Many Riverside students need help finding work. In addition to the workforce readiness skills integrated into their English language classes, RLP students benefit from the support of a group of volunteers from B’nai Jeshurun’s Refugee and Immigration Committee.

Led by Debra Kalmuss, a professor at Columbia University, the job preparedness team works with RLP students to develop critical skills needed to enter into the workforce in their new country. Professor Kalmuss was kind enough to share her account of how the Resume Workshops were created and the methodology that the volunteers bring to their work. "The curriculum was developed by volunteers, and it is taught by volunteers," said Kalmuss.

Initially, the focus of the workshop was on resume writing skills. The curriculum has evolved, based on student feedback, to include computer-based job searches, tailoring responses to a job ad, presenting yourself succinctly, and even post-graduation mentoring.

The workshops, which started with two teachers, are now supported by two additional instructors and a core of volunteers. After the 3-day workshops, each participating RLP student is paired with a BJ mentoring volunteer. Together, they prioritize an area of work, such as continuing to develop the student's resume or identifying additional training in the student's field of interest.

Kalmuss reports, “We have stories from post-graduation mentors who have essentially helped students move into employment, so they stayed with them to the point that students have found jobs. We've been doing this for four years, and we have probably served between 250 and 280 students. Their evaluations are very, very positive."