CareerWorks.org

UMass Donahue Institute

A one-stop career center for job seekers & employers

skip to content

return to CareerWorks pages with images

Links

HOME

ABOUT US

JOB SEEKERS

Job Search

Workshops

Training

MEMBERSHIP

EMPLOYER OPPORTUNITIES

NEWS AND EVENTS

RESOURCES AND LINKS

CONTACT US

HOME

Welcome to CareerWorks in Brockton, Massachusetts. Whether you are looking for a job, making a career change, increasing your earning potential, or seeking a top quality job applicant, CareerWorks, serving the greater Brockton area, has the resources you need to be successful. At CareerWorks we give job seekers the tools to find the right job, we list available job openings and the skills they require, and we work closely with employers to match prospective employees with available job openings. Let our experienced, highly qualified, and friendly staff assist you in finding the perfect employment match. Most CareerWorks services are offered at no charge. Find out how to register for your free CareerWorks Membership.

ABOUT US

CareerWorks is a non-profit One-Stop Career Center overseen under charter with the Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board and managed by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute.

Service Area

CareerWorks serves job seekers and employers in Brockton, Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Easton, Hanson, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, and Whitman. Click on the town below to visit a town website.

Brockton

Easton

Abington

Hanson

Avon

Stoughton

Bridgewater

West Bridgewater

East Bridgewater

Whitman

CareerWorks is part of a statewide network of One Stop Career Centers that are connected to each other and with the Internet through a secure data network. Click here if you would like to visit one of Massachusetts' other Career Centers. Many of CareerWorks' resources are available electronically and can be accessed by personal computer.

Top

The Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board

The Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board is one of 16 Workforce Investment Boards (WIB) statewide working to build links between the business community and the workforce. The WIBs oversee and implement workforce development activities in the Commonwealth. They are composed of private sector business people, labor, education, and community leaders, and serve as conduits for federal and state workforce development funds. The WIBs also help connect employers with job seekers and provide current members of the workforce, and those seeking employment, with the training they need.

Top

The UMass Donahue Institute

The UMass Donahue Institute is the public service and economic development unit of the University of Massachusetts President's Office. Established in 1971, the Institute maintains offices in Amherst and Boston and has satellite offices throughout the Commonwealth.

The UMass Donahue Institute is one of the state's largest and strongest providers of management development programs. It is a major provider of client-oriented training and technical assistance, applied research and evaluation, integrated information technology and economic development initiatives. It also has a wealth of experience in workforce development, organizational restructuring, and the creation of strategic alliances.

The Institute's staff of over 100 works cooperatively with talent from the UMass campuses, other institutions of higher education, and the public, private and non-profit sectors. Our unique position within public higher education enables us to provide a valuable bridge between theory and innovation, and real world business applications.

In collaboration with client organizations, the UMass Donahue Institute has produced over 300 books, reports, surveys, guides, manuals, newsletters, and other publications of use to the public. In its more than 30 years of service to the citizens of Massachusetts, the UMass Donahue Institute has generated over $60 million in grants and contracts.

JOB SEEKERS

CareerWorks offers job seekers the tools and expertise they need to find a job. Our staff will support your job search with proven job-hunting strategies and methods.

CareerWorks is a free information resource for job seekers. Whether you are beginning your job search, interested in career development, or making a midlife career change, CareerWorks has the resources for you - ranging from resume development, and job-hunting strategies to a variety of career development workshops.

Useful Forms

Equal Opportunity Information

Employment Verification

Job Search

Onsite Recruitment

Visit the News and Events section of this web site to learn about scheduled recruiting events.

Workshops

 

Workshops for Job Seekers

By taking CareerWorks workshops, you will learn effective ways to build confidence, research the job market, get a job, overcome obstacles that are keeping you from getting a job, and earn the salary you deserve.

CareerWorks workshops are offered at no charge to all CareerWorks members. Be sure to watch the CareerWorks Calendar for new additions to our workshop series. Click here to learn more about Membership (prerequisite - you must first attend a Career Center Seminar).

Career Center Seminars

Attending a seminar gives you an understanding of the full range of services, events, and programs available at Massachusetts One-Stop Career Centers and how these services can help you with your employment needs. See our Calendar for seminar schedules.

