Professional Mentors

One of the biggest challenges asylum seekers face as they rebuild their lives in the United States is finding meaningful employment. Our hope is that with your help, TASSC survivors can begin to see the light at the end of a very long tunnel toward their professional goals.

TASSC’s Professional Mentor Program

TASSC Survivors include extremely educated and skilled individuals, coming from a variety of professional backgrounds. Despite their professional backgrounds and US laws that guarantee asylum seekers the right to work, most cannot find work in their fields and are often forced to accept low-wage unskilled jobs. This takes a significant toll on their sense of self-worth, belonging and purpose, and can negatively impact successful resettlement. At the same time, it deprives employers and the larger community from leveraging the unique abilities of these highly-skilled and incredibly motivated immigrants.

Through TASSC’s Professional Mentor Program, we pair Survivors with local professionals living in the DMV who want to help survivors set career goals, navigate the US job market, network, and get back into their professional fields. Volunteer mentors are recruited on a rolling basis – we seek compassionate, creative professional volunteer mentors who can be part of a 4-6 month professional mentorship with a TASSC mentee. We seek individuals who either work in, or have strong connections or knowledge in a variety of professions. We are also open to professionals who would like to offer broader professional mentorship.

Requirements

we ask that volunteer mentors meet the following requirements:

  • Participate in a program orientation with TASSC staff 

  • Connect with your mentee within two weeks of completing the orientation 

  • Over the course of 4-6 months, communicate regularly with your mentee related to the following topics:

    • Resume creation and improvement

    • Credential requirements for their profession

    • Job and educational opportunities

    • Networking to market skills and experience

    • Professional etiquette in virtual environments 

  • Provide monthly updates on mentorship progress to TASSC's Career Development Coordinator 

Qualifications

we seek mentors with the following qualifications:

  • Active dedication to volunteer work and successful completion of the professional mentorship program; 

  • Current professional with at least 2 years of experience in the workforce;

  • Outstanding relational, follow-through, oral and written communication skills;

  • Passion for TASSC mission and vision, and desire to improve the lives of others;

  • Commitment to TASSC’s strengths-based service model; and,

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook; Internet and other research tools.

Benefits

Our hope is that mentors will benefit from the mentorship in ways including, but not limited to:

  • Networking with like-minded professionals;

  • Exposure to survivors with a variety of cultural and professional distinctions;

  • Opportunity to contribute to survivors’ efforts to rebuild their lives;

  • Gain knowledge of issues relevant to survivors of torture; and,

  • Participation in TASSC’s efforts to offer integrated and holistic services to our client population.

How to Apply

  1. send a resume and brief email detailing why you are interested in this opportunity to career development Coordinator, Mireille makambo, at mireille@tassc.org

  2. IF SELECTED, PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF OUR NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS

*All engagement with TASSC staff and mentees through the TASSC mentorship program may be conducted either virtually or in-person when appropriate and in line with local health and safety guidelines, depending on the preference of participants.