Employment

LRS Employment Services

"Serving Children and Families in Need"

My name is Selma Onal and I am the Job Developer at Lutheran Refugee Services. Our clients are refugees and asylees who are seeking to gain employment and achieve self-sufficiency in the United States.

Who is a Refugee?

Refugee is the specific term for any person who has been interviewed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and authorized to come to the United States permanently because the person is unable to return to his or her country of nationality because of fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Refugees are legal aliens.

Refugees have a vast array of skills, education and experience. Some of these skills include construction, welding, computers, nursing and engineering. Overall they are highly motivated, hard working, productive and dedicated workers.

Refugees Are Work Authorized

Refugees are authorized to work upon arrival in the United States. Once a refugee has obtained a social security card, he or she may obtain employment. The INS document which establishes a refugee’s right to work is known as an I-94 Card. A refugee does not need to obtain an Employment Authorization Form I-766 Card. Once a refugee has been in the United States for one year the refugee may apply for a Permanent Resident Alien Card (Green Card).

Overcoming the Language Barrier

The English level of refugees is varied, ranging from no English to being fluent in speaking, reading and writing. Over the years employers who have hired refugees through our agency have discovered that limited English is not an insurmountable barrier to refugees becoming valuable employees for their companies. Our Agency has worked with employers in finding creative ways of overcoming the language barrier.

Strategies for overcoming the language barrier include:

· Interpreting services

· The placement of a bi-lingual refugee who can then serve as an interpreter for other refugees hired from the same language group,

· Job shadowing by bilingual staff to explain essential job duties,

· Reviewing job functions to determine if speaking English is truly critical to the job or how job might be altered to minimize need for English,

· Development of on-site English As A Second Language classes.

If you have employment opportunities and want to find good, reliable workers, please give our agency a call and see how the Lutheran Refugee Services may be able to meet your needs. Selma Onal, Job Developer, would be happy to further discuss our agency and client resources with you.

Top Reasons to Hire Your Next Employee Through Lutheran Children and Family Service!

· Immediate satisfaction ! We have pre-screened, qualified candidates ready to go to work. With one phone call we can fill your openings.

· Find workers with the skills you need! Refugees arrive with a wide variety of skills, from professionals to factory workers. Let us find the right worker for you.

· Increase your productivity! Our refugee population brings with them a tremendous work ethic.

· Save money! No need to pay for expensive advertising; simply call us with your work order.

· Cultural Diversity! Increase the diversity of your staff by adding workers from around the world.

· No paperwork hassles! We will complete your company’s new-hire paperwork and photocopy all necessary documentation.

· No training hassles! We will assist your training and orientation programs, if needed.

· Interpreters! We can provide an Interpreter for the initial training period (average 1-2 days).

· Our Services are FREE!

Please contact our job developer for more information:

Selma Onal

123 E. Vine Street

Lancaster, PA 17602

Office:  717-397-4757

Cell: 570-239-5471

selmao@lcfsinpa.org