Eventually a day laborer center passed him Upwardly Global's number.
Leu connected him with a mentor at Pacific Gas & Electric Co. who taught him the jargon and structure of the U.S. utilities industry. Staff helped him shorten and sharpen his pages-long resume. Leu ran him through half-dozen mock interviews, grilling him in cafes and over the phone.
When he landed an interview for a job as an electric rate analyst for the city of Roseville, he knew the industry and its regulations. He knew the terminology. And the modest, soft-spoken Hernandez could project the can-do attitude that would hook his prospective employers.
The day he got the job was one of his happiest since he arrived, he said.
"I'm part of this professional world again," he said.
For immigrants like Hernandez, having a job that fits their qualifications isn't just about getting a paycheck. It also allows them to reclaim their identity as professionals. After securing his position at Roseville Electric, Hernandez was able to build a life here that resembles the one he had at home. He owns his home, completed a second MBA, and has just earned his citizenship.
"This was what I'd dreamed of," he said. "Now I really feel I am part of this country."
Upwardly Global: http://www.upwardlyglobal.org/
JP Morgan Chase: http://www.jpmorganchase.com
Google: http://www.google.com/
- Associated Press
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