But you'll also find that we live in a constantly changing economy, where corporate reorganizations, new technologies, and global competition affect all our lives. Workers today will hold many jobs and will change careers several times. Workers who keep up with change will see greater potential for personal growth and economic security.

One area of change is the way people look for work. It isn't enough to be ready and willing to work. A successful job search today requires a calculated effort. Job seekers not only need marketable job skills, they need the skills to market themselves. You may be motivated toward employment, and you may be good at what you do, but if you cannot convince a potential employer that you're the most qualified, you will not be the one who wins the job. Today's successful job seekers use a variety of skills and strategies that can be learned.

Your local WorkForce Center can assist you in mastering your job search. Investment in learning this information will provide job seekers an opportunity to reap benefits such as:

• Shorter time to obtain a new job
• Increase in the number of interviews and job offers
• Higher starting wage
• Reduced fear of unemployment
• Increase in potential for job satisfaction

MinnesotaWorks.net
Create an account for yourself and search thousands of job openings! You can track the jobs you've applied for and apply for jobs online with your resume. This service is offered at no cost for job seekers or employers.

Minnesota WorkForce Center locations within Central Minnesota
Minnesota WorkForce Center - Cambridge 1575 Highway 95 E. #C Cambridge, MN 55008-1756 Phone: 763.689.7136 Fax: 763.689.7140 TTY: 763.689.7569 Website: http://www.mnwfc.org/cambridge/	Minnesota WorkForce Center - Hutchinson Ridgewater College 2 Century Avenue S.E. Hutchinson, MN 55350-0550 Phone: 320.587.4740 Fax: 320.234.7769 TTY: 320.587.4740
Minnesota WorkForce Center - Litchfield Meeker County Family Services Building 114 N. Holcombe Avenue, Suite 170 Litchfield, MN 55355-2273 Phone: 320.693.2859 Fax: 320.693.9146 TTY: 320.693.2859	Minnesota WorkForce Center - Monticello 106 Pine Street Monticello, MN 55362-8302 Phone: 763.271.3700 Fax: 763.271.3701 TTY: 763.271.3745 Website: http://www.mnwfc.org/monticello/
Minnesota WorkForce Center - Willmar Kandiyohi County Health and Human Service Building 2200 23rd Street N.E., Suite 2040 Willmar, MN 56201-9423 Phone: 320.231.5174 Fax: 320.231.6054 TTY: 320.231.5174 Website: http://www.mnwfc.org/willmar/	Minnesota WorkForce Center - St. Cloud St. Cloud Technical College 1542 Northway Drive St. Cloud, MN 56303 Phone: 320-308-5320 Fax: 320-308-5173 TTY: 320.654.5173 Website: http://www.workforceu.com/ Website: http://www.mnwfc.org/stcloud
Minnesota WorkForce Center - Mora 903 Forest Avenue E. Mora, MN 55051-1431 Phone: 320.679.6484 Fax: 320.679.6495 TTY: 320.679.6494

WorkForce Center Partners (Varies depending on location)

Department of Employment and Economic Development
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is the state's principal economic development agency, with programs promoting business recruitment, expansion, and retention; workforce development; international trade; and community development. The agency's mission is to support the economic success of individuals, businesses, and communities by improving opportunities for growth.

Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services
A non-profit employment and training provider of services to job seekers and businesses in Central Minnesota (Workforce Service Area 5) through the WorkForce Investment Act (WIA), Dislocated Worker, Youth, and Public Assistance Programs.

Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services Associate Offices
Forest Lake 19955 Forest Road North Forest Lake, MN 55025 Phone: 651-275-7247	Milaca 151 SW 2nd Avenue Milaca, MN 56353 Phone: 320-983-2995
Olivia 108 South 8th Street, Suite 2 Olivia, MN 56277 Phone: 320-523-1007	Pine City 400 4th Street SE Pine City, MN 55063 Phone: 320-629-4555
Zimmerman 26070 2nd Street Zimmerman MN, 55398 Phone: 763-856-9221

Stearns-Benton Employment & Training Council
A non-profit employment and training provider of services to job seekers and businesses in the St. Cloud MSA (Workforce Service Area 17) through the WorkForce Investment Act (WIA), Dislocated Worker, Youth, and Public Assistance Programs.

Experience Works - Senior Community Service Employment Program
Experience Works provides services to limited-income Minnesotans who are 55 and older, which are critical to their employment and re-employment, enabling them to become or remain productive and self-sufficient.

Motivation Employment and Training (MET)
Motivation Education & Training, Inc. (MET) is a private nonprofit 501(c)3 organization funded by a variety of public and private grants and contracts. The organization was founded for the purpose of providing academic and vocational training to migrant and seasonal farm workers, with the objective of furthering economic self-sufficiency for MET participants. While serving farm workers is still the cornerstone of the agency's mission, MET has broadened its scope to include initiatives that target low-income and disadvantaged populations throughout the agency's service area.

