Zachary Murison wanted a job. Not just any job. A job that offered work he would be proud of, that would appreciate what he would bring. That would give him a chance to grow and shine, in his own quiet way.

Last year, at seventeen, he was looking for work when his foster parents noticed an ad for Employ! at Community Futures North Okanagan. It’s a program designed to give young adults employability skills to secure jobs that harness participants’ talents and interests.

Murison was busy with his high school courses at the Alternative Learning Program, but he knew the extra workload would be worth it, that the Employ! program could also lead him somewhere. So, he asked his parents and his teachers if he could do the program during the day, and his schoolwork at night and on weekends.

They agreed.

Within days, Murison, knew the hard work and long days would pay off.

“We learned so many things,” says Murison, “Job interview exercises and practicing questions, and even facial expressions and handshaking. Resume skills. How to look for job.”

But one of the most impactful discoveries was that “they helped me see what kind of job I wanted, and how to focus on that.”

That kind of job was cooking in a restaurant kitchen where he would make and plate delicious, beautiful meals for people.

“My favourite part is the presentation,” says Murison. “I like making it look really nice. There’s a sense of self-accomplishment when it looks perfect. And when you’re feeding so many people, you see how much work you did.”

He’s been feeding so many people because within days of completing the Employ! program, Murison was sitting across from a manager at Red Robin, in a job interview.

“Near the end of the program, I had a lot more confidence about being able to meet someone new and be able to sell myself and explain why I want to be a part of that team and why they would want me to be a part of their team.”

“I was a little nervous but she was really nice. She asked me a few different questions that kind of threw me off but at the end she said I did well and I felt really good.”

The unexpected question: What kind of superpower would you want to have?

Fortunately, says Murison, Employ! had taught him how to think quickly and give thoughtful answers.

“Near the end of the program, I had a lot more confidence about being able to meet someone new and be able to sell myself and explain why I want to be a part of that team and why they would want me to be a part of their team.”

A few days after the interview, the Red Robin manager called back. Murison got the job.

Community Futures North Okanagan Employ! graduate Zach Murison went on to earn a job he loves–cooking at Red Robin.

In the last year, he’s learned how to do the hot, the cold and the sauteé stations. He’s become a closing shift leader. He was named Employee of the Month just three months after starting.

“I was quite surprised. I was not expecting her to call my name,” says Murison, whose manager commended his devotion to his tasks and his strong sense of teamwork.

Looking back over the last 12 months, Murison says “I feel good about how hard I’ve worked get there, and I’ve been able to get to know the people who work there, and they’re friends.”

As guests and orders come and go, Murison most looks forward to making the Royal Burger, “because if you can make the perfect egg, it looks really nice on top,” and the fajita, the way its searing pan sizzles and steams on its way out onto the floor “smelling really, really good.”

Murison, who was working in the kitchen full-time at one point, has scaled his hours back a little so he can continue with his education. He has big dreams.

Some day, Zach Murison wants to open his own restaurant in Vernon.

“I want to become a business owner. I want to own a restaurant here someday.”

To other young people struggling to find the right fit in the workplace, Murison says “anyone who has had a job or hasn’t had a job can learn a lot from the program—communication skills, pinpointing the best job for you, people skills, building your resume….I’ve had lots of jobs and it definitely taught me more than I would have thought.

“The instructors were absolutely amazing. Even though we were in a class, they really took as much time to do one-on-one as they could.

Are you between the ages of 16 to 30 and looking for an opportunity to grow your job search and employability skills so you can find a great job? Learn more about our Employ! Program.