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Job Seekers

Your path to OPPORTUNITY begins here!

Whether you are unemployed and just entering or re-entering the workforce, looking for a different career, or seeking a higher paying job, you have come to the right place! Our job center staff provides assistance to job seekers with a full selection of services to help simplify your job search. Below, select the services you need or click to view local job postings.  Check out our employer spotlight videos to learn about working for some of our local employers. Because we are publicly funded, there is no direct cost to job seekers for our services. 

  • Individual job search assistance
  • Career guidance and exploration through the OhioMeansJobs.com Guided Tour; the Occupation Search; or the Career Profile
  • Skills and career interest assessments
  • Resume and cover letter assistance; click HERE to request resume services
  • Interview preparation
  • Job search and job readiness workshops (scheduled workshops are listed below in the Upcoming Events)
  • OhioMeansJobs.com navigation assistance
  • Access to computers, internet, telephone, fax, and copy machine for purposes relating to employment 
  • Connection to partner agencies
  • One-stop access to local and regional job postings
  • Apply for local jobs and get connected with employers hiring now
  • Labor market and salary information through Ohiolmi.com
  • Career exploration through the careeronestop Video Library and the ONET Career Exploration Tools site
  • Visit our on-site virtual reality career lab. Our state-of-the-art VR technology allows job seekers to gain hands-on experience in over 200 occupations, across all industries. This cutting edge technology allows job seekers to try out several employment sectors before settling on a specific career path. Our software hosts competencies allowing users to learn and perfect practical job skills needed in today’s market. Contact our office today at 740-392-WORK to schedule your VR career exploration session.  (Job seekers under the age of 18 must have parent/guardian permission to use VR equipment)

Our job center is equiped with a state-of-the-art, virtual career lab. Job seekers have access to VR equipment with over 200 occupations across multiple industries. When using this equipment, job seekers are immersed into actual tasks completed in various occupations. The experience feels very real and authentic. Job seekers can use this equipment to explore various career pathways and practice job skills.  This VR software has job skill competencies built in allowing job seekers hands-on practice to perfect their job related skills. Job seekers interested in utilizing the VR lab should contact us at 740-392-WORK to schedule an appointment. 

Job seekers who are 25+ may be referred to our education partner at the Knox Technical Center Aspire program to earn a General Equivalency Diploma. Job seekers who are 20+ may be referred to the Adult Diploma Program to earn a high school diploma AND a career certification. Click HERE to learn more.

Job seekers who are 16-24 without a high school diploma may be referred to our D.R.E.A.M. program to earn a GED right here at our job center. Visit our youth services page to learn more about this and other services available to young adults.

Through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), we fund occupational skills training for eligible job seekers. The WIOA program is not an entitlement program and is not designed for a career change. Applicants must meet eligibility and suitability criteria before they can be enrolled into a training service. To qualify you must:

1. Pass income eligibility requirements.
2. Have been unsuccessful in obtaining employment or are determined to need training.
3. Be a suitable candidate to participate in training and full-time employment in the field of study at the conclusion of the training.
4. Select a program geared toward a job in a high growth industry and training must result in an industry recognized credential. Click HERE  to view a list of in-demand careers.
5. Select an approved training provider. To view a list of programs and providers, visit the Workforce Inventory of Education and Training HERE.  
6. Meet any additional policy guidelines of the OhioMeansJobs Knox County job center and/or the Greater Ohio Workforce Board Inc.

Note: Special funding for training and education is available to dislocated workers who have lost their job through layoffs, plant closings or foreign competition.
OhioMeansJobs.com offers WorkKeys practice assessments to measure your skills in the areas of Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, Workplace Documents, and PC Hardware, Software, and Network Basics. These assessments are free and you can take these assessments HERE and show employers your foundational workplace skills.

Preparation and practice for Adult Education and Literacy including GED Test Prep Tutorials, Preparation for HiSET Testing, and Preparation for the TASC are also available for free on OhioMeansJobs.com. Click HERE to access these resources.

You can also access Learning Express through OhioMeansJobs Assessment and Training Center HERE. Through Learning Express you can master core Business Skills such as business writing, math, critical thinking, and more! This resource also has training links for improving your soft skills and preparation resources for career testing and college testing.

OhioMeansJobs.com has a great Career Pathway tool to help job seekers understand how to achieve the career of your dreams! Click HERE to learn more and use this tool to guide you through your career aspirations! 

If you need to touch-up on your interviewing skills, learn how to navigate an online job search, or get tips on creating a dynamic resume and cover letter, we have you covered. The OMJ center offers regularly scheduled one-hour workshops to help job seekers prepare for their job search and gain confidence in their interview skills. Workshops are listed below in the Upcoming Events.  Contact Us to learn more and reserve your spot in our next workshop. 

Employment related supportive services may be available to *eligible families through the Prevention, Retention, and Contingency program (PRC). This program helps Knox County families with immediate employment related challenges and is designed to help family members retain employment. This service can assist eligible individuals with employment related expenses including uniforms, work boots, transportation, etc.

Families can apply for PRC services in person at 17604 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 or call us at 740-392-WORK to discuss your specific needs with an Employment Services Specialist.

*Eligbility includes but is not limited to household income and composition.
OhioMeansJobs Knox County has a comprehensive job readiness program for job seekers involved with the criminal justice system, those returning to the community from incarceration (Restored Citizens), and those who are in substance abuse recovery. We offer workshops to assist job seekers with overcoming the challenges of discussing their background, preparing for the interview, accessing available supportive services and more.

Additional resources for job seekers include:
    • The Federal Bonding Program. This program was created by the U.S. Department of Labor and has been successfully providing fidelity bonds to employers, opening doors of opportunity for job seekers.  The Federal Bonding Program assists individuals individuals in a variety of circumstances that disadvantage them from securing and retaining employment. Potentially eligible individuals include justice-involved citizens, individuals in recovery from substance use disorders, welfare recipients, individuals with poor credit records, economically disadvantaged youth, adults who lack work histories, and individuals dishonorably discharged from the military.  The job seeker must secure the bond and present it to the employer as an incentive to hire. To secure a bond, job seekers must connect with the state Bonding Coordinator who services their area of residence. Click HERE to find the Coordinator for your area. For more information on the Federal Bonding Program click HERE.
    • Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE) was created to allow persons living in the community who have a previous felony or misdemeanor conviction to apply to the court to lift the collateral sanction that bars them from being considered for employment in a particular field. A CQE holder has voluntarily gone through a rigorous review process by Ohio rehabilitation officials, a judge, and a probation department. Click HERE for more information about CQE or HERE to learn about applying for a CQE..
    • Some justice-involved individuals may be eligible to have their adult criminal records sealed and expunged. Sealing a record removes the record from public view, but it still may be visible to certain groups, such as law enforcement, government, or specific types of employers. Expungement removes the record entirely, however these records may be accessed if there are future criminal proceedings.  Click HERE for a guide to post-conviction remedies in Ohio.

      If you need legal services or advice and are not able to afford to consult an attorney, the Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS) is a non-profit legal services agency serving the Knox County area. Visit their website HERE for more information about their services and a comprehensive list of resources.

      Contact Us       to learn more about the services above and connect with an Employment Services Specialist for assistance accessing these resources.
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