Career Exploration

This workshop with the use of the Career Decision Making Interest Survey will help you to assess your work interests. You will be provided with the necessary tools to plan and conduct a successful job search or career change/upgrade. Then you will learn how to research employers in industries that offer the greatest number of opportunities in your occupation of choice. Participants must have basic knowledge of the computer and Internet.

Computer Basics

This course is for first time computer users who would like to learn basic computer skills.

Critique Your Resume

In this course you will receive a brief critique of your resume and learn how to describe your past experience in a way that demonstrates expertise in the skills that employers seek in today's job market. Bring a typed copy of your resume with you.

Dynamic Resumes & Cover Letters

You will learn the fundamentals of resume writing, components, and guidelines. Session also covers how to write cover letters and thank you letters.

Financial Planning

What should you do with your retirement savings plans when you change jobs, if you are laid off, or if you are retiring? This workshop shows you the options. This workshop also teaches participants how to focus on retirement goals, evaluate options, understand tax consequences, and more.

Internet Basics

Designed for first time Internet users to learn how to use the Internet to conduct basic job search.

Interviewing for Success

This workshop covers what to do before, during and after your job interview.

Job Search Strategies

You will learn all you need to know to begin your job search - from the role of resumes, cover letters and networking, to the interviewing skills.

Keyboarding Lab

This lab is available to all job seekers seeking to improve their keyboarding skills. Resource Room computers and tutorials are available to CareerWorks members to practice their keyboarding skills. If you are not already a CareerWorks member, click here to learn about free Membership.

Massasoit Community College Information Session

By appointment only, please call 508-513-3400 - an Admissions Counselor will inform potential students about the college admissions process, career exploration, recruitment activities and general financial aid information.

Microsoft Word Basics

Prerequisite: must have basic knowledge of the keyboard and mouse - learn the basics of word processing so you will be able to create your own resume and cover letters.

Networking/Making Key Contacts

Will help you to develop new and build on your existing contacts, enabling you to establish networks and help promote yourself.

Resume Software

Prerequisite: you must have attended the Dynamic Resumes & Cover Letter workshop or have a draft of your resume before taking this workshop. The Resume Software workshop is designed to help you create your resume using Win Way Resume software package. It is a point and click software with great options for creating your resume. Bring a floppy disk to save your document. If you do not have a floppy disk, you may purchase one at CareerWorks for $1.00.

Salary: Know Your Worth

Will focus on how to handle salary issues during the interview process, teaching you how to negotiate your salary based on "Market Value.

Training

In a constantly changing work environment, the key to landing a good job is having the right skills at the right time. CareerWorks can help you identify training and education programs that are right for you. Currently CareerWorks oversees several state & federal programs targeted to assist dislocated and economically disadvantaged job seekers with their reemployment and training needs.

Training funds may be available to you if you meet eligibility criteria under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, the National Emergency Grants (NEG), the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the Education Rewards Loan Program, and the Federal/State Financial Aid (Pell Grants, Scholarships and Stafford Loans).

Frequently asked questions about training

Q: What kind of training do you offer?
A: CareerWorks does not provide training. However, we conduct the screening needed to determine if you are eligible for training grants, and to help you identify an appropriate training program. CareerWorks offers in-house workshops that help you in the job search process, and that are listed on our CareerWorks Calendar.

Q: Is training available to everyone?
A: No. Training funds are based on availability, individual need and income guidelines. Note: Job seekers who lack marketable skills, need to upgrade their skills, or are economically disadvantaged, are most in need.

Q: How will I know if I meet the training eligibility requirement?
A: If you want to learn more about training options you should attend the Training Options Seminar offered at CareerWorks (prerequisite: Career Center Seminar). You will learn about eligibility requirements for various training programs. If you feel you meet minimum eligibility criteria and demonstrate that you need training/intensive services, you will be assigned a Career Specialist to help you evaluate your needs.

Q: How do I demonstrate that I need training?
A: There are a number of ways to show need:

Q: What is the difference between being eligible for training and being approved for training?
A: Being eligible means you have met the eligibility criteria set forth in Title I of the Workforce Investment Act, which is available on the Department of Labor (DOL) web site, and is discussed at the Training Options Seminar at CareerWorks. Being approved for training means that:

1) You demonstrated a need for training/intensive services.
2) You completed all required research.
3) Training funds are available.
4) You received formal notice to proceed.

