• Job Listings

• Job Search Assistance

• Resume Assistance

• Interview Counseling

• Career Information Library

• Education & Training Information

• How-To Workshops

• Self Assessment Tools

• Labor Market Information

• Veterans Services

• Child Care Information

• Unemployment Benefits Information

• Wage Claims  Information

• Job Fairs

• Internet Access

• Computer Access

• Fax and Copy Machine Access

• Typing Tutorials & Tests

• Adaptive Equipment for the Visually Impaired

To access Texas Workforce Commission Work In Texas, click the button below:

To access employer websites by city or county,
click on a county of interest here:

NETWORKING

The most effective method to find a job is by word of mouth.  Every person you know - your friends, neighbors, former employers and coworkers, even your mailman - can be a job source.  People are generally more than happy to help you find work if they know you are looking for work.  At the Workforce Centers' Job Club sessions, you can learn more about effective networking techniques.

NEWSPAPERS

Check the classified section of your Sunday newspaper.  Although only 15% of jobs are advertised this way, it is still important to look at the want ads.  Near the front door of the each Center, you'll find copies of the Austin American-Statesman, which contains the Sunday classifieds.  In the Resource Room you will also find other local papers provided for the same purpose.

 American-Statesman's Classifieds online

San Marcos Daily Record

TIPS ON WRITING EFFECTIVE RESUMES:

1. Use the "need to know" principle.  What does the employer need to know about you in order to want to interview you?
2. Resumes don't get people jobs - they help to get interviews.
3. Length should be no longer than two pages.  If you use a second page, fill it completely.  If you can't, make it one page.
4. tailor the resume to fit you.  There is no right or wrong, except for the following:  DO NOT use pronouns ("I" or "My").  DO NOT list birthday, marital status, height, weight, references, etc.
5. Give the employer a reliable way to contact you.  Home phone, work phone (if appropriate), message phone (if there is no answering machine and you're not at home much).  E-mail.
6. Listing an Objective on the resume is optional - some employers like it, some don't care.  However, listing an objective can strengthen a resume, if it is compatible with the job you're applying for.  Having your resume on a computer disk can make it an easy task to change your objective.  Never send a resume with an objective that doesn't match the job that you are applying for.  Save the employer time and tell them what you can do - don't just list a work history and make them figure it out.  This is best done using a section highlighting/summarizing skills and accomplishments, e.g. "Summary of Skills & Experience".
7. Always list job history with present or most recent job first and work backward from there.  Be as descriptive as possible about the work you've done - help the employer picture you at work.  Quantify accomplishments when possible.
8. If education or licenses are an important requirement of the job, list them near the top.  If not, list high school graduation, GED attainment, college work or degree at the bottom.  It is not necessary to list the years of attendance or address of the institution.  If you are a graduate of the program, list:  Graduate, Springfield Jr. College.
9. ALWAYS have at least one other person proofread your resume!

The Rural Capital Area Workforce Centers have many tools, videos and resource books for resume writing available in our Career Resource Libraries.  Here are some other tools available (some may require a small fee):

• Microsoft Office Suite 97 or 2000, WordPerfect 6.0 & 7.0   All these programs contain very helpful resume templates.  Once in a local Workforce Center Computer, open the computer program of choice and go to "File",  "New" and then to "Resume" or "Other".
• Resume paper (may require a small fee).
• Fax Machine for quicker resume submission.
• Laser Printer for top quality printing.
• Diskettes to save your resume (may require a small fee).
• The Workforce Centers also offer workshops and one-on-one assistance for help in writing resumes.

Click here for some other helpful resume websites

. . . HELP YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR JOB INTERVIEW

•  What do I wear?
•  What kinds of questions will the interviewer ask me?
•  How should I respond to tough personal questions?
•  What kinds of questions should I ask the employer?
•  Are there some questions that are illegal for an employer to ask?
•  Are there any rules or hints that would benefit me?

The Rural Capital Area Workforce Centers have many tools including videos and resource books for resume writing available in our Career Resource Libraries.

VIDEOS:

• The Complete Video Guide to Job Hunting
• From Pink Slip to Paycheck the Road to Reemployment - Interviewing
• The Interview I - Mastering the Job Interview
• The Interview II - Answering Problem Interview Questions
• The Job Interview Simplified
• Job Search Success System: Interviewing
• The Ultimate Job Search - Effective Job Search Techniques
• The Ultimate Job Search - Interviewing with Confidence
• The Ultimate Job Search - Job Search Tips for People with Disabilities

RESOURCE BOOKS:

Click here for some other helpful interviewing websites

JOB OPENINGS

Sign up for a computer in the Resource Room to look through hundreds of openings on the Internet.  When you access the Texas Workforce Commission's website, you can explore Work In Texas, the Governor's Job Bank, Job Express and other job banks.

