Job Search Tips

First Impressions

Getting the Most from your Job Search Efforts

Thank You Notes in Job Search

Practice makes Perfect

The Hardest Step

Job Search THANKSgiving

Filling the Gaps in Your Employment Record

Attitude

Planning - To Succeed

Tune up Your Resume

Preparing for the Interview

Open Ended Questions  Online Job Hunting

 

 Finding the Right Employer                           

 Let’s explore a few ideas on how to locate employers that need your skills, that ‘Right’ employer for you.

A most important first step is to identify the skills you have.  If you haven’t created a resume, that’s the place to start.  Think about the tasks you were responsible for in your previous jobs.  Listing the job title is fine, but be clear on what you actually did, and what your responsibilities were.  Skill-based resumes are particularly good if you are young, have a brief work history, or are re-entering the job market after a number of years.

If you need help identifying your skills, you can speak with a Career Counselor at the One-Stop Job center, or check one of many internet–based programs that list core job responsibilities and skills required for most jobs.  One such site is: http://online.onetcenter.org/   This will bring up the  “O*NET” website, which can be used to:

  • Find out which jobs fit with your interests, skills, and experience;
  • Explore career fields, using the latest available labor market data;
  • Research what it will take to get your dream job; and/or
  • Find out what it will take in experience, education and training to be competitive in over 950 occupations.

 

The “Snapshot” feature on this website will help you to identify the skills you may have, based upon the jobs you have held.  After reviewing this feature, you may want to search for occupations that use the skills you already posses.  Use the “Skills Search” to do this.

Once you have determined several occupations that use the skills you possess, it’s time to look for employers who hire in those occupations.  You can look in the Yellow Pages” if the occupation is fairly focused such as auto mechanics, painters or plumbers.  If your skills can be used in multiple occupations, such as clerical skills, sales, counseling or maintenance, you may want to identify employers that hire in these occupations.  A good website to explore is http://www.usworks.com/centralvalley/   Click on the JTO logo to find employers in Kings County.    On the next screen, click on the circle for “Employers.  (This will save you from unnecessary registration steps.)  Simply select an occupation, and then search for ‘Employers’.   You can select a particular City or expand your search to surrounding Counties or the Central Valley if you wish. What you will find is a listing of employers that hire in that occupation, their address, phone number, and even driving directions.  Use this tool to expand the list of employers that need your skills.  Among those is likely to be the ‘Right’ employer for you.

There are several face-to-face as well as technology-based ways to identify skills that are transferable to other occupations and to find employers that need your skills.  The internet-savvy can explore from the comfort of their home. 

If you need more assistance, contact us, or call us at (559) 585-3532.

 

 
       ONE-STOP JOB AND BUSINESS SERVICES

The Kings County Job Training Office (JTO) along with the Kings County Economic Development Corporation (KingsEDC www.kingsedc.org) offers a wide range of services to job seekers and employers.  JTO works in partnership with regional training providers, the Employment Development Department, area business and the Kings EDC to increase the skill level of the local workforce.              

Services and resources include the following:                                           
You can find additional information about JTO's services by clicking on one of the links on the left.

Job Seekers

Career Center 

A comprehensive career center offers job seekers assistance with resume writing, introduction to computers, typing and other business services.  Job seekers can get assistance in completing job applications and have use of fax machines, photocopiers and can access email.  Customers can utilize our internet-based services, linking to CALJOBS, national job openings, and direct access to financial aid sources for post- secondary education.

 

 

Vocational Testing

Interest and aptitude testing is available, along with professional interpretation on test results.

 

 

Career Counseling

Qualified job counselors provide guidance in career selection and help to identify transferable skills for those changing careers.

 

 

Scholarships for Vocational Training

Training in demand occupations ranging from three to two years is available to eligible youth, adults and older workers to prepare them for today's job market.  Scholarships are provided for tuition, books, tools, transportation and childcare.

 

 

Child Care and Transportation Assistance

Those attending vocational training are reimbursed for childcare and transportation expenses.

 

 

Job Placement

Qualified job developers assist in matching motivated applicants with available jobs.

 

 

Remedial Education 

Older youth and adults are referred to area Adult Schools to enhance their reading, writing, math and English skill in order to effectively compete in today's labor market.

 

 

On-The-Job-Training

A 50% wage reimbursement is offered to employers to offset the cost of hiring and training new employees.

 

 

Jobs for Youth

Young people between the ages of 14 and 21 are sponsored for Vocational Training and are offered paid work experience in areas of their career interest.

 

 

Displaced Worker Services

Training and employment services are provided to workers laid-off due to business closures; displaced homemakers; and the long-term unemployed.

 

 

Welfare-to-Work

Work experience, job shadowing, on-the-job training, and classroom training are available for long-term recipients of public assistance.

 

 

Response to Business Closures

Immediate response to business closures includes employee orientations covering One-Stop services, financial management, job search and resume workshops, and connection with representatives from vocational training institutions.

Business Services

Incentives for hiring and training employees

JTO coordinates workforce training and other employee hiring benefits, including:

  • Coordinated employee recruitment and screening

  • Employee training and technical consulting

  • Customize training for current employees.

  • 50% wage reimbursement to offset new employee training costs

 

 

Linking businesses with Federal and State Tax Credits

Advise on incentives and tax credits:

  • California Enterprise Zone

  • Federal Foreign Trade Zone

  • Recycling Market Development Zone

  • Manufacturers Investment Credit

  • Federal Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit

  • Federal Work Opportunities Tax Credit

 

 

An effective combination of resources under one roof.

 A single call provides access to a lifeline of business development services in Kings County.  Kings EDC www.kingsedc.org , in cooperation with the County, it’s cities and the Workforce Investment Board is committed to providing a pro-business environment for business to prosper. 

 

 

 Development Fee Reductions or Waivers

Businesses locating within Enterprise Zones or redevelopment project areas receive priority in permit processing, and often pay reduced fees for new projects.

 

 

Financing

Kings EDC assists businesses with a variety of financing options for business startups or expansions, including financing to acquire real property, equipment and working capital.  The source of the financing varies, depending on the size and purpose of the project. 

 

Kings EDC loan options include:

  • Small Business Administration

  •  Economic Development Administration

  • Community Development Block Grant

  • United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development       

  • Recycling Market Development Zone

  • Kings EDC’s own Revolving Loan Fund