Every refugee who arrives in the United States does so with the legal right to work—and for many, the desire to work is immediate. The journey begins not with job applications, but with conversation, reflection, and a plan.
During the first week, GGIC staff meet with each adult family member to review their past work experience, training, education, and transferable skills. Each adult refugee then sets employment goals based on individual skills, English proficiency, and family responsibilities. From there, they begin building resumes and preparing for job readiness—often before the family has even received their Social Security cards.
Tempering expectations forms a big part of these initial meetings, especially as US work culture can be very different from their previous experience. Many believe they can immediately work in their previous expertise, when in reality most of those jobs are not initially available.
First Jobs, New Beginnings
Thanks to the hard work of refugee families—and the strong partnerships built by GGIC—most adults find employment within just a few weeks of arrival. For many, this first job in the US is a financial lifeline and a critical step toward reclaiming stability and dignity after displacement.
Refugees have secured positions at local businesses, including jobs in landscaping, painting, cleaning, and delivery services. In our small town, it can be difficult to find employers willing to work with English learners and offering flexible hours (to allow for the administrative visits required in the resettlement process). The extraordinary work ethic of the refugees often wins them over. With each paycheck, families begin covering their own rent, buying groceries, and supporting their children’s needs.
Most of the refugees resettled in Gainesville previously worked white collar and managerial positions, and the transition to the jobs available to them due to their language skills is difficult. Many dream to resume work in their previous fields—nursing, special education, restaurant management, engineering, IT, geology, paralegal. And thus in tandem with their first employment, each refugee works actively to acquire long-term skills in English classes, cultural orientation, and workplace readiness training.
GGIC a través de sus voluntarios, nos brindó las herramientas necesarias para poder buscar y encontrar trabajo, aprendimos lo ideal para estar preparados para una entrevista laboral, esa información valiosa nos permitió finalmente encontrar un primer trabajo, y nos preparó para definir nuestros objetivos y metas laborales en ésta comunidad. Siempre agradecidos.
GGIC, through its volunteers, brought us the necessary tools to look for and find employment, learning the best way to be prepared for a job interview. This valuable information allowed us to find a first job, and it prepared us to to define our objectives and employment goals in this community. Always grateful.
Con aplicaciones en línea, y con personas conocidas la agencia nos ayuda con este tema muchísimo.
The agency helped us with [the search for employment] a lot with online applications and connections.
Mr. Ho travels 