Gaining Experiences and Perspective at Alaska Housing

When William accepted a position as a temporary mailroom and reception assistant at Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, he already knew from personal experience how rewarding a role at AHFC could be. 

Encouraged by his grandfather Arturo, who worked in facilities maintenance at AHFC for 20 years, William had previously worked as a temporary summer hire, joining a maintenance team for AHFC properties Chugach View and Chugach Manor. He found that the experiences he gained helped him as he entered his professional career.

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“When you start in the summer hire program, you’re a minor and it is a wake up to reality. You meet people with all different personalities and some tenants are going through a crisis. But the great people who work here foster a great company.”

- William, Temporary Mailroom and Reception Assistant, Alaska Housing

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William credits his former supervisor, Brian, with motivating him to return to Alaska Housing after his time as a summer hire ended, “My grandfather told me to come here, but it’s the people that I worked for that helped me stay.”

“Brian endeavored to make it so that I would have an amazing professional work environment,” William said. “He always made sure that I was okay with my workload but he also saw that I was a self-starter and trusted me to work independently. With that kind of responsibility, I wasn’t going to betray it.”

Exploring Different Roles

Inspired by his time as a summer hire, William visited the Alaska Housing website to search for job listings, only to find that the maintenance laborer position he originally sought wasn’t available in his community. He decided to branch out and try something new, banking on the idea that he would find the same sense of fulfillment in a new position.

While he no longer works face-to-face with tenants, William’s current role allows him to work alongside fellow AHFC employees who implement programs and provide support to tenants. It also allows him to learn more about the variety of programs and opportunities offered by Alaska Housing. He said he sees Emergency Vouchers, designed for Alaskans experiencing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking, as one of the most rewarding programs because of its ability to assist those in need quickly: “It makes me proud to be an Alaskan.”

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“The most rewarding thing is being able to get perspective and seeing how what you do helps people. Answering phones and making sure mail gets places doesn’t seem grandiose, but I know it’s helping in some small way.”

- William, Temporary Mailroom and Reception Assistant, Alaska Housing

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Building His Future

Looking ahead, William said he can envision applying for a full-time position at AHFC. Currently pursuing a degree in journalism with a minor in communications at the University of Alaska Anchorage, he is eager to combine his passion for informing others and his interest in audio visuals in his future career.

“All your experiences lead up to how you are in the future and AHFC has given me that. I've met a lot of different people, and I don't think I would've been able to experience that if I hadn't done a mix of different roles.”

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