Resource Guide : Where to Find Tips, Testing and Training at Little or No Cost

L.A. Times Archives

Feb. 26, 1996 12 AM PT

Apprenticeship

Preparation Classes

Sponsored by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Services:

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

* Information on selection processes of various unions

* Instruction and review in math and reading skills

* Affirmative action recruiting, focusing on minorities and women but open to all qualified applicants

Eligibility:

* 18 years or older

* High-school graduate/G.E.D. certificate

* Valid California driver’s license

* Must 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: 8 a.m.-noon, Mon.-Fri.

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

Telephone: (213) 564-1431, Ext. 315

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

Brady JobNet

Serves primarily lower-income individuals and families in East Los Angeles and surrounding areas, but all persons are 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, except $3 charge for seminar materials

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

Address: 715 S. Brady Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 722-4495

Braille Institute

A nonprofit organization providing a wide variety of services to people who are legally blind, including over 200 classes in independent living skills.

Career services:

* Learning Center for active job-seekers with 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 employer seminar

Costs: Free to legally blind clients

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

Address: 741 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angles

Telephone: (213) 663-1111

Business Ownership

Service System

An entrepreneurial 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 skill training, marketing guidance and business plan creation.

Qualifications:

* Candidates must be laid-off workers

* High school graduates with a minimum of eighth-grade reading level

* Idea or concept for a small business

* Complete assessment testing

Cost: Free for qualified applicants

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

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

California Business

Incubation Network

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

Services offered by CBIN:

* Information clearinghouse

* Technical assistance with development and operations

* Seminars, conferences and workshops

* Speakers bureau

Cost: Complimentary information packet; membership fees: $100 individual, $500 corporate

Address: 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles 90071

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

Facility-based incubators in Southern California:

* 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

* CHARO Enterprise Innovation Center, 3951 E. Medford St., Los Angeles, (213) 269-0751

* EC Square Annenberg Incubator Project, 746 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90089, 743-2344.

* Lancaster Economic Development Corp., 104 E. Avenue K-4, Suite A, Lancaster, (805) 945-2741

* Lynwood Entrepreneur Development Academy, 2555 Industry Way, Suite C and D, Lynwood, (213) 249-4980.

* Pasadena Enterprise Center, 1015 N. Lake Ave., Suite 100, Pasadena, (818) 398-9974

* RBTIC (Ridgecrest Business Technology Incubator Center), 139 N. Balsam St., Ridgecrest, (619) 384-1118

* Vermont Slauson Business Center, 5918 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 753-2335

California Conservation Corps

Hires young men and women to work for one year on a variety of environmental and community projects and to respond to emergencies such as forest fires, floods and earthquakes. Corps members learn job skills and gain work experience. Both residential and non-residential positions are available.

Qualifications: Women and men between the ages of 18 and 23 who are California residents and not on probation or parole

Telephone: (800) 952-5627

California Council

for Veterans Affairs

Services:

* Employment assistance

* Job listings

* Computer matching of applicant qualifications to employer needs

* Educational resource library

* Women’s shelter (veterans and non-veterans eligible)

Eligibility: must be a veteran

Cost: Free

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

Address: 8652 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 299-6330

California Registry of

Professional Counselors

Service: Referrals to career counselors

Cost: Referrals are free; variable fees for counseling

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

Telephone: (714) 871-6460

California Small Business

Development Center

Counseling and training of small-business owners and prospective entrepreneurs. Hosted by Rancho Santiago College.

