The First One is Behind Us

Tuesday and Wednesday Sister Peterson and I taught our first Career Workshop. 27 people signed up and 11 came, which actually thrilled our bosses! If you consider that the majority of these people came discouraged and left upbeat and confident, then we did alright, but I won't feel satisfied that we have done our job until they each find a job! Today I worked with a lovely sharp accountant from Guatemala. She has superb skills and 10 years of experience, but it is the language barrier that is holding her back. I think we did a good job of organizing her resume' and showcasing her considerable skills and experience that will have employers take a second look. Then there was the lady who has 20 years of experience in the air freight industry with good skills...she was flown out to CA by the hiring company only to be passed over because in the final analysis they wanted to pay near entry level salary to this highly qualified worker. My heart is very tender towards my sweet illegal and her husband. They are the parents of two boys and she is desperate to find work, but the laws have tightened considerably in Georgia. He was working construction in North Carolina, but that job ended. Then there is my brilliant Dr. Basra who is probably on his 15th interview....all of them have been high-powered. There again, he has done some amazing things during his career, like being the only expert in the united states in certifying detector tubes, I know....but sometimes when we are practicing for an interview he does not get some of the subtleties of what it is the interviewer really wants to know. My the contributions he can make once someone gets past that. And how about the former RS President who after 15 years of struggling with her schizophrenic husband who won't take medication is now spending her nights in a Womans' Shelter?! How does that happen? Life is so hard for so very many, but I got to talk to Rylee tonight and her kitty sleeps on her head, so all is right with the world.