Instant Interviews: 101 Ways to Get the Best Job of Your Life

Chapter 28. Guiding a Counselor at a Free Career Center

Career centers are a relatively new concept. They're usually operated by nonprofit corporations that receive grants and other government subsidies to help jobseekers find jobs.

This is really nothing more than a transfer of the responsibilities of the traditional unemployment office. Its responsibility is getting people back to work. Government agencies, charities, senior centers, and other enablers refer jobseekers to the centers. Totally free to the jobseeker.

The centers are usually in high-end office buildings in high-rent districts. They're professional, well staffed, and very efficient. They have: job postings, reference materials, phones, phone directories, employer directories (for finding jobs and e-mailing resumes), resume-writing classes, interviewing classes, job retraining, networking with other walking wounded, and employer show-and-tells.

Did I leave anything out? I don't think so. I didn't say that people get jobs there, did I? Nope. Fine.

People don't get jobs there. The employers who interview on site are there for PR. Many are often multilevel upliners looking to build their downlines (multilevelspeak for, "You pay to have your own business selling our goods or services through your downline.") Those aren't interviews. They're sales pitches.

The concept is well intentioned, and the social workers at the center have nice titles. It's all so professional. Carpeting. A water cooler. With paper cups. Always a logbook, ...