftu worried about COVID safety. Would there be too many people in the room with her, or people seated close to her? She says that her concerns quickly went away once she saw the precautions Avivo had in place.

“Staff at Avivo are really nice and helpful, and very supportive.”

“I was worried at first, but when I came, someone was at the door asking screening questions, and there were just a few students in the room, and your seat was far away from everyone… Avivo’s safety is good,” shares Iftu. “Staff at Avivo are really nice and helpful, and very supportive.”

Now that Iftu is comfortable in class and learning, she’s starting to plan for the future — beyond just entering the field. She’s creating long-term goals for her professional development, including possible IT networking or security training.

“In the future I just want to keep myself learning new things, and to find a better job to support my family, my kids.”