Career Resource Guide

Apprenticeship Preparation Classes

Sponsored by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Services:

* Prepare trainees to meet apprenticeship entry requirements in a variety of trades, including surveying, sheet metal, plumbing/steam fitting, painting/drywall, electrical, sprinkler fitting, carpentry, refrigeration/air conditioning.

* Information on selection processes of various unions.

* Instruction and review in math and reading.

* Focus on minorities and women, but open to all qualified applicants.

Eligibility:

* 18 years or older

* Be high-school graduate or have GED certificate

* Valid California driver’s license

* Be able to provide own transportation

Enrollment periods:

* Fall: August and September

* Spring: January and February

* Summer: May and June

Cost: $5 registration fee

Hours: Classes offered 8 a.m.-1 p.m. or 1-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

Address: Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center, 10925 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 249-1149

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Aware Advisory

Services: Vocational and educational counseling; not a placement service

Cost: $5 donation per visit (may be waived for the unemployed); $20 fee for Strong Interest Inventory testing (includes counseling)

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon. and Wed.

Address: Santa Monica YWCA, 2019 14th St., Santa Monica

Telephone: (310) 452-3833

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Brady JobNet

Serves primarily lower-income individuals and families on Los Angeles’ Eastside, but all people welcome.

Services:

* Three-day employment readiness seminar in English and Spanish

* Job-search mentoring

* Help with resumes

* Interview practice

* Placement and follow-ups

* Referrals to employers

* Job club

Cost: Free to participants and employers; $3 charge for seminar materials

Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Thur.

Address: 717 S. Brady Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 722-4495

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Braille Institute

Nonprofit organization provides a wide variety of services to people who are legally blind. Offers more than 200 classes in independent living skills.

Career services:

* Learning Center for active job seekers. Offers classes covering resume writing, interview skills and adaptive equipment

* Career development

* Job search and placement

* On-site job analysis before and after placement

* Subsidy program for adaptive equipment

* Annual seminar for employers

Costs: Free to legally blind clients

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

Address: 741 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 663-1111

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Business Ownership Service System

Entrepreneur training program offered by Rancho Santiago College to laid-off or soon-to-be laid-off workers. The 10-week program provides technical assistance, business ownership training, marketing guidance and help in business plan creation.

Qualifications:

* Candidates must be laid-off workers

* High school graduate with reading skills at eighth-grade level or above

* Idea for a small business

Cost: Free

Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

Telephone: (714) 564-5207 for appointment and reservation.

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California Business Incubation Network

Nonprofit statewide association advocates fostering the development of new business in California. Business incubators provide entrepreneurial small businesses during the start-up period with affordable space, shared support services and business development services such as financing, marketing and management.

Services offered by CBIN:

* Information clearinghouse

* Technical assistance with development and operations

* Seminars, conferences and workshops

* Speakers bureau

Cost: Free for information packet; membership fees: $100 individual, $250 nonprofit and $500 corporate

Address: 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: Sheila Washington at (619) 237-0559; (800) 427-4710 (California only)

Facility-based incubators in Southern California:

* Border Environmental Business Cluster, 477 Marina Parkway, Building 52, Chula Vista, (619) 498-4960

* Business Innovation Center, 3350 Market St., San Diego, (619) 685-2949

* Business and Industry Services Center, 901 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 564-5202

* CalStart, 3601 Empire Blvd., Burbank, (818) 565-5600

* EC Square Annenberg Incubator Project, 746 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, (213) 743-2344