Services:

* In-depth, one-on-one consulting

* Business planning and management assistance

* Marketing and technical assistance

* Business education and training

* Assistance with expansion into the international marketplace

* Technology transfer assistance

* Economic and business data

* Access to federal, state and local programs

* Permit and licensing assistance

Cost: Consultations are free and confidential; appointment required

Locations in Southern California:

* Eastern Los Angeles County SBDC, Pomona, (909) 629-2247

* Export SBDC of Southern California, Los Angeles, (213) 892-1111

* El Monte/South El Monte Outreach Center, El Monte, (818) 459-4111

* Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce SBDC, La Jolla, (619) 453-9388

* Inland Empire SBDC, Riverside, (909) 781-2345

* Northern Los Angeles SBDC, Van Nuys, (818) 373-7092

* Orange County SBDC, Santa Ana, (714) 647-1172

* Southwestern College Small Business Development and International Trade Center, Chula Vista, (619) 482-6391

* Southwest Los Angeles County SBDC, Torrance, (310) 787-6466

* Accelerate Technology SBDC, Irvine, (714) 509-2990

Career Encores

Referral service for people 50 and older. Serves only Los Angeles County, networking with 50 other agencies countywide.

Services:

* Information on job training

* Job listings for employers and job-seekers

* Job search assistance

Job clubs:

* Burbank: 2100 Magnolia Blvd.

* Culver City: 3710 S. Robertson Blvd.

Orientation at 10 a.m. Fridays. Call before visit.

Cost: Free to job-seekers and employers

Hot line hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Telephone hot line for all sites: 1 (800) 833-6267 for job seekers and employers

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-site workshops

* On-the-job training for eligible applicants, funded by the federal Job Training Partnership Act

* Classroom training in computer competencies

Costs: Free job resource center, library and job listings; fees vary for skills assessment, career counseling, resume critiquing and psychotherapy for non-JPTA eligible particpants

Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Thur., Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

Telephone: Call (310) 273-6633 for appointment

City of Los Angeles

Employment Opportunities

Listing of current job openings with the city (not including police officers and firefighters), updated weekly. “Challenging Careers” brochure available upon request.

Hours: 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Address: 700 E. Temple St., Room 100, Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 847-9240

Jobs hot line: (213) 847-9424. Call for recorded message listing current openings (24 hours)

Comprehensive Jobs

Assistance Centers (CJACs)

A one-stop career center sponsored by the city of Los Angeles Private Industry Council (PIC). CJACs assist dislocated workers (plant closures, layoffs and long-term unemployed) with job search, training and placement.

Services:

* Counseling and assessment

* Workshops on resume writing, interviewing skills, networking and economic survival

* Supportive services such as stress and financial management, and if qualified, transportation and child-care assistance

* Remedial skills training

* Retraining opportunities, such as classroom, on-the-job and customized training

* Job resource centers including telephones, faxes, job listings and copiers

* WorkLink computer network matching employers/job opportunities to job seekers

Locations:

* Crenshaw/South-Central, 3500 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, (213) 743-3950

* East Los Angeles/Central City, 3951 E. Medford St., Los Angeles, (213) 268-1100.

* Mid-Wilshire/West Los Angeles, 1541 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 407, Los Angeles, (213) 353-1677

* Northwest San Fernando Valley, 14515 Hamlin St., Van Nuys, (818) 781-2522

* Northeast San Fernando Valley, 2600 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank, (818) 972-2695.

* Harbor Gateway/Wilmington/San Pedro, 1 Civic Plaza, Suite 500, Carson, (310) 518-8100

Cost: Free to people who qualify

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

Employment Development

Department

State agency offering a variety of services to job-seekers and employers.

Services:

* Job Match, a statewide computer network matching applicants and openings

* Job-search training workshops

* Experience Unlimited job clubs geared to professional, managerial and technical workers seeking jobs

* Referrals to training or educational facilities and social service agencies

* Unemployment and disability insurance

Cost: Free

Telephone: Look for nearest EDD Job Service office, listed under “California, State of” in the government listings section at the beginning of the telephone directory white pages.

Employment Service Centers

Assists adults who are long-term unemployed (14 weeks or more), laid-off, economically disadvantaged or receiving public assistance to find employment.

