Workforce Central Career Center

If you obtained your HS Diploma or High School Equivalency Certificate and find yourself asking, “What next?” The links below provide information about work, college, trades and health.

Youth Working Forward
The Youth Working Forward website is a free resource tool that youthcan use to build resumes, cover letters, learn tips for job interviewing, search for employment, and more..

City of Worcester Youth Opportunities
The City’s Youth Opportunities Office was created in 2007 to provide leadership, support and advocacy for youth through the introduction of coordinated programs that are focused on positive youth development and youth employment.

Snagajob
Snagajob is a website that offers part-time jobs, teen jobs, student jobs and summer jobs with local companies and national employers.

Worcester Jobs Network
Worcester Jobs provides resources such as resume and cover writing, interviewing tips and a library

TeensHealth
TeensHealth is a place for teens looking for information and advice about health and life. The site also includes information about college, employment interviewing tips and internships.

Youthhood
Youthhood helps you to plan for your future. Do you want to work? Go to college? Have your own place/apartment?

Employment Connection
Learn about the opportunities in the United States military services.

Today’s Military
This site helps young adults learn about service options and benefits for individuals interested in the military.

Non-paid work experience may lead to part-time or full-time employment. Below are national volunteer programs that provide employment experience.

United Nations Volunteers
United Nations Volunteers is a useful website for young people interested in volunteering internationally. There are links that list requirements and instructions on how to apply. Past and present volunteer activities and projects are listed.

Serve.gov
Serve.gov is a nationwide service that offers online resources in your community to help meet social needs in the current economy.

Volunteer.gov
This site collects volunteer positions and events for people interested in service to our nations’s natural and cultural resources, such as local and state parks.

Volunteer Match
A place for people to support and assist a community of nonprofits, volunteers and business leaders toward good causes.

We often receive requests from youth interested in national service programs such as Job Corps, AmeriCorps, Youth Build and Youth National Guard. Most people are unaware that there are national youth service programs in Worcester County and New England. Below are the most popular:

Job Corps
Job Corps offers academic, vocational, life skills training, counseling and job placement assistance for at-risk youth ages 16 to 24, at no cost to you.

National Youth Guard
National Youth Guard uses military training and mentoring to give high school dropouts ages 16 to 18 who want a second chance.

YouthBuild
YouthBuild helps provide low-cost housing for disadvantaged people and in return skills and training are provided.

Social services programs are available to assist you with child support, childcare, homelessness, runaway, family violence, health and referrals to human services agencies. Links below provide resources to services in Worcester County and Massachusetts:

Administration for Children and Families
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) supports welfare, child support, childcare, Head Start and child welfare.

Bureau of Family and Youth Services
The Bureau of Family and Youth Services strengthens families and communities while helping youth thrive. Services are offered to runaway and homeless youth, victims of family violence, children of prisoners and other youth at-risk.

Safe Homes
Safe Homes in Worcester, MA is a program for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender young people between the ages of 14 and 23. The program is operated by youth and professional staff, as well as adult advisors. Safe Homes offers support and resources in a safe and nurturing environment.

National Runaway Switchboard
The National Runaway Switchboard helps keep runaway youth safe and off the streets. Call 1-800-RUNAWAY if you are a teenager thinking of running away from home or are ready to return home.