When exploring careers or searching for employment opportunities, many people focus on commercial job boards and company websites. However, another valuable resource that is sometimes overlooked is workforce development offices.

Workforce development offices are organizations, often operated by state governments and their partners, that help individuals prepare for, find, and advance in employment. These offices provide a variety of services designed to support job seekers, career changers, and individuals seeking additional education and training.

Whether someone is entering the workforce, changing careers, returning after a break, or seeking new skills, workforce development professionals can provide valuable assistance.

Some of the services available through workforce development offices may include:

• Career exploration and assessment.
• Job search assistance.
• Resume and cover letter guidance.
• Interview preparation.
• Information about training programs and apprenticeships.
• Workshops and career events.
• Connections to employers and job opportunities.
• Labor market information and information about high-demand occupations.

Many of these services are available at little or no cost to job seekers. In many cases, workforce development offices also provide access to computers, workshops, hiring events, and referrals to training and educational programs.

Workforce development offices are often part of the American Job Center network, which provides employment and training services throughout the United States.

Individuals can locate workforce development offices in several ways.

Many states operate workforce development programs through their departments of labor or workforce agencies. A Google search using phrases such as:

"[Name of State] workforce development"

or

"[Name of State] department of labor"

can often help individuals locate these resources.

The American Job Center network provides employment and training services throughout the United States. Information about local offices can be found through CareerOneStop.

Website for CareerOneStop:

https://www.careeronestop.org/

On the CareerOneStop website, look for the "Find Local Help" section. From there, select "Find American Job Centers" to search for offices by location.

Website layouts may change over time, especially on mobile devices, but the search tools are generally easy to locate.

Community colleges and universities frequently partner with workforce development organizations and may provide information about local employment and training resources.

Google search engines and AI tools can also help individuals identify workforce development offices and employment resources available in their state and local area.

One of the strengths of workforce development offices is that they bring together a variety of career and training resources in one place. In addition to helping individuals find employment, these organizations can help people explore career options, develop new skills, and identify opportunities for lifelong learning.

Career development is often an ongoing journey rather than a single event. Workforce development offices exist to help individuals navigate that journey and discover new possibilities.

Whether you are entering the workforce, considering a career change, or simply exploring your options, workforce development offices may provide resources and support worth investigating.

When exploring careers or looking for a new job, many people turn to commercial job boards and websites. However, one valuable resource that is sometimes overlooked is CareerOneStop.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, CareerOneStop provides a wide variety of free tools and information designed to help individuals make informed career decisions.

The website for CareerOneStop is:

https://www.careeronestop.org/

Visitors to the website can explore careers, search for job openings, learn about training programs, and research employment trends. The site also offers information on resumes, cover letters, interviewing, and salary data.

Some of the resources available through CareerOneStop include:

• Career exploration tools.
• Occupation profiles and salary information.
• Resume and cover letter guidance.
• Job search assistance.
• Training and education information.
• Interview preparation resources.
• Career videos and self-assessments.
• Information for career changers and lifelong learners.

One of the strengths of CareerOneStop is that it brings together a large amount of career information in one place. Whether someone is entering the workforce, returning to the workforce after a break, or considering a new direction, the website offers resources that can help support the process.

Career development is often an ongoing journey. Having access to reliable information can make that journey easier and help individuals make more informed decisions about their future.

CareerOneStop is an example of how technology and public resources can work together to support lifelong learning and career success.

Those interested in learning more are encouraged to visit CareerOneStop and explore the many free resources available.

When many people think about preparing for a career, they often think of college degrees or certificate programs. Another option that deserves attention is registered apprenticeships.

Fortunately, there are several ways individuals can explore apprenticeship opportunities.

Individuals can locate apprenticeship opportunities through a variety of resources, including:

Information about apprenticeships can be found through the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship.

The following website provides the ability to search for apprenticeship opportunities across the country:

https://www.apprenticeship.gov/apprenticeship-job-finder

The Office of Apprenticeship also provides information about the apprenticeship system and links to state apprenticeship agencies and resources:

https://www.apprenticeship.gov/about-us/apprenticeship-system 

Many state government agencies provide information about apprenticeship programs available within their states. The Office of Apprenticeship website contains links and information that can help individuals locate state apprenticeship resources.

Career offices at colleges and universities sometimes provide information about apprenticeship programs and opportunities available to students and graduates.

Major job search websites such as LinkedIn and Indeed often include apprenticeship opportunities. Searching with the keyword "apprenticeship" may help individuals identify available positions.

Google searches and AI tools can also help individuals locate apprenticeship opportunities in the geographic areas they are interested in exploring.

One of the biggest advantages of apprenticeships is the opportunity to "earn while you learn." Participants receive paid, on-the-job experience while also receiving training and instruction. Upon completion, apprentices earn nationally recognized credentials that can help open the door to future opportunities.

Although apprenticeships have traditionally been associated with the skilled trades, opportunities are expanding into many other fields. Today, apprenticeships can be found in areas such as healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, transportation, and other high-demand occupations.

Employers benefit by developing skilled workers, while individuals gain valuable experience and income as they learn. For many people, apprenticeships offer an attractive alternative or complement to traditional educational pathways.

Apprenticeships represent another example of how learning can take many forms. Whether you are entering the workforce, changing careers, or simply exploring your options, apprenticeships may be worth considering.

Through a combination of paid work experience and structured learning, apprenticeships provide another pathway to lifelong learning and career development.

Ask for feedback is what people value most in a job

Free Guide: Career Exploration with Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

If typing, writing, or computer work has become difficult due to hand or wrist pain, it can make career decisions more complicated.

