Refugee Employment Services

The Refugee Employment Program is designed to bring Bay Area employers and refugees together, matching employers with candidates who are hard-working, and providing refugees with employment opportunities and support services to help them integrate into American life.

CCEB’s Refugee Employment Program has been training refugees, building strong networks with employers and matching clients to employers for more than 25 years, serving more than 11,000 refugees and hundreds of employers.

Services provided for refugees

• Employment counseling
• Job preparation workshops (covering topics such as work expectations in the USA, interview skills, public transportation/directions, job applications, pay checks and budgeting, worker’s rights, and safety, and cultural adjustment issues)
• Vocational English as a Second Language classes
• Financial Assistance for transportation, vocational training, and other employment-related expenses
• Job development
• Job placement
• Follow-up Services

Many refugees referred to the Refugee Employment Program have previously received services through CCEB’s Refugee Resettlement Program. At a time in their lives when they are adjusting to life in a new culture, the sense of continuity they receive is invaluable. All of Refugee Employment staff are former refugees themselves, and thus bring a special sensitivity to the needs, fears, and hopes of current refugees.

Refugees are eligible for employment services if they have been in the United States for less than 5 years and are residents of Alameda County.

Refugees make excellent employees!

The Refugee Employment Program is the employer’s link to an outstanding pool of employees. The program carefully screens and refers the most qualified candidates to meet the employer’s needs. Because refugees have had to leave their homeland because of ethnic, religious, or political persecution, they are hard-working and determined to succeed, and are excellent employee candidates.

Services provided for Employers:

• Carefully screen all candidates
• Refer the most qualified candidates to meet the employer’s need
• Provide supportive services to the new employee after job placement as needed

CCEB takes full advantage of its strong employer networks built over two decades of service in Alameda County. We depend on employers for continuous input into our training and for information about new industry trends.

For more information, call 510.768.3164

Contact: Soonkay Tzeo

Funding for the Refugee Employment Program is provided by Alameda County and private donors.