Career Start : Where to Find Help With the Job of Finding a Career : Information: Community colleges and government programs are prime sources, and they don’t cost much.
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Money is tight. Jobs are scarce. Also difficult these days is guessing which jobs will be in demand five years from now.
If you find the world of jobs and careers confusing, you’re not alone. Furthermore, a shrinking number of people can afford the hundreds of dollars charged by private groups for career counseling.
Careers are springing up in areas such as information management and computer programming that did not even have names a few years ago. Community colleges and government programs are two sources of information, at little or no cost, about what occupations might be in demand a decade from now.
Many government programs are geared for the economically disadvantaged and those laid off. The telephone lines are frequently busy, but be persistent. You will get through eventually. Here is a list of places to seek information.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
1. Los Angeles Valley College. The career center library of occupations and careers is open to the public. The Eureka computerized system of occupations and careers is available. Counseling and vocational testing are available to students and graduates. A 10-week course called Personal Development Four costs $6 plus textbook. Students may take vocational tests and explore occupations. Sessions are scheduled for day or evening. Address: 5800 Fulton Ave., Van Nuys, Calif. 91401. Phone: (818) 781-1200.
2. Los Angeles Pierce College. Career exploration courses, both day and evening, are open to the public. Personal Development Four is available for $6; Personal Development Eight, $12. Skill evaluations cost $17. Career counseling is free to students who have taken a minimum of one unit. The career center library, open to the public, has the occupational outlook handbook and a Eureka computer. The Career Center holds workshops on career issues periodically. Address: The Career Center, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills, Calif. 91371. Phone: 818-347-0551.
3. Los Angeles Mission College. The public may use the library and Eureka computer system. Other services are available to students. Special help is available to women re-entering the labor force. Address: 13356 Eldridge Road, Sylmar, Calif. 91342-3244. Phone: (818) 364-4700.
4. Cal State Northridge. Anybody who has graduated from a four-year college or university is eligible for most services for a $50 annual fee. Workshops, library use and several job fairs a year are available. The college receives 60,000 job listings a year. Most are entry level or at early levels of promotion. Address: The Career Center, Administration Building, Room 203, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, Calif. 91330. Phone: (818) 885-2381.
5. Woodbury University. All services are free to alumni and students. Address: Career Development Center, 7500 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, Calif. 91510. Phone: (818) 767-0888.
6. Jewish Vocational Service. For a $50 annual registration fee, the public may use a resource room that includes a job board, employment literature, industrial and manufacturing guides and labor market information. The center organizes workshops to develop skills needed in searching for a job. Counseling is available. The price, based on ability to pay, is no more than $60. Address: West Valley Jewish Community Center, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills, Calif. 91307. Phone: (818) 587-3222.
7. State Employment Development Department. EDD services vary from branch to branch. In the Job Service Section they include workshops with skill analysis, distribution of labor market information, suggestions on how to interview, and referrals to training and educational facilities. Some offices have vocational counselors. Job Match is a statewide computer network that pairs up job applicants with open positions. All services are free. EDD offices in the San Fernando Valley:
* 21010 Vanowen, Canoga Park, Calif. 91303. Phone: (818) 596-4444.
* 11049 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood 91601, Calif. Phone: (818) 509-5600.
* 1520 San Fernando Road, San Fernando, Calif. 91340. Phone: (818) 365-4637.
* 1255 S. Central Ave., Glendale, Calif. 91204. Phone: (818) 247-1321.
8. Private Industry Councils’ Job Training Programs. The Job Training Partnership Act of 1982 provides federal funding for locally managed employment and training programs. Private Industry Councils contract with schools and community-based organizations to provide job training for occupations meeting local needs. All evaluation services are free. Training is on the job, in the classroom or a combination of both. The economically disadvantaged and laid-off workers are eligible. Phone numbers of PICs in Los Angeles County are:
* Carson, Lomita, Torrance, (310) 781-7100.
* Foothill, (818) 405-4219.
* Long Beach, (310) 590-6841.
* City of Los Angeles, (213) 485-6520.
* L.A. County, (213) 738-2598.
