Olga’s Story: Transition from Ukraine to the U.S.

by StreetWise Partners
December 11, 2023

Ukraine was Olga Potapova’s home. It’s where she lived and where she had a successful career as an accountant. But in December of 2022, she left her country to escape the war and came to the U.S.

Everything was brand new — the language, the culture, the job search. But that didn’t hold her back. “I am really open to learning new things,” says Olga. “I’m persistent and not afraid.”

With the support of StreetWise Partners, she learned the skills she needed to find a job in the U.S. and keep working in a career she loves. Here’s her story.

Starting from zero

When Olga left Ukraine, she had more than 20 years experience working as an accountant, but no work experience in the U.S. She wanted to find a job in her field but didn’t know where or how to begin.

“I had zero knowledge about anything here,” she says. “I was just starting to learn English and I didn’t have any experience with work in the USA. I was very concerned.”

Shortly after moving in with her daughter and son-in-law in Bethesda, Maryland, Olga heard about StreetWise Bridge, a free, one-year mentoring program to help people like her navigate the U.S. job market. She knew right away that it was exactly what she needed.

Dedicated skill-building and support

Olga applied to the StreetWise program and was accepted as part of the Spring 2023 cohort of mentees.

During the “Navigating the StreetWise Bridge” phase (which lasts 13 weeks), Olga met with her mentor, Brendan, twice a week to build critical job-preparation skills. She learned how to write an effective resume that highlighted her skills and background, and also worked with her mentor and other professionals to learn and practice interview skills in a real-world setting.

“My mentor’s professional experience was so helpful to me,” says Olga. “He was always encouraging me, telling me that even though I am new here I can find a job!”

He was right. When she graduated from her cohort, she had met all three goals she initially set with her mentor: to get certified in QuickBooks, to complete her English classes, and to find a job.

Landing her first job in the U.S.

With a strong resume, new job-seeking skills, and renewed confidence, Olga landed an entry-level role working as a bookkeeper soon after graduating from the mentorship program.

Her experience with StreetWise helped her feel less nervous and more prepared going into the interview. She had gained important skills — such as researching the company, learning about the people interviewing you, and keeping your answers short and focused on the role — all of which helped her stand out during the interview and receive an offer.

“Without StreetWise, it would have been really difficult to break into the professional world,” says Olga. “I am so grateful that the program exists and that I participated in it. It helped me understand the job search and get a job.”

Small steps lead to big dreams

Olga was happy to establish herself as a professional in the U.S. with the entry-level position, but after several months, was ready for her next step. She wanted to keep growing her career and find a role with greater responsibility, like she had in Ukraine.

Olga again put her job search and interview skills to use and applied for a role at a large, international company. After two successful interviews, she was hired as a junior accountant.

Olga says she loves her new role. She’s passionate about her field and sees this as a long-term opportunity where she can continue to get more experience, grow her accounting skills and responsibilities, and in parallel, pass the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam.

“If you have a dream,” says Olga, “you have to follow it, even though it will feel like many small steps to get there. It is possible to find a job that you really want in your field!”

Mentorship is “a treasure”

Olga appreciates the support she got from the StreetWise program and wants to help others realize the power of mentorship. She has already referred someone who is now enrolled as a mentee.

“I strongly recommend StreetWise to everyone,” she says. “It’s a treasure.”

Learn more about the StreetWise Bridge program and apply to be a mentee today!