Yes,
I attended my first, no second career services workshop at the Tempe campus. I accidentally walked into the workshop and it proved to be very valuable.
Four students attended the workshop and I liked that we were a small group.
The workshop discussed how to develop your professional image (of course) as one is who about to join the labor force. I actually learnt how to create your 30 seconds commercial - I have heard about the "elevator pitch" but this was new and interesting.
I also learned how to adapt your personal life to developing your image and tips on deal makers or breakers.
The one hour I spent there was definately time well spent.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
JOB HUNTING
Hola,
This week at work was remarkable. I attended to clients by myself (yay!!!).
Just want to share some of the frustrations clients expressed this week. Three months after clients arrive in the US, the plan is that they get jobs and would soon be capable of taking care of themselves. It is vital that they get employment in those three months else.
We have these clients we have been trying to get job placements for and it has been really tough. So, one tuesday, I call some of the clients to come in so we can continue job hunting and there were so reluctant to come. One of the clients says she is tired of applying, applying and applying !!! and nothing happens. I could only imagine her frustration... believing that the grass is greener on the other side, then realizing that it is not.I have told her that we would keep looking and giving up is not an option.
I met another client this week who is scientifically gifted (I don't know the 'correct' term for that..) Honestly, this person should be in a lab inventing something. He had issues with the government of his home country and was stopped from working on an experiment he was conducting -he told me what this project was and I was impressed- He is here and is ready to do anything... It is really so sad to see his skills and passion unused (I refuse to accept that his skills would end up being wasted).
On a positive note, some more clients got jobs this week so that kind of balanced things out for me.
Enjoy your weekend
Damola
This week at work was remarkable. I attended to clients by myself (yay!!!).
Just want to share some of the frustrations clients expressed this week. Three months after clients arrive in the US, the plan is that they get jobs and would soon be capable of taking care of themselves. It is vital that they get employment in those three months else.
We have these clients we have been trying to get job placements for and it has been really tough. So, one tuesday, I call some of the clients to come in so we can continue job hunting and there were so reluctant to come. One of the clients says she is tired of applying, applying and applying !!! and nothing happens. I could only imagine her frustration... believing that the grass is greener on the other side, then realizing that it is not.I have told her that we would keep looking and giving up is not an option.
I met another client this week who is scientifically gifted (I don't know the 'correct' term for that..) Honestly, this person should be in a lab inventing something. He had issues with the government of his home country and was stopped from working on an experiment he was conducting -he told me what this project was and I was impressed- He is here and is ready to do anything... It is really so sad to see his skills and passion unused (I refuse to accept that his skills would end up being wasted).
On a positive note, some more clients got jobs this week so that kind of balanced things out for me.
Enjoy your weekend
Damola
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
TRAINING FOR CLIENTS- MARCH 15-16
Hihi,
How was spring break?
Consider this the part 2 of what IRC does. :). This is a reader's digest version.
The community and economic development team organizes workshops for clients (both employed and yet to be employed) to ensure job readiness. The workshops are "success on the job workshop" and "interviewing skills workshop". Jim (a volunteer) coordinates the workshop. I attended one last week (for ten minutes) and it was interesting. The clients were taught how to deal with relationships at work and also handle situations using a role play format. Mock interviews were also conducted for clients to give them a feel of what to expect when they are called for an interview.
Take care.
How was spring break?
Consider this the part 2 of what IRC does. :). This is a reader's digest version.
The community and economic development team organizes workshops for clients (both employed and yet to be employed) to ensure job readiness. The workshops are "success on the job workshop" and "interviewing skills workshop". Jim (a volunteer) coordinates the workshop. I attended one last week (for ten minutes) and it was interesting. The clients were taught how to deal with relationships at work and also handle situations using a role play format. Mock interviews were also conducted for clients to give them a feel of what to expect when they are called for an interview.
Take care.
Ibrahim's story
Hi there,
Link below is the story of one of IRC's clients. It is a short one
http://www.isedsolutions.org/blog/rapp/one-refugee-three-businesses-and-perfect-loan-repayment.
Catch you later,
Damola
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Lessons learnt 1
Hihi,
How has everyone's week been? I have had an interesting week and I am getting the hang of what I do at the IRC. I am going to give a "zen- like" readers digest version of what I have learnt this week at work.
First, as the adage goes "patience is a virtue"- true.
Second, listen to understand.
Third, as my people say, you can take a horse to the river but you cannot force the horse to drink.
Fourth, "you have to honor and respect that people think differently and they express themselves differently"
(I digress, educate me, do I need to reference the above quote, because I read it in a book.)
