Anh balances her accounting career and childcare as her family starts anew in the U.S.
Anh had to take some time off of work. In 2017, she relocated from Vietnam to Dallas, Texas, and in the following years, she welcomed her two daughters into the world. Upon arrival, she found herself immersed in the role of a stay-at-home mom, while her husband, whose job prompted the move to the U.S., took care of the bills.
“When I came here, I started a new life with a lot of challenges,” Anh says. “With a Vietnamese education, not in the U.S., I got [into] some trouble when I applied for jobs.”
Looking for a family-supporting job on her own
Following a recent separation from her husband, 33-year-old Anh now largely shoulders the responsibility for her young daughters, aged 3 and 5. Finding employment and securing affordable childcare quickly became her top priorities, despite her five-year hiatus from the workforce.
In Hanoi, Vietnam, Anh had worked for over three years in research and development for a company that produced solar panels. Her parents, who were farmers and factory workers, provided her with a solid foundation, enabling her to pursue a bachelor’s in physics and electrical engineering.
However, in the U.S., Anh found that her previous degrees and experience would count for nothing without the right support. Upwardly Global’s Career Coaching Program was popular within her Vietnamese community Facebook groups, and she knew that their structured support system could lift her back into her career.
With the assistance of her job coach, Kara, she honed her English skills, received guidance on resume and cover letter building, and was presented with ample job openings.
“I sent my paperwork and quickly got a response from Upwardly Global,” she says. “I feel I was lucky to when I help from Upwardly Global. My job coach helped me to apply for specific jobs, and they helped me improve my professional skills — technical and soft skills.”
“[My job coach] helped me prepare my resume and cover letter, and after that, she encouraged me to apply for jobs. She sent me the exact links and told me to apply for [them] because the requirements fit,” says Anh. “She encouraged me, saying, ‘No worries, just apply. Don’t limit yourself. Don’t be shy.’”
Juggling her new thriving-wage job with childcare
By April of 2023, Anh successfully landed a job as an Accountant with a business consultancy based in Florida, working remotely. She had previously taken on a data entry job at a tax office in Dallas, which only paid $11 per hour. This new role provides her $55,000 with benefits.
However, the juggling act between work and parenting poses its own challenges, as this full-time job also required full-time childcare for her two children.
“I really have to manage my time and talk to my manager about my kids’ schedules,” Anh says. Although her 5-year-old started public school last fall, her youngest is still in daycare, which cuts $1,000 from her paycheck each month.
“Upwardly Global introduced me to a bigger community, helped me land a better job with a high salary, and [now,] I have more time to play with my kids,” Anh says. She hopes to one day reskill as a data analyst and earn an even higher salary for her daughters.
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