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At ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ New York, the Economic Empowerment team provides Job Readiness Training (JRT) to help clients navigate the job market and understand how it works in the United States. 

Volodymyr proudly standing in front of Levain Bakery

Photo: Volodymyr

JRT module topics focus on: How to apply for a job, where to search for jobs, resume-building tips, interview preparation and topics to avoid, on-the-job tips, proper business etiquette, what to expect from colleagues and your employer, and topics of conversation to avoid at work. 

Volodymyr is a Ukrainian client of the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriation to Resettlement Agencies (USARA) program. He received the support of his Employment Specialist, Yuliya Antipova, who provided him with career coaching and connected him to our JRT training. She reflects on her time coaching Volodymyr:  

“I immediately recognized a remarkable quality in Volodymyr—a genuine thirst for knowledge and self-improvement. He understood that the long-term benefits of the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡'s education and empowerment programs -- and he fully embraced these opportunities. Volodymyr actively participated in JRT, engaged in numerous one-on-one coaching sessions with me, submitted countless job applications, and practiced extensively through mock interviews. Eventually, we successfully placed Volodymyr as a Porter at Levain Bakery. Although his English required some improvement, he never allowed the language barrier to hinder his performance! 

Our Employment Specialist, Maksym, and Employment Program Coordinator, Giorgi, recently followed up with Volodymyr, who currently works at Levain Bakery and is an active client of the USARA program...  Check out his extended interview below! 

Making the most of Job Readiness Training 

• How are you doing these days?  
  I’m doing great! Thank you for having me for this interview. 
• Can you tell us more about your experience in sales/management? In what sector did you work, and for how long? 
  I worked as a sales manager for over 20 years. My career started in telecommunications, then I moved to another city and continued in sales. Later, I relocated to another city and worked in furniture fittings sales. However, due to the situation, the company ceased operations.
• What is your educational background? 
  My studies were in banking, which was unrelated to sales, but I eventually transitioned into the field.
• Did ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ NY’s JRT help you? 
  I wanted to take English courses but couldn’t because of my work schedule. However, I attended employment training, résumé writing workshops, and banking/financial literacy courses. These trainings were very helpful because the banking system here is completely different from what I was used to in Ukraine. Before securing my job at Levain, I applied to other places, including Whole Foods, but faced delays and technical issues with online applications. With ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ NY’s help, I was able to submit my résumé correctly, and I was eventually hired at Levain. The interview process started with a phone call, which was challenging due to my limited English at the time. However, after a short conversation, I was invited for an in-person interview and was offered the position shortly after. 

Working at Levain Bakery 

• What is it like working at Levain? 
  My team is amazing. They are always supportive and ready to help, and we have a great working relationship. For now, I have stopped working as a porter and am currently working with deliveries. However, I plan to start baking courses soon. I am currently ranked fourth out of the ten best performers this quarter!
• What is it like working in a bakery where English is the primary language? 
  At first, the language barrier and cultural differences were challenging. I had to learn a lot of industry-specific vocabulary, and sometimes I even had to use gestures to communicate. However, over time, things improved, and I integrated well into the team.

Outside of Levain Bakery

Photo: Volodymyr

Integrating to American Culture & Future Dreams 

• Can you tell me about your journey from Ukraine to New York? 
  It was a difficult time because of the war in Ukraine. However, when I arrived in the U.S., everything was fascinating to me. It wasn’t so difficult—just different and interesting. Many things I had only seen in movies before, I finally experienced in real life
• Valentine’s Day was on Feburary 14 and is celebrated in the United States as well as Ukraine. Did you celebrate? How is it traditionally celebrated in Ukraine? 
  Yes, I celebrate Valentine’s Day with my family. I believe it’s a holiday not just for couples, but also for friends and even children. In Ukraine, it is widely celebrated, just like in New York. At our workplace, we decorated in honor of the occasion! 

• What do you wish for your future? 
  I want to improve my English and continue developing professionally. There are so many opportunities here, and I want to make the most of them. 

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ New York is grateful to Volodymyr for sharing his story. This year, the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ New York hopes to sustain our Workforce & Career Development services, which include career development coaching, job readiness training, and financial literacy. We invite you to consider donating now to directly support migrants like Volodymyr in accessing additional training and one-on-one career coaching so they may secure a job opportunity and provide for their families. 

Written by Development Manager, Malin Evertsz Mendez