Country: Sudan
Age: 32
Background: Journalist
Why did you want to become a member of SAJO?
I wanted to become better integrated in Norway and get help finding a job. It’s not easy to find a job without a network, so I decided to join Sammen om en jobb ’s mentoring program.
What has been the best part of being on the show?
The best part was learning about the opportunities and jobs available in the Oslo area. I learned about this through my mentor. Among other things, we reached out to employers and visited the companies together to learn more. I also learned about writing a resume and preparing for interviews.
Can you describe a typical meeting with your mentor?
My focus was a little different from that of the other participants in the program, because I knew I had to study more in order to get the job I wanted. My mentor, Olav, and I therefore worked on two things at the same time: finding a field of study that suited me and improving my resume. Every week, we met at a café, often at Kulturhuset or Litteraturhuset. Through my conversations with my mentor, my Norwegian improved, and we revised my resume and went over the courses I’d taken in school. We visited workplaces, the University of Ås, and Vestfold University College. At the schools, we spoke with counselors about which fields of study might be a good fit for me. I have now started an engineering program at Vestfold University College. Olav helped me a lot. He even invited me to his home so I could get to know his family. I’m very happy with him.
Have you learned anything new?
I got to know a Norwegian who helped me a lot. I've met nice people and made new friends, such as Ali and other participants. I still talk to Ali, and also to some of the other participants on Facebook.
What would you say to others who are considering joining the program?
I would recommend that they be honest with their mentor. They need to dare to show the negative aspects in order to get something positive out of the program.