The following is a guest post written by Denise Felder. Denise is a Job Coach, Writer and Web Editor dedicated to empowering people to make positive career choices that better their lives and society.
Denise writes this post from a Minnesota-perspective – but pay attention, non-Minnesotans – there’s good info here! You may find that your state has similar resources.
When you are unemployed or underemployed, saving money is a top priority. So why does it seem like so many essential parts of job searching cost money?
Professional resume writers. Private career coaches. Registration fees for workshops. Membership fees for professional associations. Beverages and meals at networking events. You could easily spend $100 before you get your first interview!
The frugal — and savvy — Minnesota job seeker know what to do to get essential job search help for free.
Resume and Interview Help
The purpose of your resume is to get you interviews. So if employers are not calling you (or you’re getting calls for jobs you don’t want), you need to redo your resume. Instead of trying to create a resume on your own, ask a job coach who can help you present your skills and experience in a way that will get employers to notice you.
A few nonprofit employment services in Minnesota that provide resume and job search assistance:
Employment Action Center
EAC has several locations, mostly in the Twin Cities. They offer resume, job placement, training and other services for women, youth, welfare-to-work participants, immigrants, dislocated workers and others.
HIRED
HIRED administers 70 programs to help adults, youth, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans and others with employment and job training. They have more than 10 locations in the Twin Cities.
Lutheran Social Services
LSS has a lot of services for families, youth, older workers and people with disabilities, including financial counseling, adoption and foster care resources and housing. Their employment services are available to low-income job seekers across Minnesota.
Minnesota Resource Center — Duluth
Minnesota Resource Center — St. Cloud
Twin Cities Rise
Twin Cities Rise provides job training and empowerment classes for job seekers, primarily men from communities of color. Their skills development program is designed to lift people out of poverty and help them find fulfilling work.
WomenVenture
WomenVenture helps women to start or grow their own business, find a new job, or develop a new career path.
Community and Faith-Based Organizations
Minnesota is fortunate to be home to many social service agencies. There is probably a community center, church or adult education program near you that offers job search help. Any of them can connect you with resources and employer information for free or low cost.
Contact the United Way to find these resources:
· Central MN: www.unitedwayhelps.org
· Northeast MN: www.unitedwaynemn.org
· Southwest MN: www.unitedwayswmn.org
· West Central MN: www.unitedwaykc.org
· Twin Cities: www.unitedwaytwincities.org
Minnesota WorkForce Centers
Minnesota WorkForce Centers are “one stop shops” that help people with all aspects of job searching and career planning. You can go to a WorkForce Center just to use their computers and phones to job search, attend their job search workshops, or talk with a job coach for specific help.
WorkForce Centers are managed by the state so their staff can connect you with the services, programs and resources you need to find fulfilling employment. They also have services for dislocated workers, people with disabilities, youth, older workers and veterans.
There are dozens of WorkForce Centers located across Minnesota. For more information about locations and services offered at WorkForce Centers: Call 1(888)GET JOBS or 1(888) 438-5627.
But Wait, There’s More!
Like I said, Minnesota is home to too many valuable employment resources to name here. For a longer list of employment training programs, as well as services to help with child care, transportation and other support services, go to ISEEK.
If you know of any useful career development or job search resources (in-person or online), I’d love to hear about them. Send me a note on my blog at http://denisempls.wordpress.com/ or tweet at me: http://twitter.com/denisempls.
Keep looking up!
~ By Denise Felder
Related posts on Northern Cheapskate:
