Getting A Job -- Another Chance To Make It

Pennsylvania Job Center .... "For A Working Future, This Is The Place."

CHAPTER TWO

Chapter Two -- Contents

Labor Market Information
-Lengthy list of types of jobs,
and the likely source for each type of job

Finding Job Openings
-Ways of searching
-Newspapers
-Other publications (listed)

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Labor market Information
The following table lists jobs with many workers who have no more than 12 years of education. This list also shows the places where most of these workers are employed. Many of these workers have not completed high school. Different employers require a different amount of education and training, so there is no guarantee that employers in your area won't require more training. But at least you can be sure that these occupations offer possible employment for people without education beyond high school. Job counselors can tell you about the requirements of employers in your area.

You may also need a license or certificate to be hired for certain jobs. These requirements vary by State. Job counselors can also tell you about any job requirements where you live.

Be sure to check on restrictions before entering a training program. Ex-offenders are generally barred from many health jobs because of the easy access to drugs. As a result, the following table does not list these jobs. Ex-offenders may also be barred from jobs closely related to their crime. Someone convicted of stealing cash, for example, will not be able to work as a bank teller.

Occupation: Billing clerks
Types of Employers: All kinds of businesses. Most work in insurance companies, warehouses, stores, factories, trucking companies, railroads, airlines, bus lines, radio and television stations, and telephone, gas, and electric companies.
Bookkeeping clerks All kinds of businesses. Most work in warehouses, stores, and schools.
File clerks All kinds of businesses. Most work in insurance companies, real estate agencies, and temporary employment firms.
General office clerks All kinds of businesses and organizations.
Shipping and receiving clerks Warehouses, stores, and factories.
Stock clerks Department stores, grocery stores, warehouses, factories, airlines, and government agencies.
Typists and word processors All kinds of organizations. Most work in schools, law offices, temporary employment firms, word processing services, and government.

Cashiers All kinds of businesses. Most work in grocery stores, department stores, gas stations, and drug stores.
Retail sales workers Department stores, clothing and accessories stores, grocery stores, car dealers, direct sales companies, and mail-order houses.

Mechanics and Repairers

Auto body repairers Body repair and painting shops, car and truck dealers, trucking companies, car rental companies, and motor vehicle factories.
Auto mechanics Car dealers, auto repair shops, gas stations, taxicab companies, car rental firms, and motor vehicle factories. Auto repair shops in department, automotive, and home supply stores.
Building maintenance mechanics Schools, nursing homes, hotels, factories, office and apartment buildings, warehouses, gas and electric companies, and stores.
Diesel mechanics Vehicle dealers and rental companies, construction and farm equipment dealers and rental companies, auto repair shops, trucking companies, bus lines, schools, and factories.
Industrial machinery repairers Factories–mostly food processing, transportation equipment, textiles, and metal products; gas and electric companies; and mining.

Carpenters Construction companies, factories, and stores. Many are self-employed.
Construction laborers Construction companies, factories, State and city public works and highway departments.
Electricians Construction companies.
Ironworkers Structural steel erection contractors and other construction contractors.
Painters and paperhangers Construction companies, hotels, off'ces, apartment complexes, schools, and factories. Many are self-employed.
Plumbers Mechanical and plumbing contractors, petroleum and chemical plants, and factories.
Sheet-metal workers and duct installers - Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors
roofing and sheet-metal contractors, and factories.

Freight, stock and material handlers Factories, construction companies, warehouses, grocery stores, trucking companies, and docks.
Hand packers Factories, warehouses, and stores.
Machinists Small machining shops and factories that make metalworking and industrial machinery, aircraft, or motor vehicles.
Metal and plastics machine operators Factories that make metal and plastic parts and products ranging from the plastic switch on a toaster to a gear box on a plane.
Precision assemblers Factories that make electronic and electrical equipment such as electrical switches, welding equipment, electric motors, household appliances, radios and televisions. Factories that make engines, farm and construction equipment, office machines, airplanes and motor vehicles.
Sewing machine operators Clothing and textile factories, laundry and dry cleaning stores, and clothing stores.
Welders Repair shops, factories that make boilers, construction equipment, motor vehicles, machinery, ships, appliances, and other metal products, and firms that build bridges, large buildings, and pipelines.
Woodworking jobs Sawmills, planing mills, lumber yards, furniture stores, reupholsters and furniture repair shops, construction companies, and factories that make furniture, millwork, plywood, sporting goods, and wood parts.

Transportation Jobs

Bus drivers Schools, tour bus companies, and bus lines.
Driver-sales workers or route drivers Warehouses, lumber yards, food and grocery distributors, dry cleaners, private delivery and pick-up services, and auto parts stores.
Gas station attendants Gas stations.
Industrial forklift Factories, construction companies, trucking companies
tractor operators Trucking companies, warehouses, and mining companies.
Truck drivers Trucking companies, warehouses, oil companies, lumber yards, food and grocery distributors, and auto parts stores.