Q: If I meet the eligibility criteria, am I guaranteed to receive training funds?
A: No. If program funds are not available, you will not be able to enter a training program even though you may be eligible (unless you have other means of paying for the training). However, you may be placed on a waiting list to participate in training when additional funds become available.

Q: How long will it take before I can start a training program?
A: It can take from 4-6 weeks from your first meeting with a Career Specialist to receiving your Notification of Approval to enter a training program.

Q: What is the maximum amount that could be awarded for training?
A: The maximum that can be paid for a training program using WIA Title I Funds is $3,250. The maximum dollar amount allowed under the other programs varies.

Q: How will I know what training is available?
A: The process of identifying training is very self-directed. Two useful website are Massachusetts Career Information System and Massachusetts JobQuest. Think about the type of job you want and the skills required to do that job. You can attend a Career Exploration workshop to assist you with this research or you can access the web sites above to find out who offers the training you are looking for.

Q: What is the difference between a workshop and training?
A: A workshop is a one-time, two-hour free information session offered by CareerWorks staff to help you in the employment process. Training is an instructed program designed to develop job competence and often is a course or class held at a school of higher learning. With training there are a set number of hours per week you must attend and a certificate of completion and/or college credit is granted upon completion.

Top

MEMBERSHIP

Membership at CareerWorks is FREE, easy to obtain and open to everyone.

Membership gives you access to a statewide and national network of information, personalized services and links to training and other employment resources. CareerWorks members have access to our Resource Room where they will find career information, educational opportunities, job listings, a computer lab, and more.

To become a member, simply complete the CareerWorks Membership Form (pdf 68k) and attend our next CareerWorks Seminar. The times and dates are listed on our Calendar. You will need Acrobat Reader to download this form. If your computer does not have Reader, you can download it for free.

Upon completion of the Career Center Seminar and your CareerWorks Membership Form, you will receive a membership card that gives you access to activities and resources at CareerWorks.

Top

EMPLOYER OPPORTUNITIES

As a business owner or human resource professional you want to find the right employee for your job opening. At CareerWorks, we can streamline the process, identifying only those prospective employees that meet your criteria.

Please call for an appointment with our Employer Services Coordinator at 508-513-3400, email smulcahy@donahue.umassp.edu, or email akingman@donahue.umassp.edu.

Here are some of the employer services we offer:


Access to Computerized Talent Bank

CareerWorks can provide your business with access to its online resume bank and information on job applicants. You can review resumes of qualified job seekers and make contact with qualified applicants. Just go to www.mass.gov/dwd and click on TalentQuest.

Assistance with Pre-Layoff Seminars

CareerWorks offers customized outplacement services for organizations experiencing layoffs, downsizing and relocation. Services include informing and coaching workers in the job search process.

Community Resource Information

CareerWorks partners with a variety of organizations and agencies, such as the Metro South Chamber of Commerce, Brockton 21st Century, and the Small Business Association, that can connect your company to the community resources it needs.

Federal/State Training Fund Information

CareerWorks can help your organization identify funding that may be available for worker training and education.

Job Fairs

Provide employers with a chance to participate in targeted business seminars and network with other business professionals from the region. As a job fair participant, you will also have a booth, enabling you to recruit for job openings from hundreds of qualified workers. Your fee covers workshops, booth, lunch for two, and promotional costs (charges will apply ).

Top

Job Postings - Local and National

Your employment openings can be posted to the Massachusetts One Stop Employment System and America's Job Bank, making them accessible to thousands of job seekers. To have your job opening listed, download a Job Order Form, complete it and send it to CareerWorks by mail, fax (508-513-3450), or email.

You will need Acrobat Reader to download this form. If your computer does not have Reader, you can download it for free.

Labor Market Information

CareerWorks has labor market information on-line including links to prevailing industry wages, employment data by community and other state and national trends regarding employment and the labor market.

Marketing your Company to Job Seekers

CareerWorks offers an innovative marketing program to help your business reach prospective employees. We send direct mailings, post flyers, distribute job postings throughout CareerWorks and online, and hold job fairs.

Onsite Recruiting

CareerWorks offers onsite recruitment sessions and informational events. We will coordinate all facets of your organization's recruitment event, including screening and matching of qualified candidates, scheduling of our facility's conference rooms and equipment, and the availability of CareerWorks staff members to assist with facilitation of the session from beginning to end.