Job Service
Job Service functions as a labor exchange, offering employment opportunities on a no-fee basis to all Minnesotans and providing services to businesses. This program assists both businesses and job seekers. Increased demand-driven business assistance includes building relationships with business decision-makers, assessing the needs of businesses, and facilitating a coordinated response with DEED staff and partners. The program also provides job preparation and placement assistance (including workshops on job-seeking skills, resume writing, interviewing, and internet job search) to job seekers at WorkForce Centers throughout Minnesota, with special efforts made to serve Unemployment Insurance claimants, veterans, migrant and seasonal farm workers, and persons with disabilities. MinnesotaWorks.net is an Internet-based labor exchange system linking job seekers and employers with the largest employment database in the state.

Rehabilitation Services
Rehabilitation Services helps people with disabilities to achieve their employment and independent living goals. These services are available through Minnesota WorkForce Centers across the state.

State Services for the Blind
State Services for the Blind (SSB) is a branch within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. SSB provides facilitated achievement of vocational and personal independence for persons who are blind or visually handicapped.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU)
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 colleges and universities, including 25 two-year colleges and seven state universities, and separate from the University of Minnesota. The 13-County Central Minnesota region is home to the following MnSCU colleges and universities:

Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Cambridge
300 Polk Street South
Cambridge, MN 55008
Phone: 763-433-1840
Website: www.anokaramsey.edu
Degrees offered: Associate in Arts, Assoc. in Fine Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, certificates
Largest programs: General education/liberal arts transfer programs, nursing, computer networking and telecommunications, business, physical therapist assistant.
Unique programs: Fine arts, biomedical technology, geographic information systems, music, physical therapy assistant, pre-engineering; courses in glass blowing, Chinese language study abroad, American Sign Language, on-campus bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

Pine Technical College
900 4th Street SE
Pine City, MN 55063
Phone: 800-521-7463
Website: www.pinetech.edu
Degrees offered: Associate in Applied Science, Associate in Science, diplomas, certificates
Largest programs: Practical nursing, gunsmithing, automotive
Unique programs: Gunsmithing, public welfare financial workers, management of information systems, mechanical engineering

Ridgewater College – Hutchinson
2 Century Avenue SE
Hutchinson, MN 55350
Phone: 320-587-3636
Ridgewater College – Willmar
2101 15th Avenue NW, PO Box 1097
Willmar, MN 56201
Phone: 800-722-1151
Website: www.ridgewater.edu
Degrees offered: Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, diplomas, certificates
Largest programs: Liberal arts, nursing, agriculture, health services careers, veterinary technology
Unique programs: Nondestructive testing technology, geographic positioning systems/geographic information systems for agriculture, advanced collision services, activity director, calibration engineering technology, computer art and publishing, insurance claim representative, dairy management, audio technology

St. Cloud Technical College
1540 Northway Drive
St. Cloud, MN 56303
Phone: 320-308-5089
Website: www.sctc.edu
Degrees offered: Assoc. in Applied Science, Assoc. in Science, diplomas, certificates
Largest programs: Practical nursing, sales and management, architectural construction technology, electrical construction technology, carpentry
Unique programs: Echocardiography, sonography, cardiovascular technology, water environment technology, land surveying, civil engineering

St. Cloud State University
720 4th Avenue South
St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498
Phone: 877-654-7278
Website: www.stcloudstate.edu
Degrees offered: Associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, specialist degrees
Largest programs: Mass communications, elementary education, special education, marketing, criminal justice studies
Unique programs: Meteorology, aviation maintenance management, nuclear medical technology, radiologic technology (X-ray and diagnostic imaging)

Entrepreneurial/Business Training and Resources
If you are a large or small business in Central Minnesota or you are thinking of starting a
business in Central Minnesota, there are many people and resources available to you in
Central Minnesota. In the Central Minnesota Business Resource Directory you’ll find
resources in economic development, finance, education, and workforce development that
will help your business thrive.

Central Minnesota Business Resource Directory [PDF]

Small Business Development Centers and Initiative Foundations
Whether you're a business owner looking for ways to expand your business, or you're just starting out, the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) and the Initiative Foundation (IF) and Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) can help. If you're already in business, consultants can analyze your business situation and help you develop tools for growth: a good business plan, financial analysis, or a marketing strategy. We can also help you identify sources of financing. If you have an idea for a new venture, SBDC & SWIF specialists can help you develop a sound business plan and provide basic information on where to start.

Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center
St. Cloud - St. Cloud State University
Phone: (320) 308-4842
Contact: Barry Kirchoff
E-mail: bckirchoff@stcloudstate.edu

Anderson Entrepreneurial Center
St. Cloud
Phone: (320) 251-3215
Website: http://www.haec.org/index.htm

Southwest Minnesota Small Business Development Center
Marshall - Southwest Minnesota State University
Phone: (507) 537-7386
Website: www.southwestmsu.edu/sbdc/
Contact: Liz Struve, Regional Director
E-mail: sbdc@southwestMSU.edu

Initiative Foundation
Little Falls
Phone: (877) 632-9255
Website: http://www.ifound.org/
E-mail: info@ifound.org
Contact: Kathy Gaalswyk, President

Southwest Initiative Foundation
Hutchinson
Phone: (800) 594-9480
Website: http://www.swifoundation.org/
E-mail: info@swifoundation.org
Contact: Sherry Ristau, Chief Executive Officer

