Have you met Carmen?

When I started this job 2 months ago, I was still getting to know the staff and students. Walter, one of the staff member who is a work broker said to me one morning ‘ You have got to meet Carmen, I will book an appointment for you to meet her’. I was not sure how I would be of any help to Walter or Carmen but I said yes anyway.  When I met Carmen, she has this warm and the loveliest smile. She was likable and bubbly so it was very easy talking to her.  

According to the NZ Herald back in 2009, New Zealand was ranked the world's most peaceful country. Like many migrants who came to New Zealand, we all have hope and dream. For Carmen, her hope was to create a better future and education for her two sons. At the time, the political and economy in Venezuela was in a critical stake therefore Carmen decided it was time to leave. Leaving the rest of her family behind was not easy but she knows in her heart, it is for the better. She arrived in New Zealand in 2008 with a tourist visa but because of her skills, she was able to secure a position as a Civil CAD Operator in Kerikeri and from there, she was granted a residence visa. She was working there for 2 years then moved to Christchurch for a contract job. Due to the earthquake that happened last year, Carmen and her family moved out of Christchurch for safety reasons.   

Carmen now lives in Wellington where both of her sons attend Massey University. Carmen applied for many jobs and was called for interviews in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton but none was successful. Why is that? Is it because of the economy? Or what is it? As of today on Seek.com, there are 125 jobs available in Wellington and 964 in New Zealand for Engineering. Surely, there must be SOMETHING.... 

The amazing fact is that Carmen has very limited ENGLISH knowledge before she even arrived in New Zealand. She learned and self taught English herself. Frankly, I do not know many people who are able to do that. Learning a language by yourself takes a lot of patient and motivation and it is different to attending a class. I admire that about Carmen and that has made her stand out from the crowd. She is very self driven and optimistic. As they say...If you have the WILL, there is always the WAY. Carmen has the WILL and is ABLE. Walter meets with Carmen on weekly basis to help and support her in finding a job. We are positive and working hard to get Carmen back in the workforce as soon as possible so she can show off her skills!