Maria L. is a young lady living with her parents in west Miami-Dade County. Maria is of Argentine and Italian descent. Since she was a young girl, she has always enjoyed cooking for her family. "Cooking is in my blood," says Maria. When it came time to begin looking for a job after high school, Maria knew instantly what interested her the most. "I would like to work somewhere where I can use my cooking experience," said Maria. Her mother always encouraged her to follow her dreams, so she suggested Maria seek out a job as a chef.

Best Buddies Jobs Employment Consultant Loaidyn Gomez met with Maria to help her set a plan of action toward her employment goals. Maria is a little shy when meeting people for the first time, so they worked together to prepare her for meeting employers. This would be her first paid job, despite that she had mastered many of the skills needed to be a successful chef, thanks to her mother and grandmother.

"My family is used to good cooking," said Maria, "so I have to do things right in the kitchen." Loaidyn and Maria spent time constructing a resume, listing the many skills she had learned in her home. Loaidyn commented, "Even though she didn’t have much of a job history, I was confident I could find her a job in the cooking field. She is amazing in terms of just what she knows when it comes to cooking." After they did her resume and several mock interviews, Maria was ready to get out and meet prospective employers.      

The process of job development can be discouraging because it takes time. But Maria was eager to submit job applications and meet the employers. During an interview, the manager of the Crepe Maker admired Maria’s ability in the kitchen and offered her a job. Maria’s eyes lit up when he told her, "You have the job young lady. When can you start." Maria was proud when she told her family the good news.

Her first day was May 10. Maria trained alongside her employment consultant Loaidyn, to learn and master the duties expected of her as a prep chef. As anticipated, Maria impressed her new employer with her abilities. She is now one of the main prep chefs with the Crepe Maker restaurant.