I’ve created a free guide focused on helping individuals think through career options when dealing with repetitive strain injuries (RSI) in the hands and wrists.

The guide looks at practical ways to:

• Evaluate careers based on physical demands

• Use informational interviews to gather real-world insight

• Identify work patterns that may reduce continuous strain

• Ask better questions before accepting a job

This is a free resource and a living document that may be updated as new ideas and feedback are developed.

You will have the option to contribute if you would like, but there is no expectation to do so. If you are dealing with hand or wrist problems, please feel free to download the guide at no cost.

This publication is a collection of ideas. Take what is helpful to you, and leave what is not.

If this topic is relevant to you — or someone you know — you can access the guide here:

👉 https://liveyourlifelearning.gumroad.com/l/rsi-career-guide

Give ideas to stay focused during a job search

Information on Seminars, Conferences, and Professional Events in helping a career

Hello everyone,

For this week’s discussion, I’d like to ask a question about career choices.

What was the single biggest influence on the career path you chose?

Everyone arrives at their career in different ways. Sometimes the decision is carefully planned, and sometimes it happens because of an unexpected opportunity.

I’d be interested in hearing your experiences.

• If you are currently working in a career, what influenced your decision to go into that field?
• If you are thinking about changing careers, what is the biggest influence shaping the direction you want to go?
• And for those who operate their own business — either part-time or full-time — what inspired you to start that particular business?

Here are a few possible influences that people sometimes mention when choosing a career:

• Something they saw in the media (TV, radio, social media, or online videos)

• A course they took in school

• A teacher or mentor who influenced them

• Advice from a friend or family member

• A book, article, or podcast they encountered

• An unexpected opportunity that came along

• A career assessment or career counseling session

• Advice from a career expert

• An informational interview with someone in a field

• Learning about a career through advertising or outreach

• A textbook or class project in school

• A travel experience that opened new perspectives

• A long-time personal interest or dream

Everyone’s story is different, and it’s often interesting to hear how people arrived at the work they do today.

If we receive enough responses, I may create a future post summarizing some of the ideas and experiences shared.

If you'd like to participate, you can:

• Leave a comment on the video titled “This Week: What Influenced Your Career Decision?” on the Live Your Life Learning YouTube channel

• Send your thoughts to [email protected]

Thanks for taking the time to read and participate in the discussion.

Mike

Live Your Life Learning

Hello everyone,

I wanted to open up a discussion about artificial intelligence (AI) and how it may affect careers, education, and business.

AI technology is spreading rapidly across many parts of society. Every week we hear new stories about how AI is being used in workplaces, schools, and businesses. With these developments, many people are wondering how AI may influence the future of work and learning.

A question to start the discussion:

Do you think AI will create more jobs than it replaces?

Some people believe AI will create many new opportunities. Others worry that it may replace certain jobs or change how industries operate.

So for this post, I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Below are a few additional questions to help start the discussion. Feel free to answer any of them or simply share your own ideas.

Careers

• Do you think AI will influence careers? If so, how?

• What types of careers do you think will be most affected by AI?

• Are there careers that you believe will not be greatly influenced by AI?

• What impact do you think AI may have on remote work and remote careers?

Education

• What influence do you think AI will have on education?

• Do you think the impact will mostly be positive, negative, or a mix of both?

• Where do you think AI will have the biggest impact:

• elementary schools
• middle schools
• high schools
• colleges and universities

• How might AI influence online or remote learning?

Starting or Operating Your Own Business

• How do you think AI might influence businesses that people start or operate?

• What new types of businesses might emerge because of AI?

• Are there businesses that may become more difficult to run in the age of AI?

• How might AI influence remote business opportunities?

Society in General

• What broader changes do you think AI may bring to society?

If we get enough responses, I may share a summary of the ideas and perspectives in a future post.

If you'd like to participate, you can:

• Leave a comment on the video titled “A.I. and the Future of Careers – What Do You Think?” on the Live Your Life Learning YouTube channel

• Send your thoughts to [email protected]

Thanks for taking the time to read and participate in the discussion.

Mike

Live Your Life Learning

This Week: AI Resources and Wrist-Friendly Career Tools

Hello everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well. Sorry for the pause in posting recently — I’ve had a few health issues to manage, but things are improving and I’m getting back into the swing of things.

With all the news lately about artificial intelligence and how it’s changing the workplace, I wanted to share a resource that some of you may find helpful.

Goodwill, the nonprofit organization that supports many career and workforce programs, is currently offering the Google AI Essentials Course for free for a limited time. If you’re curious about learning the basics of AI and how it can be used in everyday work tasks, this may be worth checking out.

More details can be found on the Goodwill website:

https://www.goodwill.org/

I'm not sure if the course is limited to people in the United States or available internationally, so be sure to check the website for details.

Resources for People with Wrist Challenges

For those who experience wrist pain or repetitive strain issues, I’ve also been working on sharing some ideas and resources that may help. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I’ve been documenting some things I’ve learned along the way.

I’ve created a small YouTube channel where I share information and resources related to wrist injuries and career options. Some additional notes and explanations are included in the video descriptions.

You can find the channel here:

Wrist Injuries to Career Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@wristinjuriestocareerchann4456

If you have thoughts, suggestions, or ideas, I’d be happy to hear them. You can either:

• Leave a comment on a video with the title "This Week: Course A.I and Wrist Resources" video on the Live Your Life Learning YouTube channel

• Send feedback to: [email protected]

My goal is to post again in about two weeks. I’m working toward sharing content a few times each month, and I’m also hoping to begin posting some interview conversations soon.

Things have been on pause for a while, so I appreciate everyone’s patience as I get things moving again.

Thanks for following along.

Mike

Live Your Life Learning