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| May 13, 2008 DOL Home > Job Corps > Frequently Asked Questions |  |
Frequently Asked Questions Click on a question below to see its answer. Click on the red arrow to return to the top of this page. Youth Frequently Asked Questions
Parent/Guardian Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to Youth Frequently Asked Questions What is Job Corps? Job Corps is the nation's largest and most effective residential and career training program for eligible youth ages 16 through 24. Each year approximately 62,000 students take advantage of the Job Corps program. Last year, 90 percent of Job Corps graduates started new careers, enrolled in higher education programs or enlisted in the military. How does it work? Job Corps provides education, job training, assistance with job placement and follow-up support - all at no cost to eligible students. Students who enroll in Job Corps can earn a high school diploma or GED, train for a new career, prepare for higher education and gain the practical skills they need to succeed in the workplace. What kind of training is available through Job Corps? Job Corps offers career training in more than 100 occupational areas, including business technology, health occupations, hospitality, culinary arts, construction, and auto mechanics. Students also receive academic training, including basic reading and math, GED attainment, college preparatory courses and Limited English Proficiency courses. Courses in independent living, employability skills, and social skills are offered in order to help students transition into the workplace. Click on the following link to http://jcstudent.jobcorps.gov to explore careers. What else does Job Corps have to offer? Job Corps offers career planning, on-the-job training, job placement, residential housing, food service, driver's education, health and dental care, a bi-weekly basic living allowance and clothing allowance. Some centers offer childcare programs for single parents as well. Who is eligible for Job Corps? To be eligible for the program, an individual must:
Does it cost anything? Job Corps programs are available to those who are eligible at no financial cost. What are the rules at Job Corps? Like any place, all Job Corps centers have rules and regulations to follow. These rules are in place to help keep you safe, to help simulate the workforce environment, and to help eliminate distractions so you can succeed in academics and training. To provide the safest possible learning environment, Job Corps has a Zero Tolerance Policy against violence and drugs. Any student who violates this policy will be removed from the Job Corps program. Do I get paid while I am at Job Corps? Throughout your training you will receive a basic living allowance. As your training progresses, your living allowance will increase. Job Corps can also help you get started after you graduate with a transition allowance. This allowance is based on your academic and career skills achievement while in Job Corps. Do I have to live at the center? Most students live at the center, but some centers serve nonresidential students as well. Nonresidential policies vary at each center, so check with your admissions counselor for details. Can I bring my child with me to Job Corps? Job Corps does offer childcare assistance at some center locations. The admissions counselor will explain what options are available. Who do I have to live with? Most centers offer separate male and female dormitories. Depending on the center, you can have anywhere from one to seven roommates. Can I choose the center I would like to attend? Center placement is typically based on where you live and the career area in which you are interested. You will need to discuss your specific situation with the admissions counselor. For a list of centers, click the link to Where is Job Corps? What do I have to wear? Rules about personal appearance are set by the individual center. However, generally articles of clothing with offensive wording, large amounts of jewelry or any items that promote drugs, alcohol, tobacco or violence are not allowed on campus. You will be given a uniform for career skills training classes, but you are responsible for providing your own everyday clothes. Can I take personal belongings to Job Corps? Students should not bring expensive video and audio equipment, computers, and similar items. Students are expected to bring personal care and grooming items. Admissions Counselors can help you determine what items are appropriate to bring on center. When can I go home to visit? Job Corps will provide your transportation to and from home for your initial trip to the center, during the winter and summer breaks, and returning to your home when you leave the program. Any other trips home must be arranged and paid for by the student. Can my family visit me on center? Yes. Your parents or guardians are invited to visit you at the center. Please contact the center in advance of the visit. How long do I have to stay at Job Corps? Job Corps is a self-paced program. That means you learn at your own pace. Depending on the career area you choose and the learning pace you set for yourself, training can take from eight months to two years to complete. Job Corps recommends that you remain on-center for at least one year to gain the knowledge and social skills needed for your new career. What happens after I graduate from Job Corps? Even before graduation, a Job Corps staff member will assist you in conducting a job search. They can also help direct you to social services such as health care, housing, legal assistance and child care. For six months after you graduate, a Job Corps career transition specialist will keep in touch with you to make sure things are going well in your new career. Can Job Corps help me get into college after I graduate from the program? Some Job Corps centers have cooperative agreements with community colleges or related institutions to teach career area courses or to have individual students take courses to gain college credit. Job Corps will also work with students to help them transfer into college programs when appropriate. What if I don't like it? Can I leave Job Corps? Yes. No one will force you to stay if you're not happy at the center, but you must be committed to the program to benefit from it. All we ask is that you try your best to succeed. We promise you this: It will be difficult sometimes, and we will challenge you. But if you don't quit on us, we won't quit on you. Last year, 90 percent of Job Corps graduates found work, enrolled in higher education programs, or enlisted in the military. Your career path begins here. What do I bring to my interview with Job Corps?
How can I find out more about Job Corps? Learn more about Job Corps by calling (800) 733-JOBS or go to Where Is Job Corps? to locate a center near you. Answers to Parent/Guardian Frequently Asked Questions What is Job Corps? Job Corps is the nation's most successful federal residential job training program for youth ages 16 through 24. Each year, Job Corps provides 62,000 young men and women with an opportunity to gain the experience they need to begin a career and take control of their lives. What will my son or daughter gain from Job Corps? Job Corps prepares students for success in every aspect of their lives. It's a comprehensive program that not only provides essential academic and career skills training, but also teaches students to make a difference in the lives of other people. Students make lifelong friends by sharing in their classmates' lives and regularly engage in service projects to benefit local communities. Job Corps is a life learning experience that helps students become responsible and fulfill their dreams. Job Corps can help your child learn the specific skills that employers look for when hiring new employees. With the hands-on job training programs at Job Corps, your son or daughter will be prepared to work at a new and better job when they graduate from the program. Click on the following link for more information: Is Job Corps Right for My Child? What career training is available? Job Corps offers career training in more than 100 occupational areas, including business technology, health occupations, hospitality, culinary arts, construction, and auto mechanics. Students also receive academic training, including basic reading and math, GED attainment, college preparatory courses and Limited English Proficiency courses. Courses in independent living, employability skills, and social skills are offered in order to help students transition into the workplace. Students work with counselors and instructors to develop a Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP). This plan address the individual needs of a student including academics, career skills, social skills, employability skills, driver's education, and independent living skills. Students also participate in work-based learning, allowing them to apply their training outside of the classroom. My son/daughter hasn't finished high school. Is that OK? Job training is not all that students can gain by joining Job Corps. To make sure graduates have what they need to get the best job possible, Job Corps offers the opportunity to earn a high school diploma or GED. The program also offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at many centers. At Job Corps, students work toward a diploma or GED at their own pace and receive periodic progress evaluations. How will Job Corps help my son/daughter find a job? Job Corps does more than just train and educate teens and young adults. When a student completes the program, a Job Corps career transition specialist will help him or her make the transition into the workplace. The specialists help students practice interview skills, finalize resumes and find jobs that match their training. These specialists are in contact with local and regional businesses daily, and they know what businesses have the best job openings. Career transition specialists maintain contact with Job Corps graduates for 6 months to help them overcome new challenges and stay on track for success. Does Job Corps offer assistance with college after successful completion of the program? Some Job Corps centers have cooperative agreements with community colleges or related institutions to teach career area courses or to have individual students take courses to gain college credit. Job Corps will also work with students to help them transfer into college programs when appropriate. Can I visit my son/daughter on center? As a parent or guardian of a Job Corps student, you are free to visit the Job Corps center as often as you wish. We ask that, as a courtesy, you give the center as much advance notice as possible before visiting. The notice will ensure that Job Corps instructors know to excuse your son or daughter from class, career skills training, or off-site training activities. Parents of prospective students are also welcome to tour the center campus before their son or daughter enrolls in the program. For many students, this will be the first time they are away from home for an extended period of time. To allow them time to adjust to center life, we suggest you wait at least eight weeks before making your first visit. Center staff find that phone calls home, letters and postcards from