Santa Clara University


Center for Employment Training (CET)

Center for Employment Training (CET) is a private non-profit organization.Their mission is to fight poverty and dependence on public aid by making a variety of skill-training programs available to adults of all ages, backgrounds, and educational levels. CET wants to help people become self-sufficient by offering them supportive services and by finding them a job that will pay enough to fulfill their basic human needs.

CET was founded in 1967, when there was heightened political and social activism across the nation. A group of citizens, who are now the founding fathers of CET, wanted to organize and establish a job-training center for the working poor and low-income people in East San Jose.

As time went on, CET gained a national reputation for exceptional outcomes. Compared to other training programs, CET had higher job placement rates, higher earnings, and higher retention rates. Due to this success, in 1990, President George H.W. Bush awarded CET funds to replicate its program model in other states. CET currently has seventeen centers nationwide; each center offers a variety of skills that students can enroll in. CET's program model has succeeded in other countries as well. Currently there are international CET centers in Chile and Belize.

The CET headquarters in downtown San Jose offers more skills than any other center. There are a total of nine distinct programs. The Industrial Relations office in San Jose is known nationwide for its excellent work in job placement for their students. They do everything from putting on job fairs, working on resumes and cover letters, and constantly creating relationships with local businesses.

See CET's Facebook page for more information.

CET TrainingCET Medical

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