Country: Syria
Age: 28
Background: Civil engineer
Why did you want to become a member of SAJO?
I wanted to get to know someone with experience in the Norwegian workforce who could give me some tips. Dagfinn was an engineer, like me, so he could teach me technical terms and things like that in Norwegian. It’s hard for refugees to get to know Norwegians. We often just talk to each other, and then we don’t learn Norwegian.
What has been the best part of being on the show?
Learn about the path to finding a job. I realized that I needed to continue my education to get the job I wanted. At Dagfinn, I made a friend. That was helpful to me. Sometimes I was in a tough situation and feeling depressed, and it was important to have someone who would listen to me.
Can you describe a typical meeting with your mentor?
We met about once a week and exchanged quite a few emails. Sometimes we met at the café where I worked, sometimes at the library, and other times at home. During our first few meetings, we talked about my background and what I wanted to do—study or work. Dagfinn taught me about unions, and I joined NITO. Through them, I also took a course on job applications and resumes. We talked about Finn.no. He tried to figure out what I needed so he could guide me better. He always tried to make a difference for me at every meeting. One day, he sent an email to Rambøll in Skien, and afterward I got to go for an interview with the HR manager. We talked for an hour and a half. Dagfinn drove me there. The person at Rambøll said that Ali needs to improve his Norwegian. We talked about different ways to work as an engineer: for example, on projects or as a consultant. We also discussed what I needed to do to gain the right engineering skills. Together, we decided that I should attend school in Ås or Grimstad, and eventually I was accepted into a program. Dagfinn and I still keep in touch.
Have you learned anything new?
Yes, of course! I've learned how to write a resume and a cover letter. I've learned that if I make a grammatical mistake in my cover letter, it won't work. I've learned technical Norwegian for engineers, and how to get into college.
What would you say to others who are considering joining the program?
Come along! Don't stay home. You need to go out and get familiar with your route to work. My mentor was like a guide to me—better than any of the mentors I've had before. They hadn't studied engineering and didn't know much about it. Dagfinn had worked as an engineer, so he was able to help me better. He became like a mentor and a guide for refugees. He helped me not just with work, but with everything.