Dylan Ngo was no stranger to handling money before entering JVS SoCal’s BankWork$ program.
Working as a cashier at a casino in Bell Gardens, Dylan’s duties involved handling substantial amounts of money, ranging from $250,000 – $600,000. His scope of work as a cashier stretched beyond cash handling. He received training in other facets of casino operations, getting acquainted with the depth of casino operations.
After a few years, Dylan came to realize that his advancement potential at the casino was stalling. “There’s just no opportunity for growth for me. And I think for me, being as young as I am, I feel like I have that drive to want to do more,” he says.
Dylan’s cousin Michael Baltazar, a BankWork$ alumni himself recommended Dylan to apply to the eight-week program that JVS SoCal offers at no cost to participants who want to learn skills for the banking industry, and receive job placement assistance, and ongoing coaching for career advancement.
Dylan, who is a transgender male, appreciates the inclusiveness he felt during the training. “The classmates were great, as they’re supportive of you,” he says, “it’s comforting to know that everyone is okay with my identity, and I feel safe…that’s what’s most important, the fact that I feel safe.”
He also praises the program’s instructor, who helped him every step of the way. “It’s just great, as you know that you’re not alone in anything that you do, you know.” adding that building relationships with everyone in the program set him up for success because networking is particularly important when working at banks.
An activity from the training that stood out to Dylan, was when bankers from JVS SoCal’s employer partners volunteered to conduct mock interviews to help participants prepare for the hiring process. Although he found the mock interviews nerve-racking, he learned through this process to bring attention to the transferable skills he brought from working at a casino.
This practice, plus the hands-on experience Dylan gained during the training, calmed his nerves, allowing him to feel confident. Upon graduation, he participated in a series of job interviews with JVS SoCal’s employer partners. Dylan received and accepted an offer to work at Wells Fargo.
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