Julianna Borda joined CWS in December of 2006. She moved to the United States from Hungary a number of years ago, where she was an accountant. CWS is the first company she has worked for in this field.
How did you get started in this field?
I had been downsized at Unum and decided I didn’t want another office job. I wanted to be useful, do good in world by helping people who were in need.
What training did you have?
Company training and training on the job. I had good people around me and a cohesive team. I fit in right away.
What skills are essential to your job?
Being patient, good with people, understanding that different people need different approaches. In Independent Living, you have to be flexible with scheduling. It is not a 9-5 job.
What is a typical day on the job like?
Every day is different; you have to adjust to where the participants are that day. You have to come to work in a good mood and be compassionate. Participants’ lives have a certain structure. You have to know them, what they have to do, when they do it, and how they do it.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
The flexibility it provides. There is a certain freedom because you aren’t tied to one location. You get to go to different places, see different people, and do different things. Every day and every week you do something different.
What’s the greatest challenge?
The freedom – sometimes the freedom limits you. The schedule is always different and sometimes you want it to be more stable. You may really be looking forward to doing one thing and something happens and you have to do something else. Constant change is challenging.
What kind of person succeeds in the job?
One who understands people’s needs, is kind and compassionate. You have to be independent – you can usually count on your team, but sometimes no one is around and you have to make good judgments about how to proceed. You have to be confident when you make a decision.
What advice would you offer to someone interested in a job or career in this field?
Take this job only if you have the qualities I’ve mentioned. You have to be patient, work hard, prove yourself to be a good fit. And you have to be easygoing.