Determination and an Open Mind: How Refugees and Employers Can Succeed
Author: Jenny Hart, Caritas of Austin Intern
Ram and Mam Tee are refugees from Burma who fled their country in search of protection from persecution. After more than five years of traveling, struggling to support and protect their families, their journey to safety finally came to an end when they were brought to the United States by the federal government. In 2008 and 2009 Ram and Mam, respectively, arrived in Texas where they were referred to Caritas of Austin for assistance.
Caritas is a local non-profit organization that provides housing, employment and education services for documented refugees as they acclimate to their new home. Caritas partners with more than 140 local businesses that employ refugees through Caritas’ employment program. The Radisson Hotel and Suites has been working with Caritas for more than six years and have had success with recent refugee hires, like Ram and Mam Tee.
The determination and perseverance that helped them survive persecution is exhibited in their current positions at Radisson Hotel and Suites. Both men have worked their way up from Room Attendants to Housekeeping Supervisors in less than three years.
Originally farmers, Ram and Mam Tee worked in various positions after fleeing Burma, including the restaurant and construction industries. What seemed like a completely new career in housekeeping, Ram and Mam Tee were up to the challenge. They were able to use the skills they had developed at Caritas, in past employment and own through their own life experiences to excel. Yolanda Islas, Executive Housekeeper at Radisson, recognized that this experience would translate to hard work and good customer service.
Islas says she began working with Caritas because she believes teamwork comes naturally to the refugees she has employed. She says she enjoys working with Caritas because they provide employers with pre-screened employees, suitable for position openings. Caritas makes sure clients learn the skills they need to succeed. Caritas clients must to participate in job readiness classes and a variety of trainings designed to help refugees easily adjust to the American workforce.
Translators are another important element, from which employers, like the Radisson Hotel and Suites, benefit from. Because English is not a first language for most refugees, Caritas provides translators to help bridge the gap in understanding. Islas finds translation useful for training and employee meetings. However, Caritas does not only rely upon translators. Refugees are required to take English classes – provided by Caritas. Ram went above and beyond this obligation by continuing to attend English class before work everyday to help improve his communication and move up in his career. Now, both Ram and Mam Tee speak English, along with a variety of other languages they have learned while working with co-workers from various cultures. Mam Tee says one of his favorite parts of his job is meeting new people from different cultures.
Islas is confident that hiring clients through Caritas has been advantageous to the Radisson. She believes that future employers looking to hire refugees “need to have patience, because the training process takes a little more time.” She finds it beneficial to invest extra time in these employees because, “It is easy to train skills, but you can not train an attitude.” While some refugees might not possess an employer’s desired skill set, they are committed to learning and have a strong desire to succeed. Yolanda, Mam Tee, and Ram have all been witness to this fact. Refugees may not bring many possessions to this country but they do bring determination, dedication, and a positive attitude – all of which make up the characteristics of an invaluable employee.
