This blog is a guest blog written by World Relief Chicagoland Employment Specialist, Barb Galli
Watching a young Eritrean mother stride confidently into work three weeks after starting her first job reminded me why I do what I do at World Relief.
It was her first day of work and I was dropping her off at a cardboard processing plant. She had just completed six weeks of classes offered by our Adult Education department focused on English language skills and workforce readiness. Employment counselors presented information through examples and skits in a weekly session I lightheartedly refer to as our “how not to get fired” class. She hesitantly followed me in that day, eyes downcast, barely speaking as she was greeted by staff.
Imagine starting your first job in a brand-new country, with minimal language skills, doing something you’ve never done—or even seen—before.
Three weeks later I dropped in at her work to check-in. I watched her walk with purpose in her steel-toed boots. She greeted coworkers, placed her lunchbox in the refrigerator, exchanged teasing jokes with a colleague. She was proud to be supporting her family and growing more confident in her ability to navigate a U.S. workplace.
I’ve been an employment specialist with World Relief for 18 years, working on our Workforce Development team. I love recounting the stories of the refugees who have passed through our doors and become self-sufficient, confident workers.
- There’s the man who started out in 2010 during the depths of the recession, driving from Carol Stream to Bridgeview (about 30 miles in heavy traffic) to work as a line worker in a hamburger processing plant… for minimum wage. Over the next 11 years, he worked at five different companies, steadily moving up, learning new skills. Today, he’s a Midwest regional inspector of meat processing facilities with the USDA.
- Or the woman who began as a packer at one of our partner companies. After a year or two, she discovered an interest in human resources. The company’s HR director mentored her, and she began coursework at a local community college. Today, she’s an HR professional at a local manufacturing company.
We often stress the importance of starting with a survival job. It can be a tough pill to swallow, especially for the many professionals we’ve resettled—pharmacists, dentists, doctors, civil engineers, IT experts. They’re afraid that taking a low-paying, entry-level job might mean being locked into it forever.
We explain that the first priority is stability—paying rent, meeting basic needs—while continuing to pursue work aligned with their experience and skills. I tell them stories like:
- The man who arrived with an MBA and whose first job was driving a forklift for an office supply company. With the help of another nonprofit, Upwardly Global, he’s now a senior data analyst with Moody’s Investor Services in Chicago.
- Or the IT professional who began by assembling electronics on a line and later joined a company responsible for outfitting Southwest Airlines with onboard Wifi. Other clients use their mechanical aptitudes to step into advanced manufacturing roles.
Whether our clients arrive with strong English and a portfolio of certifications or limited literacy and little work experience, we provide them with tools to help them not just survive, but thrive.
Some become dishwashers at Wheaton College, packers at medical supply companies, machine operators, or industrial sewers. Our goal is to prepare them for the kind of work they ultimately hope to do.
When I teach this Workforce Readiness Class and we talk about moving forward in a career, I often ask clients their ages. I jot them down on a timeline and say, “You’re 25 — you’ll probably work for at least 40 more years. You’re 37 — that’s 29 years. You’re 50 — 16 years.”
That always earns some incredulous looks.
But then we talk about opportunity in the U.S.—how with time, effort, and support, you can find work that not only provides for your family but is also fulfilling.
Everyone’s path looks different — but with resilience, determination, and the right tools, our clients don’t just survive here. They thrive.