Services:

* Aptitude, basic skills and interest inventory testing

* Referrals to vocational classroom training

* Job development

* Job readiness workshops

Costs: Free to qualified applicants

Locations:

* East Los Angeles Client Service Center, 215 W. Pomona Blvd., Suite 300, Monterey Park, (213) 887-7122

* South Central Client Service Center, 2930 W. Imperial Highway, Suite 515, Inglewood, (213) 779-2199

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

Employment Training Panel

A state agency assisting California businesses in obtaining skilled workers needed to stay competitive, productive and profitable. The ETP does not provide training, but provides funding for programs in areas such as:

* Total quality management

* Statistical process control

* Office automation

* Production techniques

* Computer-assisted design

* Computer-assisted manufacturing

Reimbursement of training costs to employers are negotiated prior to training.

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

Address: Charles Lundberg, Employment Training Panel, 800 Capitol Mall, MIC 64, P.O. Box 826880, Sacramento, CA 94280-0001

Telephone: (916) 654-9883

EMPLOY Network

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

Services to employers:

* Matching pre-screened applicants with job openings

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

* Assistance on meeting affirmative action goals

Cost: Free

Telephone: (310) 258-4025; (800) 244-1JOB

Forty Plus

A nonprofit, self-help employment service for people over 40 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: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

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

* 3760, Convoy St. #112, San Diego, (619) 514-0377

Goodwill Industries

of Southern California

Not-for-profit organization helps people with barriers to employment (disabilities, social disadvantages) to reach vocational potentials. Clients may also include those with limited work skills, little or no work history, no permanent shelter, poor self-esteem and self-confidence, a history of substance abuse or incarceration.

Services:

* Work evaluation and work adjustment training

* Occupational skill training and placement, including on-the-job training. Skills trainging includes computer/clerical, truck and forklift, janitorial and food service.

* Job coaches

* Job club

* Career Evaluation Center offering specialized testing and vocational counseling for disabled and at-risk youth.

Costs: Free

Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Address: 342 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 223-1211

Jewish Vocational Service

Nonprofit, non-sectarian service organization.

Services:

* Motivational, job search, interview and resume workshops

* Job club support group geared to professionals

* Job listings

* Research library

* Career testing and counseling

* Job placement services for the disabled

* Career Transitions--career management services to corporations and employees

* Career Focus, a five-session workshop for people interested in exploring a career change Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m.

* Second Wind, workshop and support group for people 55 years and older

* Government-funded progam offering on-the-job training to qualified applicants (JTPA)

* Motivational support group meets Wednesdays 6:30-9 p.m.

* Free employment service for the city of West Hollywood.

Cost: $30 registration fee; counseling per session, $60 or less; Career Focus workshop, $150

Hours: For more information, call between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Mon.-Thur. and 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Fri.

Locations:

* 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 303, Los Angeles, (213) 655-8910

* 6429 Independence Ave., Woodland Hills, (818) 587-3222 (closed Fridays)

* University Synagogue, 11960 Sunset Blvd., Room 115, Los Angeles, (Thursdays only)

* 22410 Palos Verdes Blvd., Torrance (Fridays only)

Job Starts

Nonprofit, privately funded organization assisting individuals and families in South-Central Los Angeles to achieve economic stability through work.

Services:

* Employment readiness workshops

* Job placements, including 90-day follow-ups

Cost: Free

Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Address: 3010 W. 48th St., Los Angeles

Telephone: Call (213) 291-2812 for appointment

JTPA Service Delivery Areas (SDAs)

Job Training Partnership Act service delivery areas provide a variety of employment and training programs and services designed for the economically disadvantaged, including programs for adults, youths, older workers (55 or older) and dislocated workers (those who have been laid off or are scheduled to be laid off). SDAs direct eligible applicants to service providers within their areas.

Types of Training:

* Classroom training designed to provide job-related and technical skills for specific jobs such as bank teller, accounting, clerical and health care occupations

* On-the-job training with employers

* Work experience paying minimum wage for adults and youths at governmental or nonprofit worksites

Locations:

* Carson-Lomita-Torrance SDA, 1 Civic Plaza, Suite 500, Carson, (310) 781-7100

* City of Long Beach SDA, 200 Pine Ave., 4th Floor, Long Beach, (310) 570-3865

* City of Los Angeles SDA, Community Development Dept., 215 W. Sixth St., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, (213) 485-6520

