Career Toolbox
Women's Alliance
Microloan
Websites

CAREER SERVICES

FOCUS envisions a world where each of us
recognizes our value
and realizes our potential...

Your professional success is our business.

Did you know that some studies suggest that the average number of careers in one’s life is six?

At different points in our life we are faced with making important career decisions. These decisions may be more difficult because of personal issues. It is helpful to have someone guide us through these challenging times.

Career Services provide women and men with services that facilitate an exploration of personal and professional skills, talents, strengths, and needs that may culminate in a successful job search. Individual career counseling, groups and workshops are available.

Counselors are trained and experienced in career development and personal counseling and are able to help with both employment and personal situations.

Career Toolbox

Our Career Toolbox offers individualized career counseling tailored to meet individual pre-employment training and post-employment needs.

Pre-employment services include such topics as:

• Vocational interest inventories
• Career assessment tools
• Values and skills assessment
• Researching career trends
• Resume review and building
• Writing a cover letter
• Networking for success
• How to conduct a job search
• Development of your career & professional goals
• Interviewing skills
• The Professional Image
• Career Transition Issues

Post-employment services focus on:

• Employment negotiation
• Time management
• Stress management
• Conflict resolution
• Goal setting
• Continued life/work planning and review

Groups and workshops, some of which are free thanks to our many community partners, include:

• Job support groups
• Lawyer Assistance Night
• Financial Assistance Night
• Personal Money Management
• Health Care Access
• Career Assistance Night!

Career Assessment Tools such as the Decision Making System-Revised (CDM-R, Harrington and O’Shea) help assess strengths, skills, talents and abilities in order to develop the skills necessary for successful employment; an appreciation of the world of work and ones role in it, an understanding of preparation required for career choices, and the beginning of a sound work ethic.

Our “Programs to Go” model will customize affordable workshops and seminars to meet the needs of employees, organization or business. Topics arranged by request.

The Career Clothes Closet is housed at our fabulous Flea. Individuals who receive FOCUS career services may shop for “free” if they have a critical need for an appropriate outfit for a job interview or a business meeting. Please speak with your career counselor. We also partner with T. J. Maxx when women or men need clothing for a job interview.

Come visit our Career Computer. Conduct your job search for free on a computer bookmarked with local, state, regional and state-wide jobs. No appointment is necessary although there may be a short waiting period if the room or computer is already in use.

We maintain connections in the community with business and organizations that contact us when they have staff and personnel needs so we may be able to connect people with the right jobs.

Are services affordable?

Yes!
Many of our groups and workshops are free.
Individualized sessions are based on a sliding scale fee.

Thanks to a J. Jill Compassion Fund through the Boston Foundation, the first career counseling session for women is free.
Subsequent sessions are based on a sliding scale fee.

How to get the help you need...
If you have any questions, need additional information, or wish to schedule an appointment with us, please call: 434 293-2222 or download the career flyer.

Women’s Alliance for Self-Sufficiency

The Women’s Alliance for Self-Sufficiency (WAS) promotes self-sufficiency for women by helping them overcome personal, employment, and environmental obstacles. A program goal is to build a community network of women who mentor other women to help them remain self-sufficient.

Life skills training courses help women obtain self-sufficiency and maintain independence. Community partners and our trained clinicians teach courses and provide assistance in topics such as:

• Parenting
• Legal rights
• Money management
• Physical and mental health care
• Communication
• Housing
• Education
• Employment

This program is funded in part as a J. Jill Compassion Fund through the Boston Foundation.

To find out about our calendar of events, click on Calendar on the Website, check the community calendars, or call 434-293-2222.