In a survey conducted among Chinese New Yorkers last year, Documented asked them, “What did you wish you knew when you first arrived?” Twenty-two percent of the respondents said they wanted to know information related to job opportunities and job training.
Also Read: Immigrant New Yorkers Share What They Needed When They First Arrived in NYC
For many immigrants, acquiring vocational skills that will enable them to settle in the United States is a priority. The New York City and New York State governments provide services and resources to help residents, including immigrants, improve their skills and find employment. There are several organizations in the Chinese community that provide job training programs for Chinese immigrants. This article introduces you to job training resources for Chinese immigrants.
New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) career services
The New York City Department of Small Business Services offers a range of services such as job postings, job training, and career development in New York City.
Workforce1 Job Center: This center offers free online or offline services including job listings, recruitment events and job search resources, resume and interview workshops and job training.
If you would like to access the above services, you must meet three requirements: be a New York City resident, be 18 years or older, and be approved to legally work in the United States. You can make an appointment by filling out the online form, or check this map to visit your nearest Workforce1 career center. Details are available on this page. Current job postings and requirements can be found here.
Access Training: Related training can provide you with the education and experience you need to get a job or advance in your career. The program uses industry research to design training programs to ensure that the skills you learn are what employers want. The program offers training programs for in-demand occupations such as healthcare, construction, and data analytics at various locations across the city.
To participate in the training program or qualify for an Individual Training Grant (ITG), you must meet the following requirements: be 18 years of age or older, be a New York City resident, be legally able to work in the U.S., and meet all federal selective service requirements. If currently employed, you must earn less than $63,925 per year. Some programs may have additional requirements.
For more information, visit this website. You can also email training-02@sbs.nyc.gov or call 929-417-0473.
Career Discovery NYC: This program helps you learn about specific industries and the skills you need to get a job in those industries. If you are interested in one of those careers, you can get free online training through the program.
New York State Professional Pathways for high-skilled immigrants
This New York State-funded program expands job search services for highly skilled immigrants by providing free professional training and job placement to help new immigrants find jobs that match their skills and experience. Services include career coaching for new immigrants from culturally and professionally diverse backgrounds; industry-specific training, such as preparation for technical or professional training or relicensing; and job search support, with job coaches available for other needs, including the credential evaluation process.
To qualify for these services, you must meet the following requirements: have been in the U.S. for no more than ten years, have an intermediate or advanced level of English proficiency, be a resident of New York State, and have a work authorization and a visa or status from this list.
Immigrants can also get job search help at the Office for New Americans. The organization’s job coach is available in NYC at Upwardly Global, 505 8th Ave., Suite 1100, New York, NY 10018. They can also call the New Americans Hotline at 800-566-7636, which operates from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Job training resources for undocumented immigrants
Many of New York City’s free job training resources require participants to have authorization to legally work in the United States. But New York City announced in March that it would establish the Office of Asylum Seeker Operations (OASO) to help asylum seekers arriving in New York City settle in as quickly as possible and be matched with resources related to employment, schooling, and more. Under the plan, the city would partner with the State University of New York at Sullivan (SUNY Sullivan) on a pilot program to provide job training and housing for undocumented immigrants waiting for work permits. The program provides school housing for 100 asylum seekers who can receive workforce training as they move through the federal work authorization process.
Make the Road New York offers food handlers certification and health job training programs for members and non-members. Programs include the 17-week Bridge to Health Careers training, the biannual Community Health Worker Training, and Food Handlers Certification training courses in Brooklyn and Queens. Click here for more information and to fill out an online application. You can change your language to English at the top of the page. The addresses and contact information for the five borough offices can be found here.
Job training resources for Chinese immigrants
Chinese-American Planning Council is the largest Asian American social services organization in the U.S. and provides services to 60,000 individuals and families in helping them achieve their educational, family, community and career goals. Its community and economic empowerment programs provide career services such as BuildingWorks pre-apprenticeship training program, career center, intern and earn program and senior community service employment program.
Website: https://www.cpc-nyc.org/programs/community-economic-empowerment
Address: 150 Elizabeth St., New York, NY 10012
Email: info@cpc-nyc.org
Phone: 212-941-0920
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPC.NYC
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cpc_nyc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cpc_nyc/
Chinatown Manpower Project (CMP) provides job training, employment services, educational programs, and economic development opportunities for vulnerable immigrants and refugees in New York City. With the support of private and public funding, CMP helps individuals take full advantage of all opportunities to succeed in their new environment. It has been expanding its constituencies and scope of services, which include career counseling and job placement, English as a second language (ESL) classes, youth programs, high-tech computer training and business development projects.
Address: 55 Chrystie St., 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10002
Email: info@cmpny.org
Phone:
General inquiries: 212-571-1690
Small Business Assistance: 212-571-1698
Adult Literacy Program & Train and Earn: 646-292-9680
Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), Work Learn and Grow (WLG), Opportunity Youth (NDA) Opportunity Youth, and other youth internship programs: 646-292-9679
Founded in 1988, the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association is a community-based not-for-profit human service organization in response to the expanding needs of the Asian-American populations in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park, Borough Park, and Bay Ridge neighborhoods. Employment services offered include vocational-technical courses such as completing individual job search resumes, job interviewing and job search skills.
Address: 4204 8th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232
Phone: 718-438-0008
Founded in 1974 in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization advocating for equal rights. Over the past four decades, AAFE has gradually transformed itself into one of New York City’s leading housing, social service and community development organizations. The AAFE’s Renaissance Economic Development Corporation offers small business loans, group training, internet marketing courses, one-on-one business advisory and more.
Manhattan office: 2 Allen St., Suite 7A, New York, NY 10002. Phone: 212-979-8381.
Flushing office: 133-29 41st Ave., Flushing, NY 11355. Phone: 718-961-0888.
Email: Info@renaissance-ny.org
