Career Services and Job Training

Career Services

Career Services are available at the Rockford, Belvidere and Freeport offices of The Workforce Connection and includes all of the following at no cost to you:

• Computer and Internet access
• Job Search and Resume assistance
• Local and national job listings
• Help with on-line job applications
• Career information
• Assistance for veterans and workers with disabilities
• Refugee and immigrant services
• Workshops and basic skills classes

• Assistive Technology–services available to individuals with disabilities.

  Many of the services available at our offices are also available on-line.   Illinois workNet has a wealth of information for individuals needing assistance connecting to jobs and new careers. 

   

Unemployment Insurance

The Illinois Department of Employment Security is the state agency that pays unemployment benefits, collects unemployment taxes and provides career and labor market information. The local office of IDES is located at the Workforce Connection, 303 North Main Street in Rockford, offering jobseekers and businesses assistance with filing unemployment insurance claims and other services. Click here for more information on IDES, including filing unemployment claims on-line.
www.ides.state.il.us

Job Training Programs

 The Workforce Connection offers financial assistance to eligible individuals interested in training for demand occupations in the following industry sectors.

• Business
• Finance
• Green
• Health
• Information Technology
• Manufacturing
• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistic

Information on training programs  is available through Illinois WorkNet; click on this link.
https://www.illinoisworknet.com/Training/Pages/WIOATrainingProgramSearch.aspx

The Workforce Connection works with eligible individuals to provide career counseling, training choice guidance, referrals to training programs, and on-going support during training.  For more information, attend an Information Session held at our centers in Rockford, Freeport and Belvidere or call us at 815-847-7574.   

You can also contact us by email at Rockford@theworkforceconnection.org

Supportive Services available to eligible participants.

Refugee & Immigrant Services

Rock Valley College Refugee and Immigrant Services Program provides employment assistance, training opportunities, adjustment services and citizenship education and application assistance. For more information, call 815-921-2270.

Veterans Services

If you’re an eligible veteran, The Workforce Connection has veterans reps available to help with your employment and training questions. Contact Scott Haugh at 815-395-6630.

Click here for a listing of community services available to area veterans.

For a listing of special events and job fairs for veterans, click here.

Apprenticeships

 An apprentice is a paid worker who is enrolled in a special training program administered by an employer or together with a labor organization or trade association. Most apprentices work in trades’ related to construction or machining and tooling industry. Apprenticeship is the best route to a career in a skilled trade. Such careers offer excellent wages and benefits.  

For more information, click here or contact the US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship , located at 308 W. State Street, Suite 403 in Rockford. Phone: 815-987-4253.