ABOUT

Welcome to the Job Seeker Map, a tool that provides information about resources, programs and agencies who help job seekers. This tool was created to help all residents who live in South Central Kentucky, but it is intended to help immigrants and refugees of all ages who speak different languages connect to employment and education professionals at local programs and services. This guide is maintained by the South Central Workforce Development Board–a government organization that helps employers meet their current and future workforce needs and helps workers gain skills for employment opportunities. 

ADVICE FOR JOB SEEKERS

We have very good news for individuals looking to get a good job. South Central Kentucky has many services that can help you!

This Job Seeker Map can point you in a direction that you want to go. Just like traveling to a faraway place, it may take time to arrive exactly where you would like to be. For example, if you wanted to travel somewhere and there was a mountain, you would need to know what routes are available to help you go around or over the mountain. For many refugees and immigrants who were not born in the United States, knowing how the US systems work, how you can have a better future, how you can use skills you may already have, and learning English may seem like mountains. Our hope is that this Map can connect you to a professional person or caseworker quickly and easily so they can give you the best advice based on your situation.  

A professional can guide you and maybe walk along with you on your journey. The caseworker may recommend that you do two steps at the same time. These could include getting a job that you do temporarily to pay your bills, while also enrolling in English or ESL classes so you have better job opportunities in the future. It could also be going to a school or training program to earn a degree while you work. It may mean that you take a job and work now while you get your education or degree formally verified so you can practice what you learned in your home country. Many of the professionals who work at the offices listed in this Job Seeker Map work together and help their clients. Even if you contact one office, they may recommend that you work with another office, and they will connect you to those offices.

In the US, usually the best paying jobs require getting the highest levels of education and require the highest levels of English skills. However, there are more and more opportunities to also start with one job at a company and progress to better jobs within the same company after you have more experience. 

Each person’s situation will be different, that is why it is best to have a meeting with a professional to get the best advice for you. Some offices provide services for free. There is not a cost you pay with money. The cost you will pay will be with your time, effort and focus to complete the steps and also to be a great employee at the company where you work. 

All of the offices in this Map exist to help make your life in the US better. The Map offers simple information for each office. We highly encourage you to contact the offices directly either by phone or by selecting the orange box in the bottom right section of the screen. If you select the orange box, a separate screen will appear and you will need to provide contact information and answer some questions about yourself. A professional from that program will follow up with you soon.