Central Minnesota Adult Basic Education
Adult Basic Education (ABE) provides educational opportunities for area adults wishing to acquire or enhance their basic education. Central Minnesota ABE plays an important role in improving the overall quality of the families and children in Minnesota communities by providing learner-centered, flexible, individualized instruction and support services to adult learners to enable them to participate fully and effectively in society as workers, consumers, family members and citizens. ABE addresses a variety of learner goals, and helps learners to:
ww • Attain employment and/or better their current employment;
ww • Achieve high school equivalency (GED or Adult H.S. Diploma);
ww • Attain skills necessary to enter post-secondary education and training;
ww • Exit public welfare and become self-sufficient;
ww • Learn to speak and write the English language;
ww • Master basic academic skills to help their children succeed in school;
ww • Become U.S. citizens and participate in democratic society; and
ww • Gain self-esteem, personal confidence and sense of personal and civic responsibility.

Adult Basic Education locations within Central Minnesota
Willmar ABE (#347) Jim Nicholson Washington Learning Ctr, 325 Willmar Ave SW Willmar MN 56201 Phone: (320) 231-8480 nichlsnj@willmar.k12.mn.us	School Districts New London Spicer (#345) Willmar (#347) Hutchinson (#423) Litchfield (#465)	Dassel Cokato (#466) Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg (#775) Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (#2364) A.C.G.C. (#2396)
Monticello (WEST ABE) (#882) Jill Miller - ABE Consortium Manager Monticello Workforce Ctr, 106 Pine St Monticello MN 55362 Phone: (763) 271-0325 jill.miller@monticello.k12.mn.us	School Districts Foley (#51) Orono (#278) Wayzata (#284) Becker (#726) Big Lake (#727) Annandale (#876)	Buffalo (#877) Delano (#879) Maple Lake (#881) Monticello (#882) Rockford (#883) St. Michael Albertville (#885) Howard Lake Waverly Winsted (#2687)
Cambridge-Isanti ABE (#911) Vicki Ostrom - ABE Consortium Manager 305 7th Ln NE Cambridge MN 55008 Phone: (763) 689-6239 vicki_ostrom@cambridge.k12.mn.us	School Districts Braham (#314) Mora (#332)	Princeton (#477) Cambridge Isanti (#911)
St. Croix River Education District (#139) Sally Swanson - ABE Consortium Manager 425 S Dana Ave, P.O. Box 637 Rush City MN 55069 Phone: (320) 358-3616 sswanson@scred.k12.mn.us	School Districts North Branch (#138) Rush City (#139) Willow River (#577)	Pine City (#578) Chisago Lakes (#2144) Hinckley Finlayson (#2165)
St. Cloud - Central MN ABE (#742) Scott Wallner - ABE Consortium Manager 216 8th Ave N Waite Park MN 56387 Phone: (800) 228-2428 scott.wallner@isd742.org	School Districts Sauk Rapids (#47) Ogilvie (#333) Eden Valley-Watkins (#463) Isle (#473) Onamia (#480) Holdingford (#738)	Kimball (#739) Paynesville (#741) St. Cloud (#742) Albany (#745) Sartell (#748) Rocori (#750) Milaca (#912)
SW ABE Consortium (#413) Granite Falls Region - Jennifer Rud 1593 11th Avenue Granite Falls, MN 56232 Phone: (800) 657-3247 or (320) 564-4511 Jennifer.Rud@mnwest.edu	School Districts Buffalo Lake Hector (#2159) M.A.C.C.R.A.Y. (#2180)	(in Central Minnesota) Bird Island-Olivia Lake Lillian (BOLD) (#2534) Cedar Mountain (#2754)

Resume Help and Creative Job Search
Making a good first impression is important. Applications, cover letters, and resumes are most often your first contact with a potential employer. Most employers will not meet with you if your application is not filled out properly or your resume is written poorly. Below are related Internet sites, software, books, videos and workshops, which are available at your nearest WorkForce Center.

ISEEK The Job Application Tools section includes tips for resumes, cover letters, job applications, references and more. MCIS: Minnesota Career Information System (you can obtain a username and password at a local WorkForce Center) The Job Search section includes tips for writing resumes and cover letters. Minnesota Careers (MnCareers) The Job Preparation section includes tips and resources for preparing for a job. JobWeb Includes guidelines and samples for writing cover letters.

General Resume Assistance Creative Job Search The Resume and Cover Letters section of this job search guide includes tips for resume writing, example resume formats, and worksheets for completing your own resume. Electronic Portfolio (eFolio Minnesota) A multimedia electronic portfolio designed to help you create a living showcase of your education, career and personal achievements. Resume Tutorial A step-by-step guide for writing a resume with links for additional information. Riley Guide: Resumes and Cover Letters Collection of resume articles and resources. Include an article on preparing your resume for the Internet and the differences between a scannable and Internet version of a resume. University of Minnesota Resume Tutor An interactive workbook designed to make resume writing easier.

Note: Central Minnesota Careers claims no responsibility for the content of these sites. Users are encouraged to exercise caution when dealing with businesses, organizations, and individuals on the Internet.