• Please note that this opportunity would ordinarily be at our office, but as our office is currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our services are now provided remotely. For SPRING 2021, this volunteer position will either follow a remote model (very likely) for the full duration or it will be a hybrid model of both remote and in-person work.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Our Individual Achievement Program (IAP) provides adult immigrants with one-to-one coaching that supports them in achieving short-term and long-term career and education goals. Adults enrolled in our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes are eligible to participate in the IAP, in which they can work one-on-one with a tutor to make progress toward their educational and professional goals. This work may include preparing a resume, applying to jobs, preparing for job interviews, exploring job training programs, and exploring continuing education opportunities such as taking the HiSET/GED or TABE test or enrolling in higher education. We pride ourselves on providing individualized support that meets the personal, professional and cultural needs of our students.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Rian Immigrant Center is currently recruiting new IAP tutors to support our immigrant student community as our students face mounting obstacles to employment during the coronavirus pandemic and struggle to provide for their families. IMPORTANT:IAP tutors are NOT required to be native English language speakers or US citizens. It is preferable that they are familiar with the language learning process and/or the experience of living in a foreign culture or within 2+ cultures simultaneously, as this promotes empathy for our students’ lived experience.

TIME COMMITMENT: Minimum 2 hours per week, between Monday and Friday. Students’ availability varies between morning, afternoon and evening time slots, and we will match your availability to that of your student(s).

We anticipate that up to 2 hours/week is required for each student you are coaching (including 1 hour of meeting time, as well as meeting preparation, correspondence with the student, researching resources for the student, and administrative documentation of each coaching session.)

TIMELINE: Beginning February 2021

RESPONSIBILITIES may include but are not limited to: (exclusively online at this time)

• Weekly, meeting one-on-one with 1+ students who are looking to begin, resume or advance their careers or education
• Assisting with students’ search for job or training programs
• Assisting with drafting and polishing resumes and cover letters
• Assisting with developing a personal brand and creating/utilizing a LinkedIn account
• Providing instruction and practice opportunities for professional email, phone and text etiquette
• Preparing students for interviews by practicing behavioral questions or conducting mock interviews
• Providing insights into American (specifically Northeastern) culture and expectations around communication and self-presentation
• Researching opportunities for students’ advancement in their desired field/industry within the Greater Boston area
• Sharing online resources with other IAP tutors and the Director of Education
• Attending IAP tutor meetings and trainings
• Providing weekly written updates to track student progress
• Other administrative assignments as requested by the Director of Education

SKILLS / QUALIFICATIONS

• Personal experience and knowledge of the US job search process and US work culture, particularly within the Greater Boston area
• Strong customer service and interpersonal communication skills (verbal, written)
• Excellent listening skills
• Empathy, intercultural sensitivity, and respect for diverse cultural perspectives
• Proficiency with online video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, Google Hangout, RingCentral or Facebook Messenger
• Familiarity with Google Suite -- Drive, Sheets, Docs, Calendar, Gmail
• Strong research and networking skills
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Personal experience of studying another language
• Verbal ability to encourage, support, praise, and promote confidence in others
• Community or professional experience with adult immigrants/refugees, preferred
• Bilingual, or multilingual language skills, preferred
• Experience traveling/studying/living/working outside of the US, preferred
• Deep, personal commitment to helping adult immigrants in the Greater Boston area succeed economically, professionally, and personally

REPORTS TO: Director of Education Services

HOW TO APPLY:

Please email your resume and cover letter to volunteering@riancenter.org. You also need to complete our online application form, which can be found here: www.riancenter.org/get-involved/volunteer/ (under the photo, you will see 'Click here to get started by submitting your volunteer application form!’ - follow the link to complete the form). The Rian Immigrant Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages candidates of diverse backgrounds and language proficiencies to apply.

ABOUT THE RIAN IMMIGRANT CENTER (formerly the Irish International Immigrant Center)

We empower over 3,500 immigrants and refugees annually from more than 120 countries by providing the legal, wellness and educational support they need to build successful lives. Building on our Irish roots of welcoming others and social justice, we help newcomers find community, and we stand up for immigration policies that are humane and just. America is a nation of immigrants, and despite the current political climate, we are proud to continue the tradition of welcoming immigrants to this country and working together to create a better future for all.

Our vision is of a society where all people are welcomed and valued and enjoy equal opportunities and protections. Rooted in the Irish tradition of hospitality, we work to create a safe and welcoming place for people from around the world who come to our Center and are actively committed to promoting anti-racism in our workplace and our classrooms.

For more information on the Rian Immigrant Center, please visit www.riancenter.org