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Ann Marie Shotwell

By Heather Yohendran

Ann Marie Shotwell had a clear direction in life. After graduating college with a degree in Sociology, she spent three years at the YMCA in her hometown of Fargo, North Dakota. She gained valuable experience while working in the nonprofit environment she loved.

Deciding her future was in Minnesota, Ann Marie confidently wrote a resume highlighting her strong professional experience and began to apply for jobs in the Twin Cities from her home in Fargo. After a year of unsuccessful job hunting, Ann Marie's self-confidence began to falter.

Thinking it would be easier to find a job if she was local, Ann Marie accepted a position in retail management at a Twin Cities children's clothing store. Although it was not in her field, it allowed her to make the physical move to the Twin Cities. Her motivation renewed, Ann Marie diligently applied for jobs in her field. She met with little success, and a second year of job hunting left Ann Marie feeling unwanted and unsure of her abilities.

The turning point came when Ann Marie's aunt introduced her to Barbara Battiste at WomenVenture. Ann Marie participated in Connect for Success, a career planning service that helps people take action toward their career goals. Barbara Battiste, Career and Work Services Manager, helped Ann Marie brainstorm a list of potential nonprofit employers. Then Barbara was able to connect Ann Marie with professionals in a number of those organizations.

Through Barbara's connections, Ann Marie conducted informational interviews, gathering details about various organizations, receiving feedback on her resume and meeting the "right" people. One of those informational interviews took place at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities - Anne Marie's target employer. Although there were no job openings at the time, Anne Marie had made an impression. She was no longer just a random candidate in a sea of resumes.

Ann Marie continued working her retail management job until a Match Support Coordinator position was posted on the Big Brothers Big Sisters web site. She immediately got in touch with her informational interview contact and asked if she could submit her resume. Two days later, she had a phone interview. Ann Marie was offered the position, and credits WomenVenture in helping her realize her career goal. "WomenVenture helped me get my foot in the door. I became a person, not just a resume. That let me shine and show my passion. They renewed my faith in myself."

In her role as a Match Support Coordinator, Ann Marie fosters the relationships that develop between matched adults and children. She makes a difference each day, and finds extreme fulfillment in her job. "I took a pay cut to come to this job, and I would have taken a larger one if needed." Comparing her former retail management job to her current nonprofit position, Ann Marie reflects, "Instead of helping kids build their wardrobe, I now help them build their future."

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