“Don't Give Up”: One Young Man's Journey from College to Career
Moses Ramos Lino is confident he’s on a path to success. He’s 23 and a sales development representative for LinkedIn. "I'm able to learn a lot from the best talent in the world,” he says,” and I'm excited for what's coming next.”
His journey was not always easy.
Moses immigrated to the United States from Honduras when he was 15. His mother, whom he calls “his favorite person in the world” stayed behind and he lived with his aunt and uncle. Entering high school was challenging. He struggled with the language and the culture. But he worked hard both at integrating into his new community and in his classes. It paid off - and then some. Moses got a full scholarship to Wagner College in Staten Island, NY where he graduated with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Economics and Civic Engagement.
But after graduation, Moses says he felt lost. He knew he needed to secure a job to help support his family in Honduras - and make them proud, but he lacked the information and skills to take the next step.
“I was very confused, given that I worked so hard for so many years, and at the end of the day, I didn't really have anything to show for it besides a [diploma], and I was doing interviews and it wasn't going well,” he says.
Moses was introduced to Basta by a supervisor while working as a college counsellor at his former high school. Through the Basta Fellowship, the organization helped him with his job applications, interviewing skills, career options, and networking. Basta works to create a bridge of opportunity between employers and first-generation college goers of color to increase knowledge workforce diversity at all levels. They actively work with employers to access untapped talent and work with graduates on their job search.
Moses had a lightbulb moment when several LinkedIn employees spoke to his Basta cohort about communicating effectively and optimizing their profiles. Moses reached out to the LinkedIn executives which led to a leadership program, and then a job. Basta’s partnership with LinkedIn is part of a wider strategy to both support first-gen students and build long-standing partnerships with employers who are committed to diversity in hiring. The nonprofit’s partnership with Bloomberg, for instance, has resulted in over 50 Basta Fellows working (and being promoted) there.
Moses was not alone in his challenges. First-generation students and students of color experience significantly higher rates of unemployment. Project Basta gave Moses an opportunity to explore career options he didn’t know were available - and he found a community of support. Now he’s passionate about giving back to other first-generation students and young immigrants. “...I see in (in them) the same struggles that I had,” he says. “I want to make it easier for them to communicate, learn, and to also just go through life, find a job, and be successful.”
Learn more about Basta.