Tax Incentive Information

CareerWorks provides information on federal tax credit options for businesses hiring individuals from certain targeted groups.

Top

NEWS AND EVENTS

Do you wish you knew how to negotiate the best possible salary? Or write a resume that demands attention? CareerWorks can help. We offer workshops that will improve your job search skills and get you noticed.

Calendar

Visit the current CareerWorks Calendar .

News

Read the current issue of the CareerWorks Newsletter. Download a pdf version.

Download a pdf version of CareerWorks current press releases.

December 14, 2004
November 18, 2004
November 1, 2004
October 14, 2004

RESOURCES AND LINKS

 

Resource Room

Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday - 9 am to 4:45 pm

Thursday - 9 am to 6:45 pm

At CareerWorks we believe that the key to finding the right job is having access to information. With this in mind, we have worked hard to ensure our Resource Room provides everything a job seeker needs to conduct a successful job search:

Office Support

Resources

 

Adult Basic Education (ABE) English as a Second Language (ESL) classes Newspapers
Brochures Grant Information Onsite Recruitment
Calendar Job Postings - paper Reference Books
Career Center Seminar Job Bank Listings - Online Support Services Information
Company Information Labor Market Information Training and Education Catalogs
Educational Counseling Links to Partners Vocational Counseling
Education and Training Catalogs Loan Information Workshops

 

Disability Program Navigation

Our program is designed to provide support to individuals with disabilities during their job search. We work to increase employer awareness and employment opportunities for the disabled. A Program Disability Navigator is also available onsite at CareerWorks. His name is Bruce Wright and he can be reached by calling 508-513-3446 or by email. The Navigator will help in many areas, among them: finding adaptive technology and accommodations needed, accessing resources for childcare, housing, transportation, and medical needs.

Personal Support Counseling

Being unemployed is stressful. It may lead to emotional issues that impact your health and well-being. Your stress may even impact your ability to conduct an effective job search. Signs of stress that are not unusual in times of unemployment and career change include:

Personal support counseling can help, and is offered to you at CareerWorks most Wednesdays - check the CareerWorks Calendar. Support counseling services are provided by Chris Anderson, LMHC. Workshops are announced on the CareerWorks Calendar. Confidential individual meetings are also available, and appointments can be made with CareerWorks staff by calling 508-513-3400 or by contacting Chris Anderson at 1-800-311-9619.

Support counseling services are free to enrolled Members of CareerWorks. Participation is voluntary. Referral services for counseling are also available. New Perspectives, a program of Commonwealth Corporation provides the services of licensed counselors to career centers, including CareerWorks in Brockton, Massachusetts.

Unemployment Insurance Services

If you are unemployed, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance. If you are entitled to unemployment benefits, you may file an unemployment insurance claim either in person or by telephone.

To file in person

You may come to CareerWorks in Brockton, Mass.

Walk-In Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon and 1:30 to 4:00 pm

To file by phone with the Division of Unemployment Assistance

Call the TeleClaim Center at 1-877-626-6800 if you are calling from the following area codes - 351, 413, 508, 774, and 978.

Or, call the TeleClaim Center at 617-626-6800 if you are calling from any other area code.

(TTY/TTD: 1-617-626-5666)

Division of Unemployment Assistance TeleClaim Center Hours are:
Monday and Tuesday, 8:00 am - 6:30 pm
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Veteran Services

As a veteran, you are eligible for priority referrals with federal contractors and federal employers. You also are eligible for a variety of federally funded employment and training programs. Our Veteran Services Specialist will help you access these and other veteran entitlements. They also will help you organize your career search, create a personal employment plan, develop a system to manage your job search, and expand your job leads.

For more information, visit the Veterans Service Specialist at CareerWorks, or call 508-513-3422.

Links

Useful links are listed below. Select your area of interest.

