Upwardly Global Taps into Industry Expertise

One of the challenges faced by immigrant professionals when they move to the U.S. is the lack of professional networks that can offer industry insights to help them in their job search. Therefore, Upwardly Global has begun to hold industry round table discussions to tap into the expertise of our volunteers and alumni from various industries and offer industry insights to our jobseekers.

In New York, Upwardly Global successfully held its first industry round table discussion at the Risk Metrics office on November 5, 2008. As many as 54 people participated in the discussion, including Upwardly Global's jobseekers, alumni, volunteers, and staff. During the small group discussion jobseekers learned trends in the fields of education/non-profit, engineering, health/medicine, finance/accounting, IT, marketing/public relations, and management/operations from alumni and volunteers, while expanding their professional network. Participants found the event very helpful, as evidenced in their testimonials.

In San Francisco, Upwardly Global Volunteers have conducted Round Table discussions and Group Information Interviews in a variety of fields, including health care, environmental science, civil engineering, scientific research and non-profit management. Jobseekers have made valuable connections, learned about networking opportunities, gained important insights into certification and credentialing issues, and even found job leads.

What do our jobseekers and volunteers have to say about these events?

• "The experience to participate in this discussion is inestimable because immigrants like us have a very limited network in the U.S. and learn from U.S. professionals. I found this event extremely useful." Desi, a jobseeker from Bulgaria.
• "I enjoyed the perseverance and resiliency of the jobseekers in expressing their fears, hopes, aspirations, and ambitions. This is an ongoing process and the experience of coaching within this process was deep." Angle, a volunteer.

Upwardly Global plans to conduct the industry round table discussion on a regular basis. If you are interested in participating in this discussion and learn more how you can contribute, please contact Nyna Pais-Caputi nyna@upwardlyglobal.org, in San Francisco at (415) 834-9901 or Tadd Wamester tadd@upwardlyglobal.org, in New York at (212) 219-8828.