Career Development, Training & Employment Assistance
Visit Your Local Job Center
What Is A Job Center? Job Centers are hubs that help people connect to education, training, and employment. For individuals, there are many self-directed activities, as well as staff assisted and one-on-one services available to you. Employers connect with job center staff and visit when hiring or looking to further develop their workforce. Sometimes recruiters will spend a day at a job center in order to connect and talk with (interview) potential employees. Services are offered on a walk-in basis and are free of charge. The Bay Area Workforce Development Board (Bay Area WDB) operates 10 job centers within its eleven county area. Find the Job Center nearest you now.
On-Site Resources – Job Centers have phones, printers, fax, photocopying, computers, and internet access that you can use free of charge to assist with career exploration, resume writing, conducting a job search, or applying for jobs. Workshops are offered to help you develop your career plan, create a resume, conduct a job search, interview with confidence, and further develop you with career planning, a job search, and your professional development. There are also resources and workshops to help you to learn how to for independent, self-directed skills building, including how to use a computer, conduct a job search, and use email.
One-Stop Shops – Job centers are partnerships that house many different kiinds of services (besides ours). Specialized Staff are available for veterans and their families, vocational rehabilitation, dislocated workers, older workers, employers, and and others.
WIOA Programs – Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program services are available for eligible adults, youth and dislocated workers. To learn more about these education, training and career development programs. Stop by or call your Local Job Center for more information. (Assessments may be conducted to determine qualifications and eligability for some federally funded programs.)
Here is a sample of some of the self-guided activities or services guided by staff available to you at your Local Job Center.
Finding Work
- Find out about job openings – The most comprehensive job search tool in Wisconsin. Search by geographic, area, skills, job title, among other criteria. Create an email alerts for new postings within the area(s) you are interested in.
- Learn about strategies for finding a job
- Get help in preparing for job interviews
- Get help preparing your resume
- Post your resume for employers to see
Planning Your Career
- Assess your reading and math skills
- Assess your career interests
- Learn about jobs and careers suitable for you
- Learn about jobs in demand and rates of pay
- Get information about employers in your local area
- Learn about what employers expect of their workers
Getting Skills and Education
- Apprenticeships – How does an apprenticeship work?
- Receive training in new job skills
- Learn how to start your own business
- Prepare for High School Equivalency (GED) exam
- Improve your reading writing and math skills
- Improve your English skills (ESL)
- National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
- Get information about education and training schools, such as their tuition and success in placing students in jobs
Dealing with a Job Loss
- File Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claim
- Get help in coping with the stress of job loss
- Get help coping financially with job loss
Family Community Resources
- Get help with living expenses while in training
- Get help finding childcare
- Get help obtaining financial aid for training
Specialized Staff
Specialists for these program areas are available in some locations, and sometimes by appointment. Contact your local job center for information on service closest to you.
- Veterans representative
- Business services representative
- Older worker representative
- Job Service representative
- Vocational Rehabilitation representative
- Dislocated Worker representative
- National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) representative
- Indian and Native American program representative
- Apprenticeship program representative
- Unemployment Insurance representativ
