Employment

Finding a Job
Jobs are about more than just getting a paycheck: they can also provide you with social networks and mentors. If you are in high school, it is a great time to get a part-time job. Teens are more likely to graduate from high school if they have held a job, and jobs can lead to future opportunities. Work experience can also help show that you are responsible.

Whether you are a high school student looking for part-time work or an adult seeking a full-time job, there are lots of resources available to help you develop your skills and search for opportunities.

The Wisconsin Job Center offers a free service you can use online to search for jobs. Go to Wisconsinjobcenter.org or call 1-888-258-9966 to begin your search.

The Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB), located at 2342 N. 27th Street, features a career resource center. There, you can use computers and get help looking for jobs and preparing application and interview materials. Go to the MAWIB website or call MAWIB at 414-270-7500. MAWIB can help you look for part-time, full-time, or seasonal work.

Earn & Learn is the City’s program to help young people make a successful transition to adulthood by providing opportunities to develop work-readiness skills while they earn wages working in government, community- and faith-based organizations and private sector businesses. Click here to download the summer application.

Another resource is the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee. The YWCA features a Career Opportunity Center and offers services to both youths and adults. The Center is located at 1915 North Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. For hours and contact information, go to their website.

There are many other resources available to help you in your job search. If you are still in high school, your school counselor can provide you with information about finding a job. He or she can help you find job centers close to you. The Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) system also has information about finding a part or full-time job. Go to MPL’s online job center, or go to your nearest public library and ask if the library has job-seeking resources you can use. MPL’s website lists Milwaukee agencies that provide help to job seekers.

There are also national programs that can help you gain employment skills and finish your education. Job Corps (pronounced “Job Core”) allows participants to train in one of many exciting fields, including carpentry or computer programming, and assists them in obtaining a high school degree or GED. The program offers free campus living, and participants are also provided with food, books, and sometimes even spending money. You must be at least 16 years old to participate in Job Corps. Go to Job Corps website or call the Job Corps office at 1-800-733-5627 for more information.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 24, you may also be interested in the AmeriCorps program, a national service project that offers paid employment as well as scholarship money for college. Call 1-800-942-2677 or go to Americorps.gov.

More resources:
Milwaukee Jobs: offers free searches for Milwaukee jobs
Wisconsin Job Network: free searches for Wisconsin jobs
Nation Job: free searches for jobs in all 50 states
Career Builder: free searches for jobs in all 50 states

Resume and Cover Letters
A resume is a document that lists your previous work and volunteer experience. You can also include information like your grade point average and extracurricular activities.

A cover letter generally explains why you are interested in and why you would be good at a particular job.

Make sure you prepare resumes and cover letters to submit to potential employers if they require them (many do). For help putting together these documents, ask your school counselor (if you are in high scho to http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/index.php. If you are in college, you can visit your school’s career center for help. Some job resource centers (see above) may also be able to assist you in preparing these documents.

More resources

Work Permits
If you are under 18, you’ll need a work permit before you begin working. You will also need to be enrolled in school or already have your high school diploma or GED. Your school counselor can help you obtain a permit. You must meet the school’s grade point average, attendance, and other requirements.

To find more information about obtaining a work permit click here.

Unemployment Insurance
If you have been laid off from your job, you may be able to receive unemployment benefits. Click here to to find out if you are eligible.

 

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