Raj Rai has been driven by a passion for helping others for as long as she can remember. As a child of Panjabi immigrants, she entered kindergarten without knowing any English. Like many first-generation students, she spent years figuring out through trial and error, making mistakes and learning what works thanks to those around her who helped her along the way.
Wanting to find a way to give back, she dreamed of becoming an English teacher and pursued that goal at San José State University before realizing that a degree in communications would better align with her ambitions.
Rai found her calling in 2020 when she joined the Tri-Cities Career Center as an employer and entrepreneurial intern. Today, she serves as interim program manager, leading a team of nine to help individuals navigate today’s challenging job market.
Many people assume the center is only for enrolled Ohlone College students, when its services are available to anyone in Alameda County. Others believe it only offers entry-level opportunities, but the center works with companies across the region to fill positions at all experience levels. Perhaps most surprising to some is that all services are completely free, including resume writing, mock interviews, paid training opportunities and more.
The past few years have been especially difficult for job seekers. The covid-19 pandemic caused widespread job loss and forced many career fairs to move online or be canceled altogether. Rai quickly noticed how deeply job seekers and employers alike missed face-to-face interaction, which is why the center is also prioritizing the return of in-person job fairs.
Community members can contact Raj Rai at Ca**********@****ne.edu or visit Ohlone College’s Newark office Thursdays from 11am to 12pm. More information at ohlone.edu/careercenter.
