International Professionals Program
Do you qualify for IPP?
Are you a foreign-educated professional seeking meaningful employment?
If you are unemployed or underemployed, live in Philadelphia, and have work-authorization, join our program designed to build the skills you need to secure professional employment in the U.S.
After 8 weeks of intensive training, you will have the skills and confidence to apply to and interview for professional jobs. For an additional 6 months, you will work closely with our team to connect to employment opportunities and we will provide career coaching along the way. Some of the subjects covered: resume writing, researching employers and applying for jobs, interviewing successfully, building a professional network, and designing an action plan for your career.
Hesitating on whether you should apply for IPP? Or not sure if you qualify? Don’t worry! Fill out the IPP application form and we will get in touch with you.
If you do not qualify for IPP but you are looking for a job or a better job, please contact us by filling out this form.
About IPP
IPP addresses brain waste in Philadelphia. More than 40% of the immigrants seeking our services have at least a college degree from their home countries. Many are unemployed or underemployed, working in low-wage jobs. This program is helping highly skilled immigrants actualize their full potential and informing the emerging field of skilled immigrant integration on a national level.
The Welcoming Center is one of only a handful of organizations in the U.S. addressing the issue of skilled immigrant integration, and IPP is the only program in the tristate region of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. IPP is funded by Philadelphia Works Inc.
Watch IPP graduate, Yulia, talk about why she joined IPP and how the program helped her.
“I am so grateful for IPP as now I have started working full time in the city in a professional role. I enjoy creative problem solving and really appreciate the impact I have had at my workplace.”
—Dominika, International Professionals Program graduate
Immigrant Fellowship Program
The Immigrant Fellowship Program (IFP) connects IPP graduates with employers for short-term, paid experiences in a variety of industries and professions. Through IFP, IPP graduates have meaningful U.S. work experience in their field, combating an often-insurmountable hurdle to a professional career path.
The Fellowship program offers 12-weeks of full-time, paid work experience for graduates of IPP and ongoing coaching and support from TWC to fellows and employer partners throughout the 12 weeks.
If you are an employer interested in increasing your access to diverse talent and learning more about hosting a fellow, learn more about our opportunities for employers.
The Welcoming Center and Department Commerce staff with City fellows (seated left to right): Annelyn Grellier (Innovation & Technology), Aichetou Soumaré (Commerce), Yaniv Gal (Licenses & Inspections), Pierre-Olivier Lugez (Commerce).
We have also published various career guides for international professionals. Check out our Publications section to read more.