FOCUS ON CAREERS : Programs Offer Avenues to Improving Job Chances

When Osmin Alfaro arrived in the United States from El Salvador in 1988, he had a simple goal in mind: to get a high school diploma.

While attending high school in San Pedro, however, he was harassed by gang members, who “made my life impossible,” Alfaro recalled.

Alfaro said he was ready to drop out when a counselor suggested he transfer to an adult school. At age 19, he enrolled at the Friedman Occupational Center, a downtown public adult school administered by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

There, he studied for the General Education Development test, took it in Spanish and received the same certificate awarded to those who take the test in English. The GED certificate is considered a near equivalent of a high school diploma.

In January, Alfaro received another certificate for finishing an auto repair course at the school. This helped him gain a full-time job at Sears Automotive Center in Torrance, where he had been working part time, and he was promoted to supervisor of the battery department.

“I don’t even want to think about what I would have done if I would have stayed out of school,” Alfaro said. “My friends (who didn’t receive special training) are working (as busboys), things like that.”

Adult school is one of many options for individuals such as Alfaro who have not completed their high school degrees but who wish to increase their chances of getting a better job.

The following suggestions cover some of the more accessible programs for those who want to improve their job skills. The telephone numbers listed have bilingual people taking calls, unless otherwise indicated. The numbers normally operate Monday through Friday during business hours:

- Improving your English . The ability to communicate clearly in English is considered a vital asset in almost all jobs.

Community adult schools and community colleges sponsor free English as a Second Language classes that are designed to fulfill the history and English requirements of the amnesty program established by the 1986 immigration law. These schools also offer basic English courses and the use of individualized instruction labs for self-paced study.

Public libraries offers self-study programs, videotapes, reading materials and tutoring.

For information, call the Los Angeles County Library: (800) 372-6641, or Los Angeles Unified School District: (213) 625-3276.

- Basic education courses. Basic skills in reading and math can be a foundation for training in other fields and holding a high school diploma or the equivalent GED certificate can enhance job opportunities.

Community adult schools and community colleges offer GED classes and the test in Spanish. The GED can be applied to a diploma, which requires additional course work in English.

These courses are offered at a very low cost. Call (213) 625-3276 for information on adult schools; (213) 891-2116 (English) or (213) 891-2183 (Spanish) for the Los Angeles Community College District; or (916) 445-8752 (English line only) for information on community colleges in other areas.

- Public vocational schools. Administered by adult schools and community colleges, they offer a wide spectrum of training, from nursing and welding to cosmetology and airplane mechanics. Adult schools generally charge between $35 and $100 for courses taking up to 30 hours a week. Students should be at least somewhat proficient in English and can enroll at any time if they are at least 16 years old.

Community colleges charge low fees only to amnesty candidates or California residents who have been living in the state for at least one year: $5 per unit up to a $50 per semester maximum. Non-residents pay about $100 per unit with no maximum fee. The colleges also offer advanced vocational training leading to a two-year associate of science degree.

- Private vocational schools. These generally charge between $750 to $4,000 a semester for a full-time program. Unlike the public schools, some conduct classes in Spanish. Most provide accelerated programs, but some trade schools may take longer and cost more than it would to earn a four-year college degree. Students are encouraged to enroll in less expensive community college courses if possible.

Once a student has settled on a career and thinks trade school is the best route, he or she should contact employers in that field to see which trade schools they recommend, then try to talk with current and former students of those schools about the training they received. State experts say students should not enroll on a first visit to a school; they should take the catalogue and contract home and do background checks before committing to a program.

- Financial aid. Some federal funds are available for low-income people with U.S. legal status. Grants are also available for transportation, clothing and child care under the federal Job Training Partnership Act. To qualify, students must attend private schools accredited and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

- Training programs: Community-based organizations or nonprofit groups, such as the Mexican American Opportunities Foundation, administer federal job training funds and provide intensive skills training and job placement programs for low-income people who qualify. For more information on federally funded vocational programs, call (800) 367-2562 (English).

- Continuing education courses . These programs are generally taught on evenings and weekends to accommodate the working person. Classes taken for credit can sometimes be applied to a certificate of completion.

UCLA Extension provides courses throughout the Los Angeles area, usually nine to 12 weeks long and costing from $175 to $325. Its minority scholarship program, “SEED,” provides 90% scholarships to students with a community sponsor willing to pay the other 10% of tuition. Call (213) 9971 or (818) 784-7006.