The most rewarding volunteer experience

I’ve been volunteering since I was in college over the past 10 years ago. I have been doing a variety of projects and one of the things I have always enjoyed was helping others with resumes and career development.

I learned about Upwardly Global while working as a recruiter at Accenture. I immediately thought about helping skilled immigrants and refugees to find jobs that are in line with their skills. I believe it is a win-win situation for everyone. I have lived in two countries and three major cities. I know that adapting to a new environment can be challenging. Volunteering at Upwardly Global was a perfect opportunity for me to share my skills and experience.

My first volunteer experience with Upwardly Global was in May 2009.  I was excited to use  my knowledge and experience with individuals who I wouldn’t normally interact with at work. The first job seeker I worked with was an Iraqi refugee who had received death threats because he worked for U.S. government.  It was shocking to me how much he had risked for the U.S. I didn’t realize how much some of these individuals had been through. For the past two years, it has been so rewarding connecting with smart and talented individuals from around the world -  India, China, Iraq, Iran, Africa, Bolivia, Philippines, Brazil,  Russia, and other European and South American countries. It is opening my eyes to the world.

The challenging yet most rewarding part of the volunteer experience is helping the job seekers understand that networking is an important part of the job search process.  This is tough enough for individuals who have been living in the U.S. for 20+ years - it’s even tougher for these individuals who have no network to start with I love seeing the job seekers’ eyes light up or get an “aha” moment when I share my perspectives as a recruiter.

Seeing the hope of the American Dream in the eyes of these highly-educated and highly skilled immigrants, and refugees is inspiring to me.  It reminds me of the power of the human spirit and of my own parents’ journey in rebuilding their lives here in the U.S. more than 20 years ago.  I now see my volunteer work as not just an opportunity to make an impact on someone’s life, but also as a tribute to my own parents.