Food-related Jobs

Bartenders Restaurants, hotels, clubs, lounges, and bars.
Butchers and meat cutters Meatpacking and poultry and fish processing factories, grocery stores, meat and fish markets, restaurants, hotels, and warehouses.
Chefs and cooks Restaurants, schools, nursing homes, hotels, cafeterias, and country clubs.
Dining room and cafeteria Restaurants, coffee shops, bars, hotels, cafeterias, bowling alleys, casinos, and country clubs.
Food counter clerks Fast food restaurants, coffee shops, bars, hotels, cafeterias, grocery stores, and bowling alleys.
Food preparation workers Restaurants, schools, nursing homes, hotels, cafeterias, grocery stores, and country clubs.
Institution or cafeteria cooks Schools, nursing homes, and factory cafeterias.
Restaurant cooks Restaurants, hotels, bars, and country clubs.
Short order and fast food cooks Fast food restaurants and coffee shops.
Waiters and waitresses Restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and hotels.

Personal Service and Cleaning Jobs

Barbers and cosmetologists Beauty salons, barber shops, department stores, hospitals, and hotels
Farm workers Farms.
Gardeners and groundskeepers Lawn and garden services, private homes, parks, golf courses, race tracks, amusement parks, schools, cemeteries, hotels, nurseries, and garden stores.
Janitors and cleaners Schools, building maintenance services, hotels, restaurants, apartment and office building operators, churches, and factories.
Private household workers Private homes.

Finding Job Openings
Once you have decided which jobs you like, you need to find employers who are looking for workers in those jobs. Job placement counselors can help match your skills with the needs of employers. But there are other resources you should also know about. Here are just a few.

Your personal network. You probably know people who have said they found a job through someone they knew. You should try to do the same through "networking." A network is a group of

"The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them."

ALBERT EINSTEIN

people–friends, neighbors, former coworkers, and just about anyone else who may know something about jobs. Develop a network of your own. Tell people about your skills, experience, and the type of work you are looking for. Ask them about possible job openings where they work or if they have heard about jobs in other places. Ask for the names of other people who may have more information or suggestions. This is how your network grows. The larger your network, the more helpful it becomes. Not everyone will have suggestions, but they may know someone who does.

Contacting potential employers directly. Because most job openings are not advertised, it is a good idea to find employers that may have job openings that interest you. One way is to telephone the company and ask the person who is in charge of hiring if there are any job openings. Another way is to send a cover letter and resume (see next section). After a week or so, call the employer to make sure he or she received the letter and resume. This way, even if a job is not available now, the employer will have your resume on file and can refer to it when an opening comes up. Also ask about other companies that might be hiring.

Newspapers. Want ads in the local newspaper are a good place to look for jobs. Keep in mind, however, that employers don't place all vacancies in the paper, and some employers don't use them at all. Read the ad carefully because different employers often use different job titles for the same job. You may notice that a company has advertised several jobs vacancies, but none of them interests you. That same company, however, may have other job openings that are not advertised.

Also, newspapers often carry articles about companies that are moving into your area. That company may be hiring for some jobs that will interest you. So, if the company looks promising, contact them directly for a job.

Other publications. There are many different kinds of materials that can help you get back to work. Most are not aimed at ex-offenders but can still have good information. The U.S. Department of Labor has publications that are helpful. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published every 2 years by the E3ureau of Labor Statistics, presents information about the nature of the work, working conditions, employment, training requirements, job outlook, earnings, and places to find more information. This information is for the nation as a whole, but it can help you learn about different jobs. The Employment and Training Administration has produced Tips For Finding the Right Job that may make your job search easier. These books are available in most public libraries.

Also, there are books, pamphlets, magazine articles, and newsletters that have been written for ex-offenders. These materials present information about jobs, how to start your own business, where to get financial advice and assistance, how to write resumes and cover letters, tips on how to interview and discuss your record, how to find training opportunities, and other topics. Some of these were written by ex-offenders and can be very helpful because the author knows what you are going through.

You may find helpful publications free of charge in public libraries. Speak with the librarians; they have a lot of information and can save you time by directing you to all available information. Employment service offices also may have some of these materials. Some social service agencies and pre-release programs will have them too.

Contact one of the organizations listed below for a free catalogue of publications for sale that may interest you:

Offender Preparation and Education Network, Inc. (OPEN INC.), Post Office Box 566025, Dallas, Texas 75356-6025 …214-271-1971

Hazelden Educational Materials, P.O. Box 176 Center City, MN 55012-0011 …1-800-328-9OOO

American Corrections Association, 8025 Laurel Lakes Court, Laurel, MD 20707 ….301-206-5075 or 1-800-888-8784

The Safer Foundation (serves Illinois and Iowa), 571 West Jackson Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661 …312-922-2200

Herald Press, 616 Walnut Avenue Scottdale, PA 15683 ….412-887-8500