Ranbir Singh left India in 1999 and arrived in the United States in search of greater opportunities for himself and his family. Ranbir had relatives in the Seattle area who helped him get a job in an Indian restaurant, where he worked for nearly 5 years. During this time, Ranbir worked diligently on his English skills while preparing to bring his family over to live with him. Although Ranbir’s restaurant job supported him while he acclimated to his new country, Ranbir’s ultimate goal was a career with better pay, benefits, and opportunities for advancement.

In India, Ranbir was an established businessman who owned two factories. He wanted to continue his career in production in the U.S., but like many immigrants, Ranbir felt that his options were limited – until he learned about Seattle Jobs Initiative’s manufacturing program.

In the spring of 2004, Ranbir entered the 3-month training program, and began learning skills such as flame cutting and basic wire-feed welding. John Todd, welding instructor at South Seattle Community College remembers Ranbir as “a very smart, helpful, friendly student” who “was always on time.”

Ranbir is now a welder for Genie Industries in Redmond, where he makes $15 per hour. His supervisor is happy to have such a great fit and says that Ranbir is a “very enthusiastic team player.” For the first time since arriving in this country, Ranbir is enjoying an exciting career with regular wage increases and many opportunities for advancement.

“I have all the benefits now – medical, paid vacation, 401(k) plan,” says Ranbir, proudly. “It feels very good.”

Perhaps even more importantly, Ranbir is financially stable enough to bring his family over and expects to have them near by the end of the year.

Return To Success Stories