For Job Seekers

Your connection to education, training, data, experts and more

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board and its partners provide a variety of careers-related webinars, programs, training opportunities, information and more to community members in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. This includes connections to state and national career resources.

Start with My Career NJ, a state interactive digital hub – accessible in English and Spanish – centralizing personalized career resources. Job seekers visiting My Career NJ can take advantage of training programs, thousands of online classes for upskilling, and career recommendations that fit their skills and aspirations. The site features two digital career tools: the NJ Training Explorer and the NJ Career Navigator. The Training Explorer enables customized filtering of training programs, provides information on tuition assistance, and gives users insight into the providers that offer programs that meet their skill-building needs. The Career Navigator leverages data and machine learning to generate personalized job and career recommendations that align with each user’s skill set, employment history, and individual professional goals.

New Jersey’s Job Source’s Job Search link takes you to a page which allows users to search by job title, location, company and many other parameters. If you want to know what positions are open at public schools, go to the Education Employment Opportunities page maintained by the N.J. Department of Education.

Job seekers also can utilize the following links highlighting new openings pulled from the state’s AOSOS system for the past several weeks; the weekly listings include the employer and location, job title, and job description. In each week’s listing, click on the job description link for more information and to apply for a position.

Here are the job listings in Hunterdon County: November 25; November 20; November 11; October 28; October 21;

Here are the job listings in Somerset County: November 25; November 20; November 11; October 28; October 21;

The usnlx.com – The National Labor Exchange – links job seekers to thousands of listings in New Jersey and beyond. These include all listings posted locally with the state workforce system.

In addition, bookmark the calendar page of the GRWDB to keep up with the latest information on jobs-related event in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. This includes Virtual Information Sessions presented by state Business Services Representatives as well as in-person events presented by system partners and local businesses.

One vast national job-seeker destination is the CareerOneStop.org website. This U.S. Department of Labor resource offers videos, searchable databases and more on career exploration, training and jobs. Popular destinations include:

• Salary Finder
• Job Finder
• Interest Assessments
• Competency Model Clearinghouse

Users can create an account to save their searches and work and get ideas for additional resources. To create an account, just click on the “Log in” button on the upper right-hand side of the home page. The site also features How-to Guides which offer users a guided path through CareerOneStop to reach a career or job-related goal, such as how to find a job now, or how to switch careers.

Another national, searchable database available to career seekers is this Occupational Mobility Explorer, developed by researchers from the Philadelphia and Cleveland Federal Reserve Banks. The tool analyzes the skills that employers request in the nation’s 33 largest metro areas and allows users to look for opportunities to transfer their skills from one occupation to a similar — but higher-paying — occupation in the same labor market. This interactive tool can be searched by “Build Your Path,” “Compare Skills” and “View Top Transactions” fields.

The New Jersey Department of Labor highlights a variety of career services on its website, at careerservices.nj.gov. These includes links to job-search tools, resume and interviewing skills, demand occupation lists, personalized service forms and much more. Check out this ever-growing resource.

A tool from the LEAD Center can be used by job seekers to walk through questions like “How much money do I need to earn to pay my bills and meet my financial goals?” Asking these and other questions can help job seekers align their career path with earning needs. Check out Aligning Career Paths with Financial Need.

In addition, New Jersey’s Job Source site offers users a variety of tools designed to help fuel a successful job search experience. Users can create a free account and get tips and templates for Job Search, Resume Writing, Cover Letters and much more. With each account comes the ability to create portfolios, maintain work search records, and keep a journal of the experience. The site also links users to other career-related resources from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Among the resources developed by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Office of Research and Information is the Labor Demands Occupation List, which can be viewed here on careerservices.nj.gov. This list, effective July 1, 2022, aggregates several factors to reach its conclusions, including the occupation’s total employment, its short-term historical growth, and whether it has a strong projected growth rate. This list is used in different ways to support many programs, including approval for training courses for those in the One-Stop system. Related information on in-demand occupations is available on NJ Training Explorer (https://mycareer.nj.gov/training). The page features a searchable database of thousands of approved training providers, has a detailed FAQ section, and more information buttons for job seekers and trainers who would like to become an approved training provider in New Jersey’s workforce development system.  The state offers many options for training programs and funding through grants for those who qualify, which is also detailed on the site. To find out about your eligibility, get in touch with the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center serving residents of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties or one of the other One-Stop Career Centers around the state. In addition, the Center for Occupational Employment Information page on the DOL website offers a variety of useful resources related to training.

GRWDB and partner services

The GRWDB is directly responsible for program oversight of the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Centers in Flemington and Somerville.

