In this episode of Promoted, Merit America Career Coach Sabrina Louissaint sits down with alum Kelsy, who was working the assembly line at a major electric vehicle company when she joined Merit America — and has since moved into a more technical role at the very same company.
Key Takeaways
You don’t always need a new employer to build a new career. Sometimes the biggest leap is moving up in the company you already work for.
Before Merit America, Kelsy was on the assembly line, working full-time and quietly looking for a way off the factory floor. She knew she wanted more, but without a degree, she didn’t feel qualified for a better role. When an email about Merit America’s Advanced Manufacturing and Semiconductor program landed in her inbox, she decided to take the leap — training for a new career while still working full shifts on the line.
Kelsy’s story is a lesson in persistence as much as technical skill. She talks candidly about the exhaustion of studying on days off, staying motivated through a slow, “chess not checkers” kind of process, and how she built a support network from her team and supervisors long before she applied for a new role. That groundwork of attendance, performance, and putting her reputation on the line — is ultimately what made her internal application possible.
When recruiters came to her graduation from Merit America, Kelsy didn’t wait for them to find her. She introduced herself, used the elevator pitch she practiced, and asked directly about moving up inside the company she already worked for. The internal interview process that followed took months of preparation, but it ended with a new role that finally got her off the assembly line and into tech.
Now Kelsy is settled in her new position and pursuing an Associate’s degree in Manufacturing Technology, with plans to start her Bachelor’s the very next semester — proof that for her, one milestone is just the start of the next one.
Tune in to learn:
- How to position yourself for internal promotion, even if you don’t have a degree
- Why consistency, attendance, and reputation matter as much as credentials when applying internally
- How to use an elevator pitch and interview prep from a career program in a real interview
- How AI can help you stay organized and focused during a job search
- How to stay patient and keep a long-term mindset during a career change
Check out the full episode!
Join Sabrina and Kelsy as they talk about staying committed to your goals, building support from the people around you, and turning an opportunity into a brand-new career, all without leaving the company you started with.
Podcast Transcript
Sabrina: Welcome to another episode of Promoted, a podcast about leaving low-wage work for good. I’m Sabrina Louissaint, today’s host and a Merit America coach. Today we’re talking about staying committed to your career goals and moving up within the same company, without sacrificing your career ambitions and growth. I’m excited to introduce today’s guest, Kelsy, who was working the assembly line at a major electric vehicle company when she joined Merit America, and has since moved into a more technical role at the company. Welcome to the show, Kelsy.
Kelsy: Thanks for having me.
Sabrina: I remember when you first joined Merit America. It’s been incredible watching your progress — you did the whole program while working full-time. What were you doing before the program and what are you doing now?
Kelsy: Before the program, I was on the assembly line full-time but it was just a foot in the door for me. When I got the email from Merit America, it was something I’d never seen before — I think it was called the Advanced Manufacturing and Semiconductor program. And I thought, even though I’m here on the assembly line, let me see what this program can offer me. So I decided to take advantage of it.
Sabrina: I’m really glad you did. What made you feel like this was the right step?
Kelsy: It just made sense for me and my life. Before the program, I was really just working on the line. My other option was becoming a lead, and I was weighing that. I knew I could apply for other positions at the company, but I felt like I didn’t qualify without a degree. So when I saw a program like this, I wanted to jump in and get involved.
Sabrina: When you think back to being a kid and what your dream job was — was it working for this company?
Kelsy: Not really. We all dream big when we’re little, right? As a kid, I wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer. I didn’t dream of being on the assembly line, but I was always happy to be there, because I knew it was a starting point for me, and I knew I was going to do more. I just didn’t know how. When this program came along, it felt like the stars aligned. Science was always something I loved — and now I’m a woman in STEM, so I can’t complain.
Sabrina: I love that. Without knowing exactly what the next step was, going through the program helped you figure it out. What was the one thing you really wanted for yourself, outside of just getting off the assembly line?
Kelsy: I was looking for something less physical. I used to tell my team, “I wish I could be in an office, I want to be at a desk.” I did like being on-site, though — there was something exciting about that, and I still have that in my new job. I really wanted to be in tech, and I knew I was already in the right place, at the right company, to do it. I thought, there’s got to be a way for me to get there.
Sabrina: That makes sense. Working full-time and doing the program at the same time isn’t easy. What were the biggest challenges you faced during this time, professionally or personally, and how did you handle them?
Kelsy: One of my major challenges was just being exhausted after every shift. You get into your routine to be ready for work, so finding time to get schoolwork done was the main thing. I had to use my days off to make that happen. Sometimes I’d squeeze in a module or assignment before work too. I wanted to speed things up, but you can’t just teleport. You have to be patient, pace yourself, and keep a good attitude as things slowly progress. I always told my team on the line: it’s not a game of checkers, it’s a game of chess. You need a real strategy, a game plan, and you need to stick to it.
Sabrina: Can you talk about that strategy? What advice would you give someone trying to make a change while working full-time?
Kelsy: The first thing is having the right attitude and staying positive. If it’s something you want, consistency is huge, and you have to stick with the plan and stay focused on it. Keep your priorities straight, and don’t let other distractions get in the way. When you do that, you can accomplish anything.