* South Bay, (310) 412-5558.
* Southeast L.A. Consortium, (310) 402-9336.
* Verdugo, (818)-548-2053.
For general information, call (800) FOR-A-JOB.
9. Regional Occupations Centers. The Los Angeles Unified School District offers a variety of courses in business, automotive repair, electronics, landscaping and other trades. Counselors are available to evaluate a student’s ability and offer guidance. Addresses and phone numbers:
* Kennedy-San Fernando CAS, 11254 Gothic Ave., Granada Hills, Calif. 91344, Phone: (818) 368-3702.
* North Hollywood Community Adult School, 5231 Colfax Ave., North Hollywood, Calif. 91601. Phone: (818) 766-8166.
* North Valley Occupational Center, 11450 Sharp Ave., Mission Hills, Calif. 91345. Phone: (818) 365-9645.
* Pacoima Skills Center, 13323 Louvre St., Pacoima, Calif. 91331. Phone: (818) 896-9558.
* Reseda CAS, 18230 Kittridge St., Reseda, Calif. 91335. Phone: (818) 343-1977.
* Van Nuys CAS, 6535 Cedros Ave., Van Nuys, Calif. 91409. Phone: (818) 785-5427.
* West Valley OC, 6200 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills, Calif. 91367. Phone: (818) 346-3540.
10. Los Angeles Public Library. The main branch and two branches in the Valley carry materials related to occupations and business. Addresses and phone numbers:
* West Valley Regional Branch, 19036 Vanowen St., Reseda, Calif. 91335. Phone: (818) 345-4393.
* North Hollywood Regional Branch, 5211 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood, Calif. 91601. Phone: (818) 766-7185.
* Central Library Social Science, Philosophy and Religion Department, 433 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90013. Phone: (213) 612-3250.
11. Work Net Services. This is a private, nonprofit career development and job placement service. Services include job preparation seminars, one-on-one sessions with career developers, assistance in survival-job placement and career development. Services are free to job seekers and prospective employers. Address: 1242 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite A, Pasadena, Calif. 91106. Phone: (818) 793-5627.
12. Aware Advisory. Services include vocational testing, for which there is a fee; and counseling, which is free. Address: Santa Monica YWCA, 2019 14th St., Santa Monica, Calif. 90405. Phone: (310) 452-3833.
13. California Small Business Development Center. The program’s primary focus is the creation and retention of jobs and helping entrepreneurs to get a solid start in business. Twenty-three locally based centers form a statewide network linking the resources of government, the educational community and the private sector to help meet the needs of the small-business community.
Services include in-depth, one-on-one consulting, business planning and management assistance, marketing and technical help, business education and training workshops, assistance with expansion into the international marketplace, technology transfer information and help, economic and business data, access to federal, state and local programs, permit and licensing assistance. Consultations are free and confidential.
For locations in the San Fernando Valley and northern Los Angeles, call (818) 373-7092.
For locations in Orange County, call (714) 647-1172.
14. Career Planning Center. This private, nonprofit, community-based organization offers a job resource center featuring reference library and job listings, specialized clerical training, skills evaluation, counseling, resume critiquing and job-search skills workshops by appointment. Psychotherapy related to job loss is also available. The job resource center library and job listings are free. Specialized clerical training is free but limited in availability. Skills evaluation, including counseling, costs $175; counseling, $65 an hour; resume critiquing, $45. Psychotherapy fees are on a sliding scale. Address: 1623 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90035. Phone: (310) 273-6633.
ORANGE COUNTY
1. Cal State Fullerton. Services are open to registered students and alumni. The latter pay a $25 annual fee for general services, $25 for individual services. Services include job listings, career planning seminars and workshops, walk-in counseling, career days, a career library, career counseling, training in interviewing skills. SIGI Plus, an interactive career information system, is available. Address: Career Development Center, Langsdorf Hall, Room 208, Fullerton, Calif. 92634. Phone: (714) 773-3121.