Among the resources the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board offers is SkillUp Greater Raritan, a vast online learning portal available for free to all residents of Hunterdon and Somerset counties. A link is also under the Resources tab of the website. This video provides a quick introduction on how to use the SkillUp Greater Raritan portal. This resource also has been developed for Spanish-language users.

SkillUp Greater Raritan also offers Badge credentialing programs that can be used by job seekers and employers in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties focusing on the topics of Job Readiness and New Manager. Employers also can enroll individual workers or a cohort of employees in targeted classes based on already-developed pathways or design their own program working with Metrix Learning, the vendor for the SkillUp Greater Raritan program. This program includes a per-employee cost which can be covered by the GRWDB using available grant funds. This flyer offers more details.

Residents of other counties in the state can also sign up to use the classes in this powerful learning portal by going to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s new statewide SkillUp New Jersey platform. It can be accessed at on the SkillUp NJ landing page.

Greater Raritan’s Resume Portal, powered by Hiration, is another tool career-seekers can use. The portal gives residents of Hunterdon and Somerset counties free access to a powerful platform to build and review targeted resumes and cover letters, as well as existing LinkedIn profiles. Go to the Resources tab on the website or click here.

The GRWDB also developed some careers-related content for job seekers. Listen to these webinars at your convenience:

• Making Career Connections Work For You
• Making Your Job Search Work For You
• Job Search 101: A Webinar for English Learners
• Career Skill Tips for Success: The Interview. Author Anne Corley Baum, Lehigh Valley Market President for Capital BlueCross, offers tips and advice for preparing for virtual interviews and more. Her Small Mistakes, Big Consequences series is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers.
• Career Skills Tips for Success: Small Mistakes, Big Consequences. Author Anne Corley Baum returns for a second virtual  session offering job seekers real-world advice on job search, job growth and more.
• Career Skills Tips for Success: Networking and Prospecting. Entrepreneur and educational expert Dr. Jairo Borja talks about using LinkedIn in your job search and offers other networking tips.

The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center provides quality, accessible, and comprehensive employment and supportive services responsive to the needs of job seekers, employers, and the community. Service-delivery methods aim to meet the needs of customers and available in-person, over the phone, via email or through virtual platforms. Services for job seeking residents of Somerset and Hunterdon counties include career and vocational counseling, access to training grants, basic computer and literacy instruction, and employment-based case management in conjunction with the Somerset and Hunterdon Boards of Social Services.

The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Service Center on the second floor of 27 Warren St. in Somerville is open to in-person service; walk-ins are welcomed, but appointments are encouraged. Hours are 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Walk-in service is available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday at the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center at 6 Gauntt Place in Flemington; appointment-only service is available Thursday and Friday. In-person and virtual services available from state Employment Services and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation are available at the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center, 75 Veterans Memorial Drive, Somerville, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. For appointments for Employment Services, call 908-704-3000. (Please note that in-person unemployment services are not available at this office.)

An orientation session for new customers is conducted on Fridays, and career-webinars are offered throughout each month. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 908-541-5780 or email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us for assistance.

Text “ONESTOP” to 565-12 on your mobile phone to subscribe to text messages with information on upcoming job readiness workshops, company recruitment events, job fairs, and other employment opportunities in and around Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. In addition, this downloadable brochure provides more detail on all local Greater Raritan services and how they are connected.

Connecting to national and state employment resources

The first step in making an educated decision about a job search or occupational training needs is understanding the current labor market trends. Go to the GRWDB’s Resources – Data page to explore multiple offerings, included the Greater Raritan Unemployment Tracker, the Greater Raritan Top Employers data page, and labor insight analysis reports for both counties. One-Stop team members also can provide this information during one-on-one counseling sessions.

Here are some other resources exist that can be accessed anytime, anywhere:

O-Net Online – Research careers and industries on this site, which has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce and human resources professionals, students, researchers, and more.

Other first-stop national resources for career exploration and guidance include the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Of note is new skills data for 2023-2033 from the BLS. These three charts are a quick and easy way to see the which fields growing and whether the demand for those jobs is projected to increase or decrease.

The U.S. Department of Labor sponsors several online career tools providing solutions for job seekers, unemployed workers, career counselors, economic developers, educators, parents, students, businesses, and workforce professionals. Among these is www.mynextmove.org, an interactive tool based on O*NET data for job seekers and students to learn more about their career options. Dedicated portals for veterans (www.mynextmove.org/vets/) and Spanish-speakers (www.miproximopaso.org) also are available.

