PATH TO EMPLOYMENT
Welcome to the Path to Employment! These pages contain all the information you’ll need for finding and keeping a job. If you are still in need of more information on these subjects, our OneWorkSource Career Centers also offer valuable workshops. Please contact your local OneWorkSource for further details.
The North Country Workforce Investment Board specializes in bringing qualified job seekers and employers together, but there is much more we have to offer. We will help you get the training you need to set out on a new career path, or strengthen and expand your skills. Our services give you a competitive advantage in the North Country Job Market!
Read on to learn more about our OneWorkSource Career Centers, our special programs for youth, individuals with disabilities, veterans, online learning and other education and training opportunities.
We’re here to help you succeed!
OneWorkSource Career Centers
Located throughout the North Country, these Centers offer their local communities comprehensive employment and training services benefiting both businesses and job seekers.
ONLINE CAREER ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Knowing where you are is the first step to knowing where you’re headed. Career Assessment can take the form of interest inventories or professional counseling, and either way the process is beneficial to those just starting out in their careers, as well as those who are transitioning from one career to another or moving up the career ladder.
To understand the steps to career success, the following links to two career development models are provided for you to review:
University of St. Thomas Career Development Model
University of Waterloo Career Development Steps
ncworkforce.com has provided several other links to online career assessments below. We suggest a streamlined three-step process using interest, transferable skills, and personality type.
There are other assessments available, including aptitude, values, and basic skills to explore with a career counselor at one of the listed career centers.
Please note that on-line assessment cannot replace the guidance of a professional career counselor. By working with a professional, you will receive an in-depth interpretation of your assessment, career exploration information, decision-making assistance, and action steps. You will find more career counseling information and links below, including Web sites that may promote fee-based services that we do not necessarily endorse.
ASSESSING YOUR INTERESTS
Your interests are one of the first areas to identify before you begin your job search. Working in career areas that are of interest to you is how you stay motivated and succeed in your job.
The Princeton Review Career Quiz
This summary quiz was developed by the creators of the Brinkman Method ®.
This 24-question sample quiz asks easy questions about your interests and then analyzes your answers to determine your interests and work style. The results help guide you to careers that would likely suit you, and more importantly, that you would enjoy! An in-depth assessment is also available for a fee.
The Career Key
Lawrence Jones’s interactive quiz, based on the Holland Summary Code that is used in most professional career interest tools. It helps you find jobs that best fit you and links you to information about those jobs in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
ASSESSING YOUR TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Transferable skills are activities you’ve done in the past that can be used to meet the requirements of other types of work. Identifying these skills is important before you begin your job search, since many jobs now require a higher level of effective communication, research, human relations, leadership and other skills not directly related to the specific tasks of the job.
Transferable Skills Survey
This University of Minnesota, Duluth site offers an online questionnaire and test results, but does not offer an explanation or interpretation of the test results.
ASSESSING YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE
A good career match is one that uses your personality type in positive ways. It is important to keep your personality type in mind as you select your future job or work tasks. The “gold standard” assessment to study your true type is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, available in many career centers. Click on the links below to learn more about your prominent behavioral characteristics and determine your personality type.
Keirsey Temperament Web Site
This Web site includes the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, the four temperaments, and the Keirsey Character Sorter, all designed to identify different kinds of personalities.
The Platinum Rule
Are You A Director, Thinker, Relater, or Socializer? This Web site includes a behavioral questionnaire and provides and explanation of your results. It also gives you the communication tips that will assist you in your professional and personal life.
Personality Type Quiz
This quick and easy quiz will not fully assess your true personality type; however, it will introduce you to the concept.
NATIONAL WORK READINESS CERTIFICATE
Bridging the gap between employer needs and employee skills is a challenge the North Country faces in maintaining a strong regional economy. Employers are always looking for skilled applicants, while job seekers often times strive to become more desirable candidates. Until the Work Readiness Certificate, however, no program existed in the North Country to bring these common interests together.
To meet the needs of a changing workplace in the 21st century global economy, the US Chamber of Commerce, encouraged by national advisors to the National Institute for Literacy, conducted research into the emerging needs of communities, businesses, and industry. Through the joint efforts of the US Chamber and other interested stakeholders, the National Work Readiness Certificate was created.
This research identified 14 skills required for success on the job, including:
Communication
Worksite Behavior
Teamwork
Academics
Customer Service
Individuals who receive the Work Readiness Certificate have demonstrated their competency in all 14 of the required skills. This guarantee of skill attainment benefits job seekers, employers, and education and training providers.
Job Seeker Benefits
- Become a more prepared and better qualified job candidate
- Increase opportunities to earn a higher wage
- Improve skills most desired by employers, such as problem-solving, organizing and planning, and personal interaction with team members
Employer Benefits
- Streamline the hiring process and reduce recruitment costs by choosing from a pool of qualified job applicants who possess the Work Readiness Certificate
- Enhance profitability and productivity by reducing turnover with a cohesive team of skilled employees
- Build internal morale and reduce turnover with a workforce motivated to excel
Educator/Trainer Benefits
- Enhance your organization’s reputation by providing the business community with high quality job applicants
- Contribute more prepared candidates to the region’s workforce
- Provide tailored education and training curriculum that meets the specific needs of businesses
- For more information, please contact us at (518) 561-0430 ext. 3085
