More than 170 New Yorkers discovered how rewarding the retail industry can be when they received jobs with the stores that make up The Atlantic Terminal Shopping Center in Downtown Brooklyn. Among the nationally known retailers there are Target, Bath & Body Works, Mandee’s, Daffy’s, Men’s Warehouse and Avenue.

The Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center coordinated a huge employment initiative even before construction on the enormous mall was finished. Working with local community based organizations and community colleges, Workforce1 cast a big net for area residents looking for solid employment opportunities. Workforce1 trained these organizations to screen candidates for aptitude in the customer service professions.

Candidates who did well, came to the Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center and were fast-tracked directly into interviews with one of the many Atlantic Terminal employers. Of the 584 people interviewed, 192 were offered jobs and 173 took them.

One of them is Cathy Jackson. Cathy was unemployed and looking for a permanent job when she came to the Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center. She had previous retail experience and did very well in an assessment, which enabled her to move right to an interview with Target in its Health and Beauty section.

"The job I landed is a great career opportunity for me," said Cathy.

Valerie Flowers, special team leader at Target, was delighted to get "qualified candidates in a timely fashion," so the store could open with a full staff of can-do employees.

At Bath & Body Works, store manager Shelli Torrevillas, echoed the sentiment. "The quality of the candidates that were referred to my company was so great that I have told all Bath & Body Works’ stores in NYC to utilize the Workforce1 Career Centers for their recruitment and hiring needs."

Faith Lewis, who was hired as a sales associate at Bath & Body Works remarked, "My job in retail is giving me great customer service skills working with people from different backgrounds and preparing me for a career in Human Services."

Faith was also delighted that Workforce1 delivered on its promise, encouraging people to come back until they have achieved results— a job and a clear idea of a career path.

Of all the myths about retail, the one that stumps people most is that jobs in the industry are low-paying career-stoppers. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the sector offers all kinds of jobs: Marketing & Advertising, Human Resources, Information Technology and e-Commerce, Merchandise Planning & Buying, Finance and Sales to name a few.

But you have to start somewhere and most retailers expect or even require experience on the store floor as a Sales Associate. Because if you can prove yourself there, it means you’ve got what it takes to move through the ranks. It means you’re a problem solver and decision maker, that you’re dedicated to customer service and courtesy; that you’re enthusiastic, have initiative and a good work ethic. It means you proven you’ve got the ability to work with a lot of different personalities and communicate well. Join the ranks of hundreds of other New Yorkers who have used the opportunities they gained from Workforce1 to prove themselves in a new career.