LABOR MARKET INFORMATION    More . . .

Information about area employers can be found in the Labor Market Information bookshelf at your local Workforce Center.  You can also check out our updated employer links here on this website.

EDUCATION & TRAINING    More . . .

If your interested in starting or continuing your education, go to the College Information bookcase in the Resource Room of your local Workforce Center to find university catalogs, brochures, and pamphlets.  Information is also available on financing your education through Pell Grants and other financial aid.

HOW-TO VIDEOS & BOOKS

Some examples of topics covered by books & videos at your local Workforce Center are:

• Job Search Techniques
• Job Search Tips for People with Disabilities.
• Starting the Job Search
• Resume Writing and Cover Letters
• The Resume Catalog: 200 Damn Good examples
• America's Top Resumes for America's Top Jobs
• Resumes for the First-Time Job Hunter
• Blue Collar & Beyond:  Resumes for Skilled Trades and Services
• Interview with Confidence

ADULT EDUCATION

• Information on technical schools and training facilities are available at our Workforce Centers. We have information on beauty schools, truck driving academies, computer network certification schools, and many others. 

Click here for links to local area training facilities

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

• College catalogues are available in the Career Resource Library of your local Workforce Center. The catalogues will tell you what programs and degrees are offered at their school. If you would like to request a catalogue we do not have, please inform a staff member.

• We also have many college applications and detailed program information at the centers.  Also available in most of the centers is Peterson’s Guide to Four-Year Colleges and Peterson’s Guide to Two-Year Colleges.  These are informational guides on colleges which contain contact information.

• Access the computer program, "Texas Cares" on the computer. "Texas Cares" is a computer program that includes information on many educational programs in Texas. For example, by using "Texas Cares" you can learn which colleges offer nursing programs.  This program is available in most of our Workforce Centers.

Click here for links to Texas Colleges on the Web

PAYING FOR TRAINING OR EDUCATION

• SCHOLARSHIPS:  Contact the financial aid or the counseling/advising office at the school you are planning to attend and ask about scholarships that are available for the school and for particular majors.  You can also do searches on the Internet to find information on scholarships, or look at sources such as the Worldwide Graduate Scholarship Directory that is available in you local Workforce Center Library.  Be sure to check with your employer and organizations in your community about scholarships or tuition reimbursement programs.

• TUITION EXEMPTION:  You may be exempt from all or part of your tuition if you meet special qualifications. To learn more, check with the school of your choice or the Texas Coordinating Board of Higher Education.  For some of these exemptions, you must demonstrate financial need and are required to fill out the Federal Financial Aid form (available at our Workforce Centers).  Among those who may qualify are blind and deaf students, foster care students, a graduating senior whose parent is receiving TANF, highest-ranking high school graduate, children of disabled firefighters and peace officers, firefighters enrolled in Fire Science courses, ROTC/National Guard students, senior citizens who are at least 65 years old, children of prisoners-of-war or those who are missing in action, and an educational assistant who has been working in this capacity for at least two years.

• PELL GRANTS & FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID:  Federal Financial Aid includes Pell Grants, work/study, and low-interest loans.  Because Pell Grants are an entitlement, you will receive the money if you qualify.  Many trade schools accept Pell Grants.  There are some important things to remember when applying for financial aid - (1) You must apply early in order to get the money in time for school.  Please refer to your school for their financial aid deadlines.  (2) You must apply for admission to a school before they will consider your financial aid application.  If you are unsure about where you want to go to school, use the Workforce Center Library to research educational programs.

• Texas Labor Market Review (updated monthly)
• Fast Facts (data such as unemployment by county & MSA)
• Employment & Wages
• Employment by size class
• Affirmative Action population estimates
• Greater Austin  Chamber of Austin Directory
• Austin Business Journal's Book of Lists

Click here for more Labor Market website links

• A staff member is available to answer your concerns and questions regarding PTSD, Post War Stress and other service related issues (Agent Orange Affects, Gulf War Illness)
• Receive counseling regarding Job Development, Career Counseling, and benefits for education.
• Receive assistance in completing VA forms.

• Veterans receive a higher level of service from our representatives. Please let our center staff assist you in locating a position for your unique skills.
• You may need a resume for that job opening! See a Career Specialist for special assistance in portraying your work experience to an employer.

• You may qualify for state program assistance and benefits. Let our staff help you research this possibility.
• Accessing and completing those federal job applications can be tricky. Let our staff assist you.
• Receive information regarding your unemployment claim and status. 

