The Southern California Job Market : Making It Work : Where to Find Tips, Testing, Training at Little or No Cost

Aware Advisory

Services: vocational and educational counseling; not a placement service

Cost: $5 donation per visit, which may be waived for the unemployed; $15 fee for Strong Interest Inventory testing (includes counseling)

Hours: Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

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

Telephone: (310) 452-3833

Brady JobNet

Services primarily lower income individuals and families in East Los Angeles and surrounding areas, but all persons are welcome.

Services:

* employment readiness seminar given on alternate weeks in English and Spanish every Tues. and Wed., 9 a.m.-noon

* job search mentorships

* help with resumes

* interview practice

* placement and follow-ups

* referrals to employers

Cost: free to participants and employers, except $3 charge for seminar materials

Hours: Mon., Tues. and Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wed. 8 a.m.-noon.

Address: 717 S. Brady Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 722-4495

California Council for Veteran’s Affairs

Services:

* employment assistance

* job listings

* computer matching of applicant qualifications to employer needs

* educational resource library

* women’s shelter (veterans and nonveterans eligible)

Eligibility: must be a veteran

Cost: free

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; counseling 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Address: 3943 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 299-6330

California Registry of Professional Counselors

Service: referrals to career counselors

Cost: referrals, free; counseling services, variable fees

Address: 2555 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 201, Fullerton

Telephone: (714) 871-6460

Career Planning Center

Private, nonprofit, community-based organization.

Services:

* job resource center featuring reference library and job listings

* skills assessment, counseling, resume critiquing and job search skills workshop by appointment

* psychotherapy related to job loss

* outplacement services to employers, including on-sight workshops

* JTPA-funded on-the-job training for eligible applicants

Cost: job resource center, library and job listings, free; fees vary for skills assessment, career counseling, resume critiquing and psychotherapy

Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri., 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Address: 1623 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles

Telephone: (310) 273-6633

Coalition for Women’s Economic Development

Nonprofit organization assisting low-income persons to achieve self-sufficiency through self-employment.

Services:

* entrepreneurial training

* technical assistance

* loans to low-income men and women to start or expand microbusinesses

* all services are offered in English and Spanish at five locations throughout Los Angeles County

Cost: free monthly orientations; workshops $20 and $45

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Telephone: (213) 489-1202

EMPLOY Network

Computerized network of over 50 nonprofit agencies that assists employers in filling job openings. Agencies forming the employment coalition assist job applicants with a variety of disabilities and special needs.

Services to employers:

* matching pre-screened applicants with job openings

* educational workshops on disabilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act

* technical assistance on accommodations and adaptations

* information on tax credits available to employers hiring people with special needs

* assistance on meeting affirmative action goals

Cost: free

Telephone: (800) 244-1JOB

Forty Plus

Nonprofit, self-help employment service for people over forty with professional, technical or executive experience.

Services:

* instruction in computer skills, resume preparation, interview and networking techniques

* job listings

* research library

* free seminars

* biweekly meetings

Cost: entrance fee, monthly dues and charges for computer time and telephone service

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

Address: 3450 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 510, Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 388-2301

Other locations:

* 23172 Plaza Pointe Drive, Suite 285, Laguna Hills, (714) 581-7990

* 8845 University Center Lane, San Diego, (619) 450-4440

Los Angeles Urban League

Serving more than 90,000 people each year, the Los Angeles Urban League seeks to secure social and economic opportunities for Blacks and other minorities through a variety of programs, including counseling, training, placement and community development.

Services:

* Employment Services Department assists job-ready applicants who are professional, skilled or semi-skilled and seeking employment or a career change. Applicants and employers are served through counseling, workshops and a job bank.

* Data Processing Center offers courses in computer programming, computer operations and automated office procedures.

* Pomona Valley T.E.C. conducts specialized vocational training in electronics, machine tool technology and word processing/data entry.

* Milken Family Literacy & Youth Training Center provides instruc

tion in reading, writing, math and problem solving to assist youth and their families in developing skills to compete for employment.

* Pasadena-Foothill Branch offers career counseling and job placement

* Automotive Training Center

* Entrepreneurial Training and Business Development Center

* Financial Training Center

Cost: free

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

Address: 3450 Mount Vernon Drive, Los Angeles (call for addresses of other locations)

Telephone: (213) 299-9660

Pasadena Senior Center

Employment services program for those 50 and older.

Services:

* referrals to job openings

* workshops

* referrals to other employment programs

* assistance in defining employment objectives and goals

* reference materials

Cost: $5 donation requested for employment services

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for job listings; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for interviews

Address: 85 East Holly St., Pasadena

Telephone: (818) 795-4331. Call for appointment prior to first visit.

Work Net Services

Nonprofit career development and job placement service.

Services:

* job preparation seminars

* one-on-one sessions

* assistance in survival job placements and career development Cost: free to job seekers and employers

Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri., 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Address: 1242 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite A, Pasadena

Telephone: (818) 793-5627

Second Careers

The Second Careers Program is a nonprofit project of the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles largely serving persons age 50 and older.

Services:

* job placement--primarily office-related opportunities, including clerical, managerial, professional and technical

* computer instruction and lab

* resource library

* retirement planning

Cost: free to job seekers; modest fees for employers; computer lab $10 per session

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; computer lab 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Address: 3923 W. 6th St., Suite 216 (moving March 14 to 3530 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1220)

Telephone: (213) 380-3166

The Training Institute

National organization dedicated to meeting the needs of the economically disadvantaged with funding from the Job Training Partnership Act.

Services: Training and placement for work as automated office technician, computerized financial specialists, medical billing specialist and public safety officer.

Cost: free to eligible applicants

Locations:

* 6th Street Campus - 3550 W. 6th St., Suite 205, Los Angeles, (213) 368-7303

* Olympic Campus - 714 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 210, Los Angeles, (213) 747-6888

* Century Campus - 4611-4615 W. Century Blvd., Inglewood, (310) 674-9400

Women at Work

Nonprofit organization focusing on career concerns of women, but men are welcome.

Services:

* drop-in resource room featuring a library and job listings

* counseling, testing and resume writing

* specially funded programs for single parents, displaced homemakers and Hispanic professional women with limited English

* evening workshops on career planning, resume writing, interview techniques, networking and 50+ job hunting

* information dissemination and counseling on non-traditional job opportunities for women (trade and tech)

Cost: drop-in resource room, suggested donation $2; counseling and resume writing, $50; occupational testing, including counseling, $90; evening workshops range from free to $20

Hours: Mon., Tues. and Thurs., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wed., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Address: 50 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena

Telephone: (818) 796-6870