Country: Spain
Age: 33
Background: Audiovisual studies
Why did you want to become a member of SAJO?
There were several reasons. First and foremost, to find a job and get to know the Norwegian job market better. I had been trying to find a job for over a year, but without success. So I figured there was something I wasn’t doing right. I also saw this as a good opportunity to practice Norwegian. When you’re unemployed and spend a lot of time alone at home, you don’t speak much Norwegian, and you don’t improve your language skills. In addition, I found the opportunity to meet others in the same situation and hear about their experiences interesting. I also wanted to participate to show that I wasn’t just sitting at home, but was actively trying to find a job by taking part in a program.
What has been the best part of being in the program? Meeting my mentor, Elsa! She was so kind and so encouraging. She gave me so much self-confidence, and she always sent me little text messages with words of encouragement. The second thing I’d like to highlight is meeting people from so many different cultures. I’m very familiar with European culture, but now I’ve been introduced to people from all over the world. The feeling of being part of something also became very important to me. When you’re unemployed, you spend a lot of time alone and don’t always feel like you’re part of society. When you’re in the program, you have something to do and something to look forward to. That feels good. Last but not least, finding a job. I found a permanent job that was relevant to my skills.
Can you describe a typical meeting with your mentor?
We usually met at a café in Oslo in the afternoon, and each meeting lasted about an hour. First, we chatted casually about how things were going for us. Then we started talking about the specific steps I’d taken to try to find a job—who I’d contacted and whether I’d landed a job interview. After that, my mentor offered tips and advice, along with suggestions for what I could do next. Then we chatted a bit about ourselves again. I’d say the meetings struck a nice balance between the personal and the professional.
Did you learn anything new?
I think the most important thing I learned is that to get a job interview in Norway, you have to talk about personal things in your resume. That’s something you don’t do in my home country. Elsa told me that she likes my personality, but an employer can’t see that unless you mention it. So I wrote that I played volleyball and served on the board of my housing cooperative. After that, I was always asked about volleyball in job interviews. I’ve also learned how other immigrants have managed to get through the same situation I’m in. It was important for me to hear about their experiences with the job search process. And I learned to have hope. There are always opportunities, but sometimes you forget that.
What would you say to others who are considering joining the program?
First, I want to say: join the program and get involved! You can’t expect to get a job just by joining—you have to put in the effort yourself. The program is a great opportunity, but you have to work at it. Meet with your mentor as often as you can and attend seminars. If you learn something new, share it with the other participants. And be open to your mentor’s suggestions!