The job search process can be daunting for immigrants and refugees or anyone who is unfamiliar with the US job market. This roundtable conversation will cover different topics to help ease the pressure faced by clients/students in search of and keeping a job. We will discuss resume/cover letter writing, workplace culture, and general cultural differences.
ABOUT OUR PRESENTERS:
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Rebecca (Becky) Johnson is a nonprofit and public service professional with 12 years of experience in refugee and immigrant services, financial empowerment and program development. As the Director for the JFCS Career Development Center, Becky and her team guide, encourage and individually support jobseekers to reach their career goals.
Prior to joining JFCS, Becky managed the Pittsburgh Financial Empowerment Center from its launch in 2019 through 2021. Before that, she worked in refugee resettlement, providing employment and other critical services to help families transition to their new life in Pittsburgh.
Becky received a B.S. in Spanish from Minnesota State University Moorhead, and a Master of International Development (MID) with a major in Human Security from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.
In her downtime, Becky enjoys exploring area parks with her dog and renovating her Pittsburgh fixer-upper with her husband.
Melissa Glaser Rubin is the Interim MBA Career Team Lead at BU Questrom School of Business, a step up from her earlier Assistant Director - Career Coach role. Prior to that, she was a Career Navigator for the CNA Training Program at JVS Boston and also an intern and contractor for the Northeastern University Career Development Department. (Now Employer Engagement and Career Design). In each of these positions, she worked with ESOL immigrants/international students to help them gain a professional foothold in the U.S. - helping them identify and communicate their unique value and overcome specific challenges international job seekers face in the U.S.
Career coaching is actually a 4th career for Melissa, who started in nonprofit management, community organization and fundraising, stepped back to be an at-home mom, then leaned in to become an educator in multiple settings. Common themes of all of her careers include collaboration, helping others identify and meet goals, educating, organizing and relationship building. Melissa is a former Executive Board member of the CCC and has been a member since shifting to the career coaching profession.
When Melissa is not working, she is cooking for her family and friends, planning gatherings, reading, hiking, kayaking, singing, working out or binging on TV shows and movies.
