Abraham Austin had found a job with good pay changing water meters outside of Memphis. But six months in, the company he worked for picked up operations and moved out of state. With two kids and a family at home, relocating wasn’t an option.
“I had to find other work,” he said. “I saw Verstela on Indeed, I applied, and they called me maybe a day later.” The Verstela Memphis branch invited him in for an interview to talk about opportunities.
Abraham’s first job with Verstela ended up not being quite the right fit. “It was a decent job, but it was part time and it was overnight.” On top of that, Abraham didn’t have reliable transportation. “I had to get an Uber, and going back and forth took maybe three hours,” Abraham said. He told the branch it wasn’t going to work but asked them to keep him in mind for anything else.
Even though the job only lasted a few weeks, Abraham had made a big impression with the branch thanks to his strong communication and reliability. When Account Manager Francisco Ramirez secured a new client, Abraham was the first person considered.
“Maybe like a month later they called me like, ‘Hey, I got a job for you,’” he said. “Of course, I said yes.”
From the start, Abraham quickly learned the job and set a strong pace that others struggled to keep up with. “I’m not tooting my own horn — I didn’t know this until recently, but the GM was calling people into his office like, ‘Hey, guys, y’all gotta pick it up. Abraham is running circles around y’all.’”
Those other employees came and went, and at one point, “It was just me and the GM working here for maybe a week or two,” he said. Even the District Manager took notice of Abraham’s presence and work ethic. “He was so ecstatic,” Abraham said, “at the impact and change since I started here.”
Abraham’s approach to work is simple: “When you come to work, come to work to work. Control what you can control. You can control coming in every day with a smile on your face.”
The physical nature of the job also made a difference in his health. “I don’t have to go to the gym,” he said, laughing. “This job is a workout enough.”
What he loves most, though, is the environment and feeling like his presence matters. “The warehouse, it’s not super big. It’s only a few employees that work on the floor. It’s the first time I’ve ever been a part of a small warehouse where it’s not hundreds of people, where you kind of get looked over,” he said. “Everything is noticed, and they reward you when you’re doing the right thing.”
Abraham also made a point to talk about how supported he felt by Francisco and the Memphis branch throughout the whole process. He appreciated the weekly check-ins and how they made sure he had what he needed, even bringing water and Gatorade during the hottest summer days.
“Honestly, it’s probably the best temp service I’ve had,” Abraham said. “I’ve had quite a few, and none of them actually reach out to you after they assign you. They never come check on you, make sure you’re all right.”
The company soon rewarded him with an offer of a full-time permanent position, complete with company benefits and a healthy raise.
On his last day as a temporary employee, Memphis Branch Manager Cherria Montgomery stopped by with cupcakes to celebrate. “That was really nice of them. I appreciate them a lot.”
With his first permanent-employee paycheck, Abraham hit another milestone: “I went and got me a car. I’m very, very thankful.”
From losing a job to becoming an invaluable part of a team, Abraham’s story is one of hard work, heart, and showing up every day with the right attitude.
Congratulations, Abraham! We’re so proud to see how far you’ve come and grateful you let us be part of your journey.
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