Meet Manar, an accountant and office manager from Egypt
From an office job in Alexandria, Egypt, to a hospital position in NYC.
What’s your name, where are you from, and how long have you been living in New York?
My name is Manar, and I am from Alexandria, Egypt. I have been living in New York for three years.
What was it like to try to find work in New York?
Finding a job was so hard. I used to work as an accountant and office manager back in Egypt. But when I moved here I realized that it won’t be easy to go back to my field or any other field of interest, so I decided to go from store to store to ask if they were hiring. I spent hours applying online for waitressing, cashier and front desk jobs.
The first job I got was as a waitress. I live in the Bronx but the job was in Brooklyn and my commute was more than three hours a day. I worked for 12 hours, 6 days a week while my husband, who was suffering from severe back pain, watched our 1-year-old daughter. My husband was a financial analyst in Egypt. After we left, he had to work in a deli and then for UBER as a driver.
How did you discover LEAD and what made you decide to join?
After the waitressing job, I worked for a fast food restaurant, then for a seasonal tax job. I wasn’t happy at all and was looking for organizations that might help. That’s when I happened to find New Women New Yorkers’ website, so I signed up for the LEAD program — I loved every moment of it. I didn’t know what I really wanted to do with my life. The program taught me that it’s okay to not know as long as you are doing your best. It helped me work on my resume and gave me the courage to speak up.
How did LEAD and other programs offered by New Women New Yorkers help you with your job search or other professional goals? Please share with us your successes since participating in LEAD.
Where I came from, things are done differently. We don’t network and we don’t talk much about our achievements, but here I am telling my story without thinking twice that I am bragging about myself.
I participated in many New Women New Yorkers events, field visits to workplaces, and mock interviews, receiving a lot of feedback. One of the field visits was to a nonprofit and a few of the organization’s employees encouraged us to check its website for jobs.
Once I got home, I looked at the website and while I couldn’t find a job for myself, they had a perfect job for my husband, in which he could use his experience from Egypt as a senior financial analyst. He applied and I contacted many people I met at that event and they were more than welcoming. And yes, he got the job!
On my end I am now working at Weill Cornell Hospital as a patient coordinator, which I am so happy about. I got my interview opportunity through New Women New Yorkers and it wasn’t the first job interview I got through New Women New Yorkers. Also, I am planning on pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work soon.
What do you do in your spare time, and what is your favorite place in NYC?
I enjoy spending time with my 4-year old daughter. When I first came, I used to live in the South Bronx so whenever I am there it feels like home. I realize how far I moved with my life.
What do you do when you miss home?
I cook Egyptian food when I miss home, I listen to ‘90s Arabic music — all the songs my sister and I enjoyed the most.
What is your favorite dish from your home country?
We have so many delicious recipes. Koshari is my favorite — it is made of rice, macaroni, and lentils mixed together, topped with a spiced tomato sauce and garlic vinegar, and garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions.
