Highly skilled refugees are unique from other refugees as they often arrive to the U.S. with higher levels of education, advanced English language ability, or extensive training and experience in a particular occupation. Resettlement sites that see smaller numbers of highly skilled refugees tend to find themselves in unfamiliar territory, without the availability of job upgrade programs or experience in long-term goal setting. Higher is sharing resources that can help sites with limited numbers assist highly skilled refugees in obtaining employment that matches their skill level or, ideally, in their previous field.
Foreign Degree Certification
- World Education Services (WES) can assist applicants with credential evaluation, degree equivalency, and even has a scholarship finder.
Job Readiness & Education
- Higher’s Online Learning Institute is our free online system with courses designed for refugee employment staff and job readiness instructors, many of which refugees could take on their own to reiterate coursework and practice skills needed for the American workplace.
- Upwardly Global provides career development programming for SIVs, immigrants, and refugees who were professionals in their home countries.
- WES Global Talent Bridge assists community organizations and public agencies that support skilled immigrants with tools, training and other resources.
- Utilize volunteers in your community to support job readiness classes, career mentors, in-home tutoring for spouses, access to childcare, transportation orientations, and more.
Job Development
- Send potential employers the TENT US Employers’ Guide to Hiring Refugees to provide additional information on refugee resettlement.
- For information on your local job market, utilize Higher’s Guide to Labor Market Information for Refugee Employment Programs to be informed of employers in your area based on location, wage, and future projections of particular industries.
- Higher’s Blog has many posts on best practices in different employment-based programs from sites throughout the country that can be used to create new services in your area.
- Baltimore Healthcare Apprenticeships
- Women Centered Employment Programming
- Colorado CAREERS Program: Apprenticeships for Highly-Skilled Refugees
- Career Pathway to Nursing in Minnesota
- WES Pilot Provides Alternative Credential Assessments for Syrian Refugees
- Support for Refugee and Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley
- A Focused Approach on Job Upgrades and Skills Certifications
- When Serving Highly Skilled Refugees, You Don’t Need to Re-invent the Wheel
- 3 Ways to Empower Highly Skilled Clients
- Alternative Pathways for Highly Skilled Refugees
What are some unique approaches you use with highly skilled refugees? Share with us at [email protected].
Leave a Comment