Effective January 1, 1990, the Texas Employment Commission (now part of the Texas Workforce Commission) was given a mandate to receive and adjudicate wage claims. The current provisions of the Texas Payday Law are found in Chapter 61 of the Texas Labor Code; those provisions differ greatly from an earlier statute which contained virtually no enforcement procedures. Both employees and employers should be aware of the law so they will know the rights and responsibilities which are conferred on them by the law.    More . . .

Attending a job fair can be one of the most productive activities for a job seeker.  It's one of the few times that you will have several businesses and other employers gathered together in one spot just to talk to you about a job!  They are also a great place to figure out what's happening in the economy - what companies are growing and what positions are in the most demand in your local area at that time.  You don't have to understand a labor market survey to comprehend just who is hiring when they are sitting right in front of you!

Contact your local Workforce Center for Job Fairs scheduled in your area

Sign up to use a computer in the Resource Room of your local Workforce Center to build your resume or access the Internet.  With this vital resource you can enter the Texas Workforce Commission job banks such as the Governor's Job Bank, Job Express as well as other state agency sites.  You can also find information about local employers and communities around our area. 

RESUME PAPER

High-quality paper for resumes (that will be mailed or hand delivered to an an employer) is available for participants in the WIA program at all of the Rural Capital Area Workforce Centers. You may bring your own paper, of course, or use the paper available for up to 3 sets of  your resume.

COPY MACHINE

The copy machine is free for job-search-related activities, including making copies of your resume and cover letter.  Up to ten job search related copies per customer per day 

FAX MACHINE

There may be a charge for using the fax machine during your job search for long-distance calls (up to .25 cents per page).  Fax cover sheets are available in a file next to the Fax machine at each Center.

TYPING TESTS/TUTORIALS

• An official State of Texas typing test is available at each Workforce Center (required to apply for many state job openings)
• If you need typing instruction (how-to), each Workforce Center is equipped with typing tutorials (such as the Mavis Beacon Typing Tutorial) that can help beginners and skilled typists alike

For more information about typing tests online, click here . . .

ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT

The Rural Capital Area Workforce Centers make available adaptive equipment for visually impaired customers in our 3 largest Centers (located in Bastrop, Round Rock and San Marcos).  This equipment includes:

• Video magnifiers (capable of magnifying any document) that include a 17" high contrast monitor, color CCD Camera, line markers and a windowing feature
• JAWS software that acts as an audible screen reader that actually reads computer information displayed through a speech synthesizer for visually impaired or blind customers
• MAGic Pro helps visually impaired customers by enlarging information on their computer screen up to 16 times it's normal size while hearing it through their speech synthesizer. 
• A document scanner-reader that can scan and read any text, thus making nearly all written materials accessible to visually impaired or blind customers (NOTE:  this scanner-reader is currently only available in our Round Rock office).

   | Workforce Investment Act | CHOICES | Food Stamps E&T | Child Care Management Services |

Workforce Investment Act
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 created a system to provide the framework for delivery of workforce investment activities at state and local levels.  The WIA system is designed to provide activities that increase the employment, retention and earnings of participants.

The Workforce Investment Act provides funding for services to assist:

• Adults

• Dislocated Workers

• Youth

WIA provides services through a "One-Stop" system where clients can have all their employment and training needs met in one place.  These services include, but are not limited to:

• Information about available services

• Job search and placement assistance

• Career counseling

• Training

• Follow-up services to help customers keep their jobs once they are placed

Click here for more information concerning WIA

CHOICES / Welfare-to-Work
The CHOICES program provides job search assistance services and support services to persons receiving cash assistance benefits through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant.  The CHOICES program features a Work First policy that focuses on helping families transition to self-sufficiency through a quick connection to the workforce.  Any parent, including a minor parent, in a household receiving TANF assistance may be required to engage in work activities in order to continue receiving TANF.  Support services include:

• Child care assistance

• Transportation

• Work-related expenses that are required for clients to participate in program activities and to accept and maintain employment

The Welfare-to-Work formula grant provides transitional employment assistance to help eliminate barriers to employment for TANF recipients.  Some of the available service activities include:

• Job readiness

• Employment activities

• Job placement services

• Post employment services

• Job retention

• Necessary support services (child care, substance abuse treatment, transportation, etc.)

Click here for more information concerning CHOICES / Welfare-to-Work

Food Stamp Employment & Training
The Food Stamp Employment & Training (FSE&T) program requires persons age 16-59 receiving food stamp benefits to participate in employment, training or work-related activities, unless they are exempt under the law.  Some of the available service activities include:

• Employment activities

• Job search activities

• Community service work

• Educational and/or vocational training activities

• Necessary support services (transportation & child care services based on need)

Click here for more information concerning FSE&T

Child Care Management Services
Child Care Management Services (CCMS) assist families in becoming self-sufficient by providing child care to low-income families while they are working or attending training. 

 Click here for more information concerning Child Care Services

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