2. Cypress College. Services, open to students and the public, include a research library and the Eureka and SIGI Plus computer programs. Career vocational testing costs about $2. Staff members give individual counseling. Brown-bag workshops are held on Thursdays. Address: The Career Planning Center, Humanities Building, Room 248, 9200 Valley View, Cypress, Calif. 90603. Phone: (714) 826-2220, Ext. 120.
3. Rancho Santiago College. The skills and career program, open to students and the general public, includes aptitude and other tests and feedback interviews on suitable careers and job opportunities. Services are free to students. $50 for the public. Career courses costing $15 are also offered. Address: Assessment and Employment Center, Rancho Santiago College, 1381 W. 17th St., Santa Ana, Calif. 92706. Phone: (714) 564-5400.
4. Saddleback College. The career library is open to all. A SIGI Plus test for career values costs $10. Counseling is for students only. Alumni may use the Job Board for a year after graduating. Address: The Career Center, 28,000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, Calif. 92692. Phone: (714) 582-4575.
5. Golden West College. A resource information center is open to all. A nine-week course, Counseling 100, costs $9. It includes career-search advice and skills evaluation. Address: 15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach, Calif. 92647. Phone: (714) 895-8217.
6. UCI Extension Women’s Opportunities Center. Men and women are welcome. Services include one-on-one career counseling, workshops, resume counseling, weekly job-search support group, career and education resource library, job listings, discounts on certain UCI Extension courses. Membership costs $35 a year plus fees for some workshops. Address: UCI Extension complex, UCI campus. Phone: (714) 856-7128.
7. Regional Occupational Training Programs. Counselors offer free advice and evaluations. Training and retraining courses are taught at industrial and classroom sites. Job-placement assistance is available for no more than $35 for processing. Day and evening classes are available on weekdays and Saturdays. Addresses and phone numbers:
* North Orange County ROP, 2360 W. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, Calif. 92801. Phone: (714) 776-7292, Ext. 1.
* Central Orange County ROP, 11262 Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove, Calif. 92643, phone: (714) 663-6525 or (714) 663-6291; 250 S. Yorba St., Orange, Calif. 92669, phone: (714) 771-7340; 1815 S. Ritchey, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705, phone: (714) 558-5558. Coastline ROP, 1001 Presidio Square, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626, phone: (714) 979-1955, Ext. 1; Capistrano-Laguna Beach ROP, 31522 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. 92675, phone: (714) 496-3118, Ext. 1.
8. Private Industry Councils’ Job Training Program. The Job Training Partnership Act of 1982 provides federal funding for locally managed employment and training programs. Private Industry Councils contract with schools and community-based organizations to provide job training for occupations meeting local needs. All evaluation services are free. Training is on the job, in the classroom or a combination of both. The economically disadvantaged and laid-off workers are eligible. Phone numbers of PICs in Orange County (please call for an appointment) are: in La Habra, (714) 526-2227, (213) 694-1101, Ext. 251; in Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, La Habra, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Fullerton, Yorba Linda, Placentia, Rossmore, Stanton, Anaheim, (714) 520-5872; in Garden Grove, (714) 741-5020; in Santa Ana, (714) 564-5401; in the rest of Orange County, (714) 567-7530.
9. Employment Development Department. The Santa Ana office has a vocational counselor. Other offices hold job workshops and can direct people to training. Addresses and phone numbers: 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705, phone: (714) 567-7401, ask for Margo West; 1001 S. Grand, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705, phone: (714) 558-4294; 23456 Madero, Mission Viejo, Calif. 92691, (714) 588-3900; 900 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, Calif. 92805, phone: (714) 558-4610; 233 E. Commonwealth, Fullerton, Calif. 92632, phone: (714) 680-7800; 12661 Hoover St., Garden Grove, Calif. 92641, phone: (714) 897-3699.
10. Orange County Heritage Park Library. A good selection of business books and related career materials. Address: 14361 Yale Ave., Irvine, Calif. 92714; phone: (714) 551-7151.
11. California Registry of Professional Counselors and Para-Professionals. Will refer clients to career counselors at no charge. Fees vary. Address: 2555 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 201, Fullerton, Calif. 92631; phone: (714) 871-6460.
* RELATED STORY, Page 8
