Career Development and

Employment Services Center

LSC  Room 225

(253) 833-9111 Ext. 2555

 

 

Career Center Self-Guided Tour

 (10 Easy Steps in 10 minutes)

 

Pop in anytime and give yourself a tour of our center. No appointment needed!

 

To start:   Come to the 2nd floor of the LSC Building, Room 225, near the top of the big central staircase near the video games and candy counter. We have a big sign up on a curved marquee and three windows with fish in them. You have arrived at the GRCC “CDESC” --- COME ON IN!

 

Stop 1:                      Grab and Go Handouts

 

On your right as you walk in our door, there are lots of single page handouts about resumes, interviewing, job search tips, etc. Help yourself! Also, you may ask at the Front Desk for a “Writing Your Resume” packet. It includes sample resumes, cover letters and instructions for electronic resumes. If you’d like us to review your drafted resume, make an appointment with a Career Specialist.

 

Stop 2:                      Today’s Careers newspaper

 

Take a copy of Today’s Careers and a current quarterly class schedule from the metal rack below the handouts. This little newspaper has lots of job opportunities and Job Fair listings.

 

Stop 3:                      Friendly Front Desk staff

 

There is always someone at our Front Desk to answer your questions and offer assistance during office hours (M-Th 8-5, F 9-4:30, M & T until 7:00 by app’t). Sue is the Program Coordinator and the Work Study students this quarter are Nataliya, Riley and Camron. They can explain about our career interest inventories or set up appointments with the Career Specialists (Kaye and Valerie) or with the Job Developer (Karen). They can also assist you in using our computers for career research. You will be asked to write your name on our sign in sheet whenever you come in to use our services. Notice any flyers on our front desk that give information about upcoming events (Job Fairs, Open Houses).

 

Stop 4:                      Cooperative Education information (ask about it)

 

The “Co-op” Program is a way to receive school credit for work experience that applies to the skills you are learning in classes. Any CDESC staff can give you more information or sign you up for a Co-op Orientation, held at 12 noon every Tuesday. There are brochures explaining Co-op on the top shelf of the metal rack to the left of the Front Desk. They are green and blue/purple in color. All Co-op paperwork gets turned in to the CDESC.

 

 

Stop 5:                      GRCC Program Information Guides, Pamphlets

 

Also on the metal rack are lots of informative leaflets and program guides for all of GRCC’s training programs, GRCC’s Worker Retraining Program, TRIO, Counseling/Health Services and others. Take one of the “CAREERS” pamphlets that lists all the training programs at Puget Sound community and technical colleges.

 

Stop 6:                      Job Listings Binders

 

Turn around and face our computer/lobby. On your right up on the shelf above the computer, you’ll notice a row of white 3-ring binders. These hold the job listings that come into our office. You should always start with the “New Jobs of the Week” binder and then check the others that interest you by category. Job search websites are also icons on our computers for your convenience (see Stop 10).

 

Stop 7:                      Website hand outs for Job Search, Labor Market Research

 

On the same shelf to the left, you will find a plastic holder with different colors of sheets with websites, entitled: 

  • Websites for Career Exploration and Occupational Information
  • Career and Internship Websites
  • On-Line Self-Assessments (no fee)
  • Labor Market Research Websites for Worker Retraining Clients
  • Labor Market Research for Worker Retraining Students
  • Specialized Job Search Websites

You can take flyers home or use them here on our computers. Help yourself.

 

Stop 8:                      Books to browse

 

We have a reference collection of books on resumes, cover letters, job search techniques, the hidden job market, and books focused on certain fields and interests. It is not a lending library but you are welcome to come in and read awhile anytime. Take a look at the purple 3-rind binder on top of the bookshelf that is titled “CDESC Book Directory”. It lists all of the books.

 

Stop 9:                      Bulletin Boards, Announcements of Events

 

Don’t forget to check out the info pinned up on the two bulletin boards and posted on the walls as flyers: job openings, career fairs, special events, and employer info.

 

Stop 10:                    Computers

 

Take a quick minute to look at our computer desktop icons. Click on the WOIS icon for quick salary and training information about a career that interests you, or the WorkSource icon for access to the database of job openings, or use a Resume Wizard in WORD. For Worker Retraining students, we have the WILMAlist site, the Workforce Explorer, Job Training Results. And for everyone job searching, check out the specialty websites under WashJob.com. It’s amazing!!

 

Thank you for touring our CDESC. We hope you’ll come back. Before you leave, pick up your prize at the Front Desk! Please encourage your friends to stop by, too.