* County of Los Angeles, Dept. of Community and Senior Citizens, 3175 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, (213) 738-2600

* Foothill Consortium, 234 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 205, Pasadena, (818) 405-4219

* South Bay Consortium, One Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, (310) 412-5558

* Southeast Los Angeles County Private Industry Council, 10900 E. 183rd St., Suite 350, Cerritos, (310) 402-9336

* Verdugo Private Industry Council, 141 N. Glendale Ave., Suite 202, Glendale, (818) 548-2053

Costs: Free to eligible applicants

Korean Youth &

Community Center

Nonprofit, community-based organization providing a wide variety of programs for recently immigrated, economically disadvantaged youth and their families.

Employment services:

* Pre-employment classes

* Employment referrals and placement

* On-the-job training

* Computer training

Cost: Free

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

Address: 680 S. Wilton Place, Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 365-7400

Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian

Community Services Center

Endeavors to support the well-being of lesbians and gay men by providing essential services and sponsoring community activities.

Services:

* Employment and training services for job-seekers and employers, including job postings. Call Raul Parral at (213) 993-7480

* Speakers bureau serving businesses, schools and public libraries. Call Francesca Miller at (213) 993-7438

* Free legal advice to those in need. Call Roger Coggan at (213) 993-7670

Cost: Free

Address: 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., Hollywood

Los Angeles Urban League

Seeks to secure social and economic opportunities for African Americans 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 TEC conducts specialized vocational training in electronics, machine tool technology, word processing and data entry. Displaced workers program.

* Milken Family Literacy & Youth Training Center provides instruction 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: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

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

Telephone: (213) 299-9660

Mexican American

Opportunity Foundation

Services:

* Job listings

* Computer training in WordPerfect, dBase IV, Lotus 123 and DOS

* On-the-job training, with partial reimbursement to employers

* Work experience for preschool teacher’s aides

* Basic skills training in reading comprehension and math

* Limited internships for youths 18 to 21 years old in the private sector, with paid wages during training

* Child care

* ESL citizenship classes

Cost: Free

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

Address: 401 N. Garfield Ave., Montebello

Telephone: (213) 890-9600

National Board for

Certified Counselors

National certification organization making consumer referrals to nationally certified career counselors.

Service: Provides a list of certified counselors by state

Cost: Referrals are free.

Address: 3 Terrace Way, Suite D, Greensboro, NC, 27403

Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (EST), Mon.-Fri.

Telephone: (910) 547-0607; fax (910) 547-0017 (to request a list of nationally certified career counselors in your area)

Application for certification: (800) 398-5389

Pacific Asian Consortium

in Employment

Services:

* Job Training Partnership Act programs providing job training for a variety of positions for low-income residents of Los Angeles County; programs include classroom training and on-the-job training

* Dislocated, long-term unemployed and laid-off-workers program

* County refugee program offering on-the-job training and English as a Second Language program

* Youth employment programs

* Counseling and referrals

Cost: Free to participants and employers

Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Address: 2525 W. 8th St., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 389-2373

Pasadena Senior Center

Employment services program for people 50 and older.

Services:

* Job referrals

* Workshops

* Referrals to other employment programs

* Assistance in defining employment objectives and goals

* Reference materials

* Federal program offering on-the-job training and job placement for low-income/no-income people 55 and older

* Motivational and stress-management seminar

* Pre-retirement seminars

Cost: $5 donation requested for employment services; pre-retirement seminar $35

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

Address: 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena

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

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 within 52 service areas in California plan job-training and employment programs to meet the needs of their local labor markets.

Services:

* Educational, vocational and on-the-job training

* Job-search skills and placement

* Dislocated-workers program

* Older-workers program (55 and older)

* Youth training programs

Eligibility: Applicants may qualify for one or more reasons, including layoff, long-term unemployment or income below poverty levels.

Benefits to employers: pre-screened and trained applicants, initial wage reimbursement (for on-the-job training), tax credits

Cost: For qualified applicants, training and placement services are free. Services provided to employers are also free.

Telephone: For the nearest Private Industry Council, consult the White Pages of your telephone book.