Employer Resources Disability Resources Miscellaneous Resources
Educational Resources Career and Job Search  

 

Employer Resources Link
Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board www.bawib.org
Brockton 21st Century Corporation www.brockton21.com
Bureau of Labor Statistics www.bls.gov
Census Bureau www.census.gov
Dun and Bradstreet www.companiesonline.com
MA Workforce Act www.massworkforce.org/
Mass Inc www.massinc.org
Massachusetts Resources - available to MA residents www.massresources.org
Metro South Chamber of Commerce www.metrosouthchamber.com
Resource Partnership www.resourcepartnership.org
Securities Exchange Commission www.sec.gov

Top

Disability Resources Link
Adaptive Technologies www.closingthegap.com
AHEAD - Association on Higher Education & Disability www.ahead.org
Disability Resources on the Internet www.disabilityresources.org
MRC (Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission) www.state.ma.us/mrc
National Center On Workforce and Disability www.onestops.info
Pioneer Valley Disability Resources Program www.cfs.org/disabili.htm
Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov/work

Top

Miscellaneous Resources Link
123Relocation.com www.relo-usa.com
BenePLAN www.resourcepartnership.org/services/beneplan.html
BigBook Phone Numbers www.bigbook.com
City of Brockton www.brockton.ma.us
Commonwealth Corporation www.commcorp.org/
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network www.glsen.org
MA Workforce Act www.massworkforce.org/
Main Spring Coalition www.msh.homestead.com
MonsterMoving.com www.monstermoving.com
Myers Briggs Type Test (Jungian Personality Test)  www.summerblue.net/misc/jungian/
Old Colony Planning Council www.ocpcrpa.org
Relocation Central www.relocationcentral.com
South Shore Haitians United for Progress www.shup.org/aboutus.htm
The Brockton Area Private Industry Council www.bapic.org
Town of Abington www.Abingtonmass.com
Town of Avon www.avonmass.net
Town of Bridgewater www.bridgewaterma.org
Town of East Bridgewater www.eastbridgewaterma.org
Town of Easton www.easton.ma.us
Town of Hanson www.ci.hanson.ma.us
Town of Stoughton www.stoughton.org
Town of West Bridgewater www.town.west-bridgewater.ma.us
Town of Whitman www.ci.whitman.ma.us
U.S. Department of Labor www.dol.gov
Society of Human Resource Mgmt www.shrm.org

Top

Educational Resources Link
Associated Grantmakers of Massachusetts www.agmconnect.org
Barnes and Noble University www.barnesandnobleuniversity.com
EduPoint www.edupoint.com
FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.gov
Financial Aid Information Page www.finaid.org
Free Scholarship Search www.studentservices.com/index.ptml
GuideStar - National Database of Nonprofit Organizations www.guidestar.org
Higher Education Information Center (HEIC) www.edinfo.org
Hungry Minds www.hungryminds.com
Massasoit Community College www.massasoit.mass.edu
Scholarship America www.scholarshipamerica.org
U.S. Community Colleges, by State http://www.utexas.edu/world/comcol/state/
U.S. Dept. of Education www.ed.gov
U.S. Universities, by State www.utexas.edu/world/univ/state

Top

Top

CONTACT US

We would like to hear from you. Your feedback is important to us. Please feel free to contact us at anytime.

CareerWorks

34 School Street (at the rear of building)
Brockton, MA 02301
Phone: 508-513-3400 / Fax: 508-513-3450
e-mail: info@careerworks.org

web: www.careerworks.org

Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday - 9 am to 5 pm
Thursday - 9 am to 7 pm

Directions

Use Mapquest to get directions from anywhere.

From Route 24 take Exit 18A to Route 27 (Brockton). At the second set of lights, take a left onto Pleasant Street. Take a right at the fifth set of lights onto Montello Street. Go straight at the next set of lights. Take the first right onto Lincoln Street. At the stop sign, take a right into the parking lot. Entrance and Parking for CareerWorks is available behind the building.

Getting Here

Public transportation is available for you to get to Career Works, and include:

Local Bus: http://www.ridebat.com
Commuter Rail: http://www.mbta.com
Plymouth & Brockton Bus: http://www.p-b.com

Parking - Click here to view map

Limited FREE parking is available at CareerWorks. Please respect the handicap spaces reserved for our physically challenged clients. Metered parking is also available in the public lot right next door. Parking regulations are strictly enforced by the Parking Authorities who are across the street.

The City Parking Garage is also available at the corners of Crescent & Main Streets (Route 123). CareerWorks is a short walk across City Hall Plaza.

Directions from CareerWorks to City Parking Garage - take Church Street (the street between CareerWorks & WB Mason buildings ) to Montello Street. Turn right. At second light, turn right. City Parking Garage is on right.

Top

This is an official web page of the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute. © 2004 University of Massachusetts