Career One-Stop Centers: Your Best Bet
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2004-07-02 15:24:00-04:00
Never heard of Career One-Stop Centers? Remember the old unemployment offices? The ones that also had some Job Service programs? Now they're Career One-Stop Centers. They're a rich resource for both job seekers and employers. Their slogan is: Dream It. Find It. Get It.
In one place, with one stop, you can find everything you need to search for a new job or plan your next career move. Depending on your state, you may even be able to file for unemployment insurance.
That one place is either an office in your community or a Web site.
You can get complete career information, more than a million job listings, and in-person help.
Career One-Stop Centers in Your Community
There are about 2,000 Career One-Stop Centers across the U.S. To find the one closest to you, you can call toll-free to 1-877-US2-JOBS (1-877-872-5627). Or you can type in your zip code or select your state at www.servicelocator.org. This Web site also gives you maps and driving directions to the nearest Center.
At any One-Stop Center, you will find information on:
- finding a job
- planning your next career steps or change
- locating training
- dealing with job loss
There is no cost for this information or for a meeting with Career One-Stop staff.
Some One-Stop Centers offer free training courses in their own offices. For example, you may want to take a workshop on preparing an up-to-date resume or practicing interview skills.
One-Stop Centers offer other training for a low cost. For example, you can learn word processing basics, review spreadsheets, or check out how to post your resume online. Local schools and agencies that partner with One-Stop Centers offer skills and career training. Some of this training is free to those who qualify due to job status, such as dislocation, or low income.
Career Information
The career information at Career One-Stop Centers really shines. You'll find an electronic storehouse of employment and career information that is hard to beat anywhere else. Called America's Career InfoNet, it includes:
- job market trends for different education levels
- wage trends by state and by occupation
- the knowledge, skills, abilities, and tasks involved in any occupation
- lists of jobs that need certificates and licenses
- economic and job information about your state
- lists and contact numbers for employers by state and by field
- a huge career resource library, including online tutorials
These databases all connect with each other. It's easy to mix and match just the details you want.
Your career exploration possibilities are especially great. There are even hundreds of career videos, showing real people doing real work.
One part of America's Career InfoNet is called O*Net, the Occupational Information Network. O*Net lets you match up your skills, abilities, interests, and work preferences with those of nearly 1,000 occupations.
Some tests are paper and pencil and available at your community's One-Stop Center. But you can do most of this matching online. Because you can combine and compare so many results on Career InfoNet, it has a big advantage over other tools.
Career InfoNet delivers both the basics and the complex - a few, precise details about companies in your area or a complex comparison of labor market information in different cities. Many older workers are surprised and pleased with how much they can learn so easily. Try it!
Job Listings
America's Job Bank is the biggest and busiest job market online. It has more than one million jobs and nearly half a million resumes and adds new jobs daily. It's simple to use and free.
Job seekers can post resumes electronically to reach employers in their own area. Both job seekers and employers can also look for each other nationwide.
This is a great place to browse. Learn more about the next job you're interested in. Are there regular openings in your area? What similar jobs have openings? Does the job exist in other fields than the one you've worked in?
Additional Resources
Career One-Stop
Start here to benefit from free job help.
America's Career InfoNet
Get job information to suit your needs.
O*Net Career Exploration Tools
Match your work interests, skills, and work preferences with jobs.
America's Job Bank
Search for jobs and put up your resume.
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