Get a Job

Dear Gabacho,
I'm going to be speaking to a group of (Spanish speaking only) Mexican immigrants in a ski resort town in Colorado about applying for a job in the U.S. and preparing themselves to be interviewed for a job. What advice would you give to them?

Hiring in the High Country

Dear High,

Beside the usual advice of arriving on time, having a neat appearance, researching the company ahead of time, etc. I would stress that they speak about their previous experiences in Mexico, either through an interpreter or by translating their resume / letter of interest. It is important to realize that just because someone comes to the United States and cleans rooms does not mean that that is all that they know. I am constantly surprised at the diversity of experiences that immigrants have had and the utter lack of acknowledgement of those experiences on the part of the people that manage them at work.