Finding a Job

What it is

Searching for work, writing a résumé, interviewing, and finding references when you don’t have any yet.

Why it helps you

A job brings money and footing. There are ways to start even with no work history and no contacts.

Good to have first

A Phone and an Email Address.

This opens up

Income, independence, Doing Well at Work.

Where to get help

Get free, in-person job help

American Job Centers (CareerOneStop) Free job centers paid for by the US Department of Labor. Staff help with résumés, job searches, and interview practice. Most have computers, phones, and printers you can use.

• Cost: Free
• Who can use it: Anyone looking for work.
• How to start: Type your zip code into the finder. Or call 1-877-872-5627 (1-877-US2-JOBS) and ask for the nearest center. Walk in and say, “I’m looking for my first job and need help with a résumé.”
• Good to know: Your state may use a different name for these centers. Ask about “WIOA” help. Some people can get money for training, work clothes, tools, or bus fare. That help usually needs ID and proof that you can work in the US.

Earn while you learn a trade

Apprenticeship Finder (Apprenticeship.gov) Apprenticeships are real, paid jobs where you learn a skill on the job, like electrical work, plumbing, or health care. Run by the US Department of Labor.

• Cost: Free to search. You get paid while you learn.
• Who can use it: Anyone. Each program sets its own rules, like age or a diploma or GED.
• How to start: Search by job type and city. Apply directly to the employer.
• Good to know: A job center can help you find one too.

Job Corps A free live-in program for young adults. You can get housing, meals, basic health care, job training, and help finishing high school or a GED.

• Cost: Free
• Who can use it: Low-income young adults ages 16 to 24.
• How to start: Call 1-800-733-5627 (1-800-733-JOBS) or apply on the website.
• Good to know: You need ID and proof of age, and you’ll have a background check. Many centers were closed or paused starting in 2025. Ask which centers near you are taking students now.

Extra support for some people

State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies Free state job help for people with a disability. This can include mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or PTSD. VR can help with training, job search, and support after you’re hired.

• Cost: Free
• Who can use it: People with a physical or mental condition that makes it harder to work.
• How to start: Find your state on the list and call. Say, “I’d like to apply for vocational rehabilitation services.”
• Good to know: You’ll need proof of the condition. If you don’t have records, ask if they can help arrange an exam.

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) Paid, part-time training jobs at local nonprofits and public places. Made for older adults getting back into work.

• Cost: Free. You get paid minimum wage while you train.
• Who can use it: People 55 and older who are out of work and have low income.
• How to start: Call 1-877-872-5627 and ask for the SCSEP program near you.
• Good to know: Most people work about 20 hours a week.

Dress for Success Free work clothes for interviews and new jobs, plus career coaching. A nonprofit for women.

• Cost: Free
• Who can use it: Women looking for work. Each local office sets its own rules.
• How to start: Use the location finder on the site and call your nearest office.
• Good to know: Some offices need a referral from a job center or agency. Ask when you call.

If you only do one thing first

Find your nearest American Job Center and walk in. Say, “I’ve never had a regular job, and I want help getting my first one.” Staff help people starting from zero all the time. They can help you write a first résumé and find job openings near you.

Your unpaid work counts

Work you did at home, on a family farm, in a family business, or at church is real experience. List it like a job: what you did, for how long, and what it shows. For example, “Cared for six younger children: cooking, schedules, and teaching reading.” Or “Ran the farm stand: handled cash and served customers.” You don’t need to explain why you have no school or job history. A short, honest answer works: “I was home helping my family. Now I’m ready to work.” Then talk about what you can do.

No references yet?

Volunteer a few hours a week at a food bank or shelter. After a few weeks, ask the volunteer leader to be a reference. A teacher from a free class or a job center counselor can also be a reference.

Watch out for

• Jobs that ask you to pay. A real employer pays you. Walk away if someone asks you to pay for training, a “starter kit,” or a background check.
• Fake check scams. If a new “boss” sends you a check and asks you to send part of it back, it’s a scam. The check will bounce, and you’ll owe the bank. The FTC explains how job scams work.
• Giving your Social Security number too early. Only give it after you get a real job offer, when you fill out hiring forms. Not on a first application or in a text chat.
• Text-only “interviews” and instant offers. Real employers usually talk to you by phone, video, or in person. A job offered within hours, through text or chat apps, is likely a scam.
• Pricey schools promising jobs. Before you sign up for a costly training school, ask a job center counselor. The same training may be free or cheaper at a community college.