Sabrina: A good attitude really is important. When you decided to join the program, did you tell your friends or family? What were their thoughts?
Kelsy: Everyone on my team knew me and we’d all talk on the line while we were building this big product. A lot of us had dreams and goals — starting a business, whatever it was. When I told them I was going to take these classes, everyone encouraged each other. Before I officially took the chance with Merit America, I talked to my lead about it, and she gave me nothing but encouragement. I was honestly surprised — I didn’t expect that much positive support. That was all I needed.
Sabrina: I’d love to hear more about the new role. Can you tell us how you landed it, and more about what it is?
Kelsy: Sure. After graduating from the program, you guys had recruiters on-site, so I took advantage of that and introduced myself. We’d been practicing — the program really prepared me for that. When I was working on the line, I was attending the program meetings, and you guys could hear my tools in the background — the factory’s very loud — and everyone was so patient with me. I really appreciated that.
We practiced rehearsing, introducing ourselves — we had this elevator pitch, and fine-tuning our technique. I thought that was so cool; it was the first time I’d ever done something like that. So I told the recruiters I was already with the company, and unlike a lot of the other graduates, I wanted to continue growing where I was. They told me to apply internally. I thought, “Duh, of course!” When they said, “Do it, and do it now — you’re ready, you’re a graduate,” I was elated. I was so excited to finally apply internally and get that role.
Sabrina: Was there an interview process? How did you prep, and what tools or resources helped you with that?
Kelsy: It was a big ordeal, honestly. I was so excited, I told my teammates right away — but there was also a lot of waiting around. It took a couple of months, at least. They informed my supervisor and my lead, so everybody was on board. I had to get approval, and they considered my attendance, work performance, and my whole background. Because I invested in showing up and spoke up for what I really wanted, I was actually glad that everyone was involved. It was a little scary — like, they’re going to find out if I’m actually worth moving up in the company, but it was exciting at the same time.
Of course I thought back on mistakes I’d made. But everyone was pushing me a little, and I felt that as a positive. As time went on, I built some confidence in myself. I’d never missed a day, I’d made mistakes, sure, but that was part of my growth, and I always made sure I was a good teammate. All of that really added momentum to the push, and I think it made it easy for them to say, “Yeah, take her — this is one.”
After getting all that encouragement from my team, my supervisor, my lead, I showed up to an on-site interview. There were a lot of people there, and it went on for several days. I had to take time off to show up, but luckily it was right there on my campus, so I just walked off my line, got myself ready, and kept my uniform on — it had the company logo right there. I think they were like, “Okay, she already works here.”
They had a process for me that was kind of fun, which helped. I practiced before the interview, using what you all taught me in the program. It was a group interview; we talked, I gave my pitch, I went over the interview material, and I remembered the most important parts because I’d been studying and drilling myself — I even asked a friend to help quiz me on certain terms. So when I responded quickly in the interview, I stood out.
I finally got the call, got the email, and was approached by my supervisor — all three in the same week. “You got this.” Wait, what? But the email was what made it official for me. When I got that, I was really excited.
Sabrina: I remember when you told me you got the job — I was so happy for you. Hearing you talk about the pride you took in showing up, owning your mistakes, and staying focused on your growth. And I love that you had that support from your team. Did you use AI throughout the process to get the new role?
Kelsy: Yes, I definitely used AI. The way I used it was really just putting information in there to help me make sense of things and maintain the important driver points so I wouldn’t go off track. It helped me make sense of the data, and I think it really made a difference.
Sabrina: Looking ahead, what’s next for you? Any career goals or projects you’re especially excited about?
Kelsy: Yes — for some reason, I can’t seem to stay put wherever I’m at. I’m actually back in school, pursuing a degree in Manufacturing Technology, and I’m graduating very soon with an Associate’s in Applied Science. Right after that, I’m going to pursue my Bachelor’s. Going back to school was always something I figured I’d do eventually, but I kept putting it off. Now I’m actively pursuing it. Since starting my new role full-time, I’ve been attending school on the back end. On top of that, I’m learning different things as I go.— This industry is always changing, so I’m pivoting a lot. It’s pretty exciting.
Sabrina: Congratulations on finishing up your Associate’s degree — that’s amazing, and now pursuing your Bachelor’s too. You’ve come full circle — you started the program working full-time and going to school, and here you are, still with that same drive. It’s great that you’ve kept that momentum.
Kelsy: Thank you. Thank you.
Sabrina: We’ve talked a lot about growth in this conversation. Everyone has their own version of the American Dream. With everything you’ve accomplished in the past couple of months, what’s yours? Do you feel like you’ve reached it, or a piece of it?
Kelsy: I look at it like this: Be a lifelong learner, and never stop growing. I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot in the past couple of years, and I’m not going to stop.
It’s just part of who I am. I do feel like I have a piece of the American Dream. Finally I can see that happening for me. As long as I keep a positive attitude, I feel like I can keep pursuing my goals.
Sabrina: And if that’s part of the American Dream, then I think that’s awesome. Thank you so much, Kelsy, for sharing your story. I know it will inspire other listeners who are thinking about making their own career leap.
Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Promoted. If you’re interested in exploring how Merit America can guide you toward a rewarding career, visit our website at www.meritamerica.org and stay tuned for our next episode.
(Transcript is edited for length and clarity.)