Santa Monica Jobs Assistance

Programs:

* Step Up On Second provides job training, placement and job coaches to adults with special needs. (310) 399-4393

* Santa Monica Youth Employment offers subsidized employment training and work experience for disadvantaged teens ages 14 to 18 years. (310) 829-5451

* Santa Monica High School Regional Occupation Program offers high school students and adults job-skills training, placement and career assessment. (310) 394-8617

* Santa Monica College Job Center works with Santa Monica College students only. (310) 452-9337

* Santa Monica Board of Education workability program for high school students with special needs. (310) 450-8338

* Virginia Avenue Park Jobs Program employment workshops and job counsleing for youths and adults. (310) 458-8688

Cost: Free

SCORE

The Service Corps of Retired Executives is a nonprofit organization sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Volunteers share their business experience with people who plan to go into business and those already in business who need advice.

Services:

* Counseling in areas such as business planning, advertising, accounting, inventory control, cash and credit management, marketing, financial and licensing requirements

* Monthly calendar of seminars mailed on request

Cost: One-on-one counseling is free; seminars and workshops at nominal fees

Call for locations of counseling centers in Southern California:

* Los Angeles County: (818) 552-3206

* Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties: (714) 550-7369

* San Diego and Imperial counties: (619) 557-7272

* Ventura County: (805) 642-1866

Second Careers

A nonprofit project of the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles serving mostly people 40 and over.

Services:

* Job placement (primarily office-related opportunities, including clerical, secretarial, word processing, customer service, telemarketing and accounting)

* Resource library

* Retirement planning

Cost: Free to job-seekers; modest fees for employers

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

Address: 3530 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1220, Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 380-3166

Southern California

Indian Center

Nonprofit organization serving the American Indian community of Los Angeles and Orange counties. As a Job Training Partnership Act agency, provides employment assistance and vocational training to American Indians, native Alaskans and native Hawaiians who are unemployed, underemployed or economically disadvantaged.

Services:

* Yearly job fairs

* Resume and job application preparation

* Job-search techniques

* Job listings and referrals

* Classroom vocational training

* On-the-job training

* Educational workshops for parents

Cost: Free

Locations: Garden Grove, Carson, Commerce, Los Angeles and Van Nuys; satellite locations in Lancaster, El Monte and San Juan Capistrano

Telephone:

* Los Angeles County: (213) 387-5772

* Orange County: (714) 530-0221

Spotlight on Jobs

Offers unemployed residents of the city and county of Los Angeles an opportunity for job training and placement within the entertainment industry and companies that support the industry. The service specializes in clerical, secretarial and administrative occupations.

Services:

* Job search techniques and direct placement

* On-the-job training

* Self-paced skills lab offering computer training

Costs: Services free to employers and job-seekers

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

Locations:

* Mid-Wilshire, 3600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 226, Los Angeles

* Valley, 14515 Hamlin St., Van Nuys

* USC area, 3500 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 368-1468

Step-Up

Education and apprenticeship preparation for women interested in pursuing a career as an apprencticed tradeswoman working in a nontraditional field. Program offers a stipend upon successful apprenticeship placement.

Requirements:

* 18 or older

* High school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.)

Cost: Free

Address: Career Counseling Center, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, 400 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles

Telephone: Tricia Johnson at (213) 744-9492

TAPS

The Training Applicants for Placement Success program is designed to assist residents of Los Angeles and Orange counties with epilepsy and seizure disorders in their search for employment.

Services:

* Vocational counseling

* Career exploration workshop

* Job-search training

* Job club

* Job postings

* Resource center

* Resume assistance

* Answering service

* Assistance to employers in filling job openings

* Services available in English and Spanish

Cost: Free to employers and job-seekers

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

Address: 3600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 920, Los Angeles

Telephone: (800) 564-0445

TTI Career Training Center

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

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

Cost: No charge to qualified applicants

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

Address: 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 625, Los Angeles (administrative office)

Telephone: Call administrative office for nearest location (213) 368-7300.

