The Workforce Development Department at the International Institute of Boston provides workforce training to newly arrived refugees and immigrants. The clients are first engaged in English courses (ESL) and then are exposed to training within various industries.
The Mock Interview Day is extremely important in helping those clients prepare for job interviews and subsequent job placements. It allows them to gain confidence in their interviewing skills and exposes them to the employers and community members who take part in the event.
Today my Dad (and partner at First Call Trucking & Courier) volunteered to interview a few of the 100 clients that came out to practice their interviewing and English skills.
The first person he “interviewed” was a Vietnamese woman from Saigon who has been in the United States for 19 years and was recently laid off from her job at Teradyne in Cambridge. She has made a life for herself and her family here – all of her kids are grown and she resides in the predominantly Vietnamese district off Dorchester Avenue in Dorchester. She is looking for a job in a factory, or as a cook, but her English is relatively good so she could be suitable for other customer service-type jobs as well.
My Dad’s second interviewee was Andre, a 29 year-old Iraqi man who has been here for four years and loves it! My Dad said he was happy and friendly and will take a job doing anything!
The third and final interview was with a friendly, 20-something Liberian woman who has been in the States for about five years. She is looking for domestic work or a job in the food service industry.
My Dad said the volunteer experience was beneficial to everyone involved – both interviewer and interviewee. Everyone was in good spirits and in these tough economic times, job seekers need any help they can get in finding a job. Those who still have jobs are reminded that they are lucky to have them. Philanthropy is good for the spirit and good for the soul – in helping others you help yourself. The Mock Interview Day was truly a win/win.
If you would like to volunteer your time to participate in the next “Mock Interview”, please call 617-695-9990 ext. 590 or email mockinterview@iiboston.org).
