“The migrants and refugees we work with are highly qualified, motivated and skilled. They just need a hand up” – Tye Gerrard, Macquarie Capital Investment Banker and Regional Opportunities Australia Mentor.
From the Philippines, Alvin came to Australia to seek better professional opportunities. After completing his Bachelor of Business, he searched for an analytics position; however, he found the employment process difficult, ultimately resulting in him working at a grocery store.
“The work culture is so different in Australia. I struggled with the application process and approached it without taking cultural context into consideration. My first interview did not go well.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Alvin was having an even harder time finding employment. He found Regional Opportunities Australia online and soon joined the mentorship program as a mentee.
Alvin was paired with Tye, an Investment Banker from Macquarie Capital who has been a long-time mentor to many of our clients and a member of ROA’s Board Steering Committee.
Tye, who believes people need to pair their career goals with contributions to their community, provides regular support to his mentees, including interview preparation, resume assistance, engagement with recruiters and emotional support. With Tye’s guidance and support, Alvin felt empowered to apply for a role at Uber as a Core Process Support Specialist, where he was delighted to receive and accept the job offer last August.
“I am able to use my skills and my knowledge better. When I was unemployed and I’d just graduated, I couldn’t really use my skills. I was trying to survive for six months through the pandemic before I landed this job.”
He credits his success to the help he received through our mentorship program.
“It helped me set my direction, and I put my trust in the process. Talking regularly with Tye helped elicit ideas and solutions, resulting in me securing a role at Uber. This has decreased my anxiety and moved me closer to my long-term career goals.”
ROA’s mentorship program also provides a sense of accomplishment for our mentors, as described by Tye:
“The work I do with ROA gives me a lot of personal fulfilment – I am extremely passionate about supporting migrants and refugees who are looking to establish themselves in Australia. My work with ROA also provides me with a broader perspective which I regularly apply to other areas of my life and work”.
“The migrants and refugees we work with are highly qualified, motivated and skilled. They just need a hand up” – Tye Gerrard, Macquarie Capital Investment Banker and Regional Opportunities Australia Mentor. Tye still keeps in touch with his past mentees; he continues to check in with Alvin, as pictured below, together in Sydney’s CBD.
When asked what advice he would offer to other mentees, Alvin replied:
“Keep on going, don’t stop and keep on improving yourself along the way. Don’t let any failures keep you down. Stay focused.”
