The NY area is hard up for officers right now. It should be easy to find work.
You can either take the apprentice steersman exam or get 500grt and a TOAR. You will definitely have to deck before you can get in the wheelhouse. There are very good reasons for that.
A lot of companies will hire you if you have the slightest inkling of license/wheelhouse potential. You would be surprised how many people cannot do this job.
I have only seen one of my deckhands make it to a steering job, but she was highly motivated. One guy was killed and the rest washed out, when they saw the training and education they had to get.