UAW-Labor Employment

Training Corp.

A private, nonprofit corporation that provides human resource services to employers, employees and others.

Services:

* Job search and placement

* Classroom training in basic skills and office automation/word processing

* On-the-job training

* Human resource management, development and support

* Customized training

Cost: Free to eligible employers, employees and other applicants

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

Address: 790 E. Willow St., Long Beach (corporate office); 12 field offices in Southern California

Telephone: (213) 562-6100

UCI Extension Women’s

Opportunities Center

Career development center. Open to men and women in the community.

Services:

* One-on-one career counseling

* Workshops

* Resume counseling

* Weekly job-search support groups run by Orange County executives

* Career-education resource library

* Job listings

* Discounts to specified UCI Extension courses

* Career/vocational aptitude testing

Cost: $60 annual membership fee; additional fees for workshops and career-vocational aptitude testing.

Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Mon.-Thur.; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Fri.; 9 a.m.-noon, Sat.

Address: The center is located at the UCI Extension complex on the UC Irvine campus.

Telephone: (714) 824-7128

UCLA Extension

UCLA Extension offers more than 80 certificated programs to help job seekers become more marketable.

Topics include:

* Business and management

* Computers and information systems

* Entertainment studies

* Graphic design

* Hospitality and foodservice

* Interior and environmental design

* International business

* Journalism, public relations and fund raising

* Landscape architecture

* Legal interpretation and translation

* Personal financial planning

* Screenwriting

New offerings in emerging technologies:

* Client/server networks and object-oriented programming

* Computer graphics, emphasizing interactive, multimedia design

* Entertainment studies courses in multimedia and digital technologies

* Writing for interactive media

Cost: Varies

Address: UCLA Extension, 10995 LeConte Ave., Los Angeles 90024

Telephone: (800) 554-UCLA (catalog requests); (310) 825-9971 or (818) 784-7006 (for registration)

Venice/Oakwood

Jobs Programs

Programs:

* The Job Bank, a Santa Monica/Venice-based employment service offering workshops on resume writing and job-search techniques, skills training opportunities, monthly bulletin for employers listing available local workers. (310) 822-8687

* St. Joseph Center Restaurant Training Program. Regular classes in food service, with certification and jobs placement assistance. (310) 450-9095

* Venice Community Housing Corp. coordinates mentored skills training with local housing construction; emphasis on local employment for local construction work. (310) 399-4100

* Venice Skill Center. Contact Michael Hill at (310) 392-4153. Registration fee $10, plus nominal material fees

Verdugo Center for

Jobs and Retraining

Federally funded organization serving primarily workers laid off by aerospace and defense contractors or subcontractors (regardless of residence). Also serves people in other industries who live in Glendale, Burbank, La Canada-Flintridge or Los Angeles.

Services:

* Job postings

* Vocational assessment

* Retraining assistance

* Job-search counseling

* Computer access to state-wide job listings

* Professionally prepared resumes and correspondence

* Newsletter with client advertising

* Stress-management and counseling for anxiety, anger, discouragement and other emotional issues of unemployment for clients and their families

* General job-search assistance

Cost: Free to qualified clients

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

Address: 2600 W. Victory Blvd., second floor, Burbank

Telephone: (818) 972-2695

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 Latina professional women with limited English

* Evening workshops on career planning, resume writing, interview techniques, networking and job hunting after 50

* Information dissemination and counseling on nontraditional job opportunities for women (trade and tech)

Costs: Drop-in resource room, suggested donation $2; counseling and resume writing, $50; occupational testing, including counseling, $95; evening workshops, free-$20

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon., Tue. and Thur.; 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Wed.

Address: 50 N. Hill Ave., Suite 300, Pasadena

Telephone: (818) 796-6870

Women Helping

Women Services

A non-sectarian community service agency sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles.

Services:

* Career workshops and seminars

* Job club (networking and emotional support groups)

* Talkline (telephone counseling service and training to become a volunteer counselor)

* Job postings

Workshops: Vocational self-asessment, job-search strategies, resume writing and interviewing