The U.S. DOL also hosts https://www.apprenticeship.gov, a one-stop apprenticeship site, which can be used job seekers, employers and educators, as well as interactive map on dol.gov/grants depicting the headquarter locations of all currently active grantees from across agencies nationwide and overseas. This nifty tool provides links that connect partners, organizations and the general public to DOL-funded organizations working in their local communities; it also has links to localized data. Check it out here.

In addition, the N.J. DOL’s New Jersey Apprenticeship Network offers several competitive grant programs that provide different types of apprenticeship opportunities for New Jersey residents. Following are the directories for the granted awarded in Fiscal Year 2024, which began on June 15, 2024. These are 18-month grant opportunities and the following directors offer for more information on each apprenticeship program, including the counties served and the follow-up contact information:  Growing Apprenticeship in Non-Traditional Sectors (GAINS), Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) and Youth Transitions to Work (YTTW).

The USDOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy’s Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has launched the Situations and Solutions Finder. Users can search through real-life examples of job accommodations that worked for JAN customers across a range of occupations, workplaces and industries, such as government agencies, health care, education, manufacturing, service and wholesale/retail sales. The free database contains accommodation scenarios searchable by disability, limitation and occupation.(It should be noted that it does not give solutions for every unique situation. For specific workplace accommodation guidance, users are encouraged to contact JAN directly at askjan.org.

In addition, the department hosts a digital resource aimed at boosting the participation of people with disabilities in employment. The Competitive Integrated Employment Transformation Hub brings together resources from across the federal government to provide guidance, policy information and evidence-based best practices for people with disabilities, their families, employers, employment service providers and state agencies. Competitive integrated employment ensures that people with disabilities are paid competitive wages and work in environments where the majority of employees do not have disabilities.

New Jersey Career Assistance Navigator (NJCAN) is designed to support lifelong career exploration, and career planning and decision-making through searchable data, including schools, labor market information and projections and financial aid information.

The New Jersey Department of Children & Families, Division on Women, offers information on providers across the state for the Displaced Homemaker Programs and the Hispanic Women’s Resource Centers.

The New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) is the state agency that administers higher education financial aid in the Garden State. These financial aid resources are available to all eligible NJ residents, regardless of age. These free state programs are a great addition to an employee benefits program and benefit not only the adult learner, but their employer as well. Program of note:

• Through the NJ College Promise, adult learners with a household income less than $100,000/year will receive some financial aid assistance, while those with a household income less than $65,000/year will see their tuition and approved fees fully covered. This opens the door to adult learners who faced financial barriers and employers can see significant savings to their tuition benefits programs. For employers, this is also resource for attracting, retaining and advancing an employer’s workforce.
• The NJ Governor’s Industry Vocations Scholarship (NJ-GIVS) program offers women and minorities up to $2,000 per year or up to the cost of tuition in a “construction related” eligible certificate or associate’s degree program at one of New Jersey’s vocational/technical schools or community colleges.

For more information, download this flyer detailing how to apply for federal and state financial aid in 5 steps.

PathStone provides customized, people-centered professional development services leading to portable skills and enhanced employability for diverse individuals, including unemployed and under-employed mature workers aged 55+. Call 609-498-0800 or email gargant@pathstone.org.

The Internal Revenue Service has embarked on a new jobs outreach to Veterans. Go to the agency’s jobs page and then to the on Veteran Pathways page for details. In addition, all New Jersey locations/positions can be found on USA Jobs. Direct questions to them at vets@irs.gov.

Connecting to resources in Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

Here are some other job seeker-related resources available from our partners:

Federal Bonding Jobseekers

One-Stop Career Centers Jobseeker Services

Youth Employment Services Program (YES Program) is for out-of-school youth, ages 16 to 24, in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. Here is the program in English, and here is the flyer in Spanish. The program offers a variety of services, including virtual and in-person services, and a 20-hour paid work experiences for the youth participants. Learn more by reading this program brochure, in English and Spanish.

For those needing support with digital services and devices, local library systems are open and can help in a variety of ways. For example, the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey has expanded services for job seekers. This handy flyer details it all. The Clarence Dillon Library in Bedminster also has a program to loan out mobile hot spots.

And here are some additional community resources to consider:

Center for Non-Profits, an umbrella organization for advocacy, resources, training and information for New Jersey non-profits, offers a Job Openings Quick Link

Dress for Success Northern NJ – 10 Counties aims to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. The agency’s services are free of charge and available to clients referred through New Jersey social service agencies. Clients must be available to work, actively seeking employment or recently employed, and in need of business clothing. The agency’s service area includes Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ offers case management, job readiness training, placement, retention services and supports for people with veterans in Essex, Passaic, Hudson. Bergen and Somerset counties. Goodwill also offers placement and retention supports to adults with disabilities over the age of 18 in those counties, and Day Habilitation Services for Adults with Disabilities in Hudson and Essex counties.

Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board Disabilities Committee resource guide of services

Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board Literacy Committee resource guide of services

HOME of Somerset County offers a variety of housing, outreach and empowerment services. This includes its Neighbors in Need Program, which includes case management, financial counseling, mental health counseling and basic-needs assistance.

Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission offers different Adult Literacy Programs including English classes and High School Equivalency. The agency also offers the Thrive Day Habilitation program for people with disabilities.

Hunterdon County Vocational School District’s Adult and Continuing Education, offers individuals, ages 16 and older, career-training programs that provide the ability to obtain industry-recognized credentials, enroll in an apprenticeship program or upgrade present skills. The Flemington location is an approved Workforce Development training facility.

Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties offers a Job Seekers Success Group for active job seekers who are unemployed, underemployed or seeking a career change. The group is offered free of charge and open to the entire community. Contact eprezant@JewishFamilySvc.org.

My Networking Central website is a searchable networking group and networking event database where job seekers, group facilitators and speakers can find events and topics of interest. The site seeks to: connect job seekers with job search groups and career development opportunities; provides employer with individuals seeking work; and establish a place for public libraries and business, economic, and workforce development groups to post their events and meetings.

NORWESCAP Career & Life Transitions Centers, in North Plainfield (Somerset County), Flemington (Hunterdon County) and Washington (Warren County) offers a variety of employment- and career-related services. These include special programs as well at the Career & Life Club, which meets in person and via Zoom. Each meeting touches on different career topics, with guest speakers joining the meetings to discuss the latest trends and strategies for all aspects of a successful job search. For more information on upcoming topics and details on how to qualify for NORWESCAP’s services, call  908-788-1453 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. 

This career blog posting from novoresume.com offers tips for growing one’s professional network.

Professional Service Group of Central New Jersey (PSGCNJ) is a not-for-profit delivering search strategies, training programs, networking, and pro bono work opportunities to help job seekers develop the skills and confidence to land their next opportunity. The group meets virtually weekly.

Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg offers ongoing information and open house sessions. In addition, career training programs at Raritan Valley Community College offer a variety of opportunities for residents of Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

Ride United provides transportation assistance for medical, food, financial, legal, education, housing, and employment needs, including job interviews, pre-employment needs and commuting to and from work. Read more in English and Spanish.

Somerset County Library System of New Jersey Business Services, including Business Librarians and curated SCLSNJ Business Kit. In addition, community members with a SCLSNJ library card can access free online services at home or at a Somerset County Library System branch. These include the Job & Career Accelerator, an online career guidance system which includes tools for resume and cover letter writing; and Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center, which includes advice on interviewing skills and networking. The system also has developed online and computer resources for community residents. The system also now Brainfuse HelpNow, an on-demand e-learning resource with interactive learning  solutions for all ages. For adults, this includes career resources, resume and cover letter assistance, learning tutorials , high school equivalency exams and more.

Support groups can be found at the New Jersey Self-Help Group Clearinghouse.

County-specific transportation resources are also just a link away. In Somerset County, visit Ridewise. In Hunterdon County, visit goHunterdon.

The Tri County Care Management Organization serving Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties brings together resources to meet the needs of children and their families with complex behavioral, emotional, social, and mental health challenges.

United Way of Northern New Jersey offers a variety of resources, including different programs for caregivers. For example, the Assistive Technology Program is focused on working caregivers who are learning how to use simple smart technology to make caregiving safer and work feasible.

National career resource guides

Bestcolleges.com offers a variety of resources to support individuals searching for new opportunities, including a guide to searching an applying for jobs, a guide on how to land a job, and much more.

A web resource for students and job seekers interested in the criminal justice field has been created by the team at CriminalJustice.com. The guide presents overviews in three theories in criminal justice: restorative, retributive, and transformative justice. The resource provides details on various career pathways and features educational opportunities by state. The Three Theories of Justice resource is designed to be used by students as a supplement to their studies.

Enroll Education provides community resources that are centered around higher education in the U.S. The program’s editors recently updated  their Teaching Career Guides that include career profiles, licensing and certification data by state, interviews with teaching professionals, and occupational outlooks for the industry.

Intelligent.com has created a guide for people with prior convictions to learn about going to college. “Higher Education After Incarceration” includes information about various grants and scholarships, advocacy programs and resources for ex-offenders, and other related information.

The manufacturing industry is experiencing a shortage of skilled labor. A career in the manufacturing industry can be a great choice for a variety of reasons and  Propel’s  in-depth Manufacturing Skills Guide examines this issue and provides information of interest to job seekers.

RetireGuide has a free web resource dedicated to providing  information to help older adults fulfill their retirement goals. This includes a guide for retirees looking to return to work. The resource covers topics that are important to understand prior to rejoining the workforce, such as financial considerations and government benefits. Go to retireguide.com/guides/working-after-retirement/.

Best Trade Schools offers a guide for Trades for People with Learning Disabilities. This includes links to trade schools around the nation as well as success stories.

Veterans looking for nationwide opportunities can consider checking out Silent Professionals.

Employees who have a disability may face unique workplace challenges, from inaccessible workstations to schedule rigidity. Denial of reasonable accommodation requests can constitute discrimination. Workers With Disabilities and the ADA, a resource developed by MoneyGeek, explores the common types of discrimination encountered by job seekers and employees with disabilities, how to handle these situations and what protections are afforded by law.

Other helpful human services resources

The Garden State Outreach Program connects residents with cost-saving and human-centered programs launched over the past several years. The site, GardenStateOutreach.us, helps residents understand which of the following programs they are eligible for and helps them apply:

• Psychiatric Advance Directives
• WorkFirstNJ
• NJ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (NJSNAP)
• MyNJHelps
• NJABLE
• Family Connects NJ
• NJ FamilyCare
• NJSave
• Winter Termination Program (WTP)
• Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric
• Lifeline Program
• Comfort Partners Program
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• NJFinLit
• NJ Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
• NJ Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Senior Freeze (property tax reimbursement)

The site also shares information about critical supports and navigators, including: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; Connecting NJ; ReachNJ; and StopOverdosesNJ.

NJ 211 is a nonprofit organization that connects people in need with health and human service programs in New Jersey. Residents can call 211 or visit https://nj211.org. The agency’s work revolves around several critical hotlines that serve some of the most vulnerable people in the state. Each hotline has a team of dedicated specialists who listen to assess each individual caller’s needs. Team members may check eligibility, complete screenings, coordinate emergency placements, provide referrals, and perform other duties.

Feeling anxious or afraid because of what is going on? New Jerseyans can call 1-866-202-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support. NJ Mental Health Cares will be answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week by live trained specialists. In addition, a free emotional support helpline is offering assistance in American Sign Language to deaf and hard of hearing New Jerseyans who can call  the videophone helpline at 973-870-0677; direct communication in sign language will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by live trained specialists.​ Visit the Mental Health Association in New Jersey at NJ MentalHealthCares.

Caring.com provides a comprehensive guide for seniors and their loved ones, offering information on a range of senior care options, including assisted living, memory care, and in-home care. The website also features resources for caregivers, including support groups and informational articles.”

Unemployment services

Anyone with questions, issues, or new claims should continue to go to https://myunemployment.nj.gov or contact the call center for Central Jersey at 732-761-2020 to resolve their situation. New claims should also be filed through the website.  Other access phone numbers are: North Jersey, 201-601-4100; Southern Jersey: 856-507-2340. Customers are advised to call at non-peak times, in the afternoon.

A reminder that unemployment benefits are taxable by the federal government and have to be reported as income by claimants when they file their federal income taxes (it does not have to be reported on state income taxes). A claimant also may view the information in their Form 1099G, by visiting  https://myunemployment.nj.gov/ and selecting the ‘Check claim status’ option. The Department notes that it must report on the 1099-G all benefits paid during the calendar year even if the payment was ultimately determined to be an overpayment.

The Department of Labor also created a web portal that allows New Jersey residents to contact the Department of Labor directly. This is a helpful tool for residents who have questions about their applications.  To submit a message, residents must go to www.myunemployment.nj.gov and follow these instructions:

• On the top navigation bar, scroll to the right for “Need Help” and left-click for the drop down menu
• Left-click on “Send an Email”
• Left-click on Submit a message through our new online form.
• Follow the prompts by answering nine questions and hitting “submit”

Temporary disability, WFNJ and NJ SNAP

For temporary disability and family leave information, visit benefits myleavebenefits.nj.gov.

All applicants for WFNJ and NJ SNAP benefits are encouraged to file online at www.NJHelps.org; if the applicant or recipients requests a face-to-face meeting, County Welfare Agencies must accommodate the request.

For SNAP, starting in March 2023, all households eligible for SNAP began receiving a minimum $95 monthly benefit. That means if your approved monthly benefit is less than $95, you will receive a supplemental payment to equal $95. For more information about benefit and eligibility changes, visit https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/njsnap/emergency/covid19/.