Survivors of human trafficking face many barriers when working towards self-sufficiency, and one of the biggest hardships they face after leaving their trafficking situation is finding quality employment. Some survivors have criminal records due to their trafficking, gaps in their resume, and trauma that prevents them from being successful in the workplace. Without knowing their story and the struggles these individuals face, an employer might disregard a survivor’s resume without giving them a chance.
After exiting her trafficking situation, one survivor was hopping around from job to job. With many short-term jobs listed on her resume, she struggled to get interviews, as employers saw her as unreliable and irresponsible. Feeling discouraged and hopeless, close to giving up on her job search, the survivor received a call from a store manager, inviting her in for an interview. While meeting with the manager, trying hard not to get her hopes up, the survivor spoke honestly about her experiences and impressed the interviewers with her candor. They took a chance on a survivor with a rocky resume and ended up with a hard-working employee. The survivor has now been working at the store for a year, and her employer expresses regular appreciation for her dedication to the job.
As an employer, you have the unique opportunity to make an incredible contribution to the lives of survivors of human trafficking. These individuals bring resilience, new perspectives, and determination to the workplace, despite the traumatic experiences that they have lived through. To learn more about how you can support survivors of human trafficking and their reentry to the workforce, please reach out to learn more about our Employer Partnership Program.
Contact Kate, our Economic Empowerment Specialist, at kate.lapray@aau-slc.org
