Great news for the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, the University City District’s program providing job training and job interview opportunities to West Philadelphia residents by connecting them with local employers. The program has recently received a major grant – $600,000 – from the Pew Charitable Trusts. The grant will help the Skills Initiative to expand its reach and impact in the area.

The nationally-acclaimed program, which recently turned 5 years old, boasts a 90 percent job placement rate for its graduates and has helped hundreds of unemployed West Philly residents since its inception in 2011. The Pew grant is the largest ever in the program’s history and is essential to its efforts to significantly grow its capacity over the next three years. These plans include expanding the number of program participants, both trainees and employers, and employment opportunities.

The program’s goal is to serve 500 individuals annually by the end of 2021.

For more information about the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative and current opportunities for job seekers, visit: www.universitycity.org/wpsi.

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) has begun its competitive lifeguard recruitment process for the summer. PPR hires 400 lifeguards annually to staff its 70 outdoor and four indoor pools (read our earlier post here).

This is a great summer job for young people because it pays between $12.33 and $14.60 an hour and most people are able to work in their own neighborhood. PPR staff can even assist interested candidates that may not be the strong swimmers, if they start the process early.

The first step for interested candidates is to attend a screening at one of PPR’s three indoor training facilities during the following screening days and times from now until June:  Continue Reading

University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) continues offering job training and employment opportunities to West Philly residents. Now through March 24, WPSI is recruiting for a training program with Green City Works, University City District’s in-house landscaping operation.

WPSI is seeking applicants who possess a high school diploma or GED, are currently unemployed, and live in the West Philadelphia zip codes of 19104, 19131, 19139, 19143, or 19151. WPSI is seeking applicants with a track record of excellence in landscaping or related fields.

In addition to learning the skills needed to successfully connect to employment, program graduates are guaranteed an interview with the employer and receive a performance-based stipend during the training.

Interested applicants can visit www.westphiladelphiaskill.org to learn more about the program and submit an application, available under “Opportunities for Job Seekers.” Applications are also available here. Paper applications are available at First District Plaza, Suite 206 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The application deadline is March 24 at 5 p.m.

The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, the program of the University City District that connects West Philly employers seeking talent with West Philadelphians looking for opportunity, is currently recruiting residents for a training program with Allied Universal, one of the largest providers of security services in North America.

The program is seeking applicants who possess a high school diploma or GED, are currently unemployed, and live in the zip codes of 19104, 19131, 19139, 19143, or 19151. Applicants should have experience working in security, customer service, or related fields.

Program graduates are guaranteed an interview with Allied Universal. The participants will receive a performance-based stipend during the training and will learn the skills needed to successfully connect to employment and a fulfilling career path.  Continue Reading

Here’s a summer job opportunity for young West Philly men and women who can swim or are willing to learn to swim. The Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation has launched its 2017 Lifeguard Recruitment Campaign and will begin its competitive lifeguard recruitment process this month.

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process early in order to have enough time to pass the required screening and lifeguard training course. Parks and Rec staff is also able to provide beginner-level swimmers that apply early with assistance in preparing for the screening. The lifeguard position pays a competitive wage of $12.33 to $14.60 an hour.

Parks and Rec hires 400 lifeguards annually to patrol its 70 outdoor pools and four indoor pools, and there are a lot of West Philly pools that need lifeguards (Pictured: Kelly Pool in West Fairmount Park). The first step for interested candidates is to attend a screening at one of three indoor training facilities during the following screening days and times beginning now through June:  Continue Reading

Representatives from the City of Philadelphia, SEPTA, the University City District – West Philly Skills Initiative, USciences, Verizon, PeopleShare and more will present full-time, part-time and seasonal job openings at an upcoming Community Job Fair, which will take place on Saturday, May 21, at University of the Sciences.

Candidates of all ages and experience levels are welcome to attend the event, which is free and open to the public.

The following career services workshops will also be held during the morning and afternoon:

• Interview skills
• Resume writing
• Job searching and sourcing
• Applying online

The job fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at McNeil Science and Technology Center at 45th St. and Woodland Ave. (No. 20 on the campus map).

For more information, visit: usciences.edu/jobfair