By: Linda
We all know that job searching can be tough, but my work with clients at Taller de José has given me a new perspective on finding employment. Recently, I had a client come in who was laid off and wanted to begin to look for jobs by her house. She said she had a lot of experience working at schools and in childcare, but did not know how to create a resume in English in order to apply for new positions. Not to mention she did not have access to a printer. I told her that if she could tell me about her past experience in detail, including the dates, her past employers, and her job descriptions, that I would be able help her write up a resume in English in my office. Although the task was tedious, I was able to draft quite an impressive resume for her and printed her out several copies of it and emailed a copy of it to her as well. She was so pleased with how professional it looked, and was very grateful to have been able to put her countless skills and expertise down on paper in a way that reflected how qualified she truly is.
Through this experience, I became more aware of the seemingly simple tasks I tend to take for granted on a daily basis. I sometimes forget about how much of a barrier language truly is for people in this community. Even though writing up a resume may seem like a simple task for others, it can be a very challenging task for immigrants, especially immigrants who do not know how to write in English or speak fluent English. Many clients I help with resumes have never written one before; do you remember writing your first resume? I am sure that it was not without the help or advice of a trusted and caring individual.
I was glad that I was able to help my client overcome this obstacle, and help her in the process of looking for better job opportunities.
*All stories are based on real client stories, but names and details have been changed to protect client confidentiality.