Fifth, a change is plan is a good thing.
So there goes...
Have a great weekend people.
Peace
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Can you help?
I know... my last post was an epistle...
This post is going to be short - I promise
People we need donations.
We are in urgent need of items such as shampoos, barsoaps, sanitary napkins, lotion, deodorants, razors, diapers, cleaners, tissues, laundry detergents and clothes for newly arrived refugees.
If you know people who work in stores like target, old navy etc and they have items they want to dispose, please let me know so we can contact them.
For further enquiries please contact Rachel on 6024332440 ext 175 or rachel.aherin@rescue.org
All donations to IRC are tax deductible.
Thank you.
Damola
This post is going to be short - I promise
People we need donations.
We are in urgent need of items such as shampoos, barsoaps, sanitary napkins, lotion, deodorants, razors, diapers, cleaners, tissues, laundry detergents and clothes for newly arrived refugees.
If you know people who work in stores like target, old navy etc and they have items they want to dispose, please let me know so we can contact them.
For further enquiries please contact Rachel on 6024332440 ext 175 or rachel.aherin@rescue.org
All donations to IRC are tax deductible.
Thank you.
Damola
From the beginning....
Hello people...
I am going to start where I should have started.
What does the IRC do?
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) phoenix is an humanitarian organization that helps resettle people from countries who flee their homeland as a result of wars and natural disasters. These refugees (clients) are sent to different countries (including the United States) where they become residents. There are four organizations that resettle refugees in Phoenix. They are: the IRC, The Catholic Charities Community services, Refugee and Immigrants Relief center and the Lutheran Social Services of the South West.
The clients assigned to the IRC are given accommodation and they go through a six-weeks orientation on life in the United States. When clients complete their orientations, they begin ESL classes (English as a Second Language), computer classes, financial literacy classes and job readiness classes. The objectives of these classes are to ensure that clients become self sufficient,gain employment,and ultimately integrate and thrive. The organization gets funding from the government, grants and cash and in kind donations (from volunteers, interns, individuals). Most of these funds go to the clients.
(Zzz Is anyone still reading?) So what do I do at the IRC? Well, I coordinate and teach the computer classes and job readiness classes for the clients assigned to me by employment coordinators ( The ECs work with clients so that they get jobs). I'm very happy when I hear that one of our clients gets a job at so and so place we applied to.
Working at the IRC has been a personal learning experience for me because I meet these clients who had good lives in their country but had to leave and start all over in the United States, clients who have lived in refugee camps all their lives before coming to the US.... Their resilience and strength is just touching and amazing.
On a lighter note, in one of our classes, there was a client that I thought spoke French. Feeling like someone who just learnt how to greet and ask questions in French. I go " Bonjour, s'il vous plait escrivez nom" (Morning, please write your name) and the client looks at me like "sorry.. what are you saying?". Then the interpreter with me goes... "he speaks Arabic not French"!!!
Deuces.
I am going to start where I should have started.
What does the IRC do?
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) phoenix is an humanitarian organization that helps resettle people from countries who flee their homeland as a result of wars and natural disasters. These refugees (clients) are sent to different countries (including the United States) where they become residents. There are four organizations that resettle refugees in Phoenix. They are: the IRC, The Catholic Charities Community services, Refugee and Immigrants Relief center and the Lutheran Social Services of the South West.
The clients assigned to the IRC are given accommodation and they go through a six-weeks orientation on life in the United States. When clients complete their orientations, they begin ESL classes (English as a Second Language), computer classes, financial literacy classes and job readiness classes. The objectives of these classes are to ensure that clients become self sufficient,gain employment,and ultimately integrate and thrive. The organization gets funding from the government, grants and cash and in kind donations (from volunteers, interns, individuals). Most of these funds go to the clients.
(Zzz Is anyone still reading?) So what do I do at the IRC? Well, I coordinate and teach the computer classes and job readiness classes for the clients assigned to me by employment coordinators ( The ECs work with clients so that they get jobs). I'm very happy when I hear that one of our clients gets a job at so and so place we applied to.
Working at the IRC has been a personal learning experience for me because I meet these clients who had good lives in their country but had to leave and start all over in the United States, clients who have lived in refugee camps all their lives before coming to the US.... Their resilience and strength is just touching and amazing.
On a lighter note, in one of our classes, there was a client that I thought spoke French. Feeling like someone who just learnt how to greet and ask questions in French. I go " Bonjour, s'il vous plait escrivez nom" (Morning, please write your name) and the client looks at me like "sorry.. what are you saying?". Then the interpreter with me goes... "he speaks Arabic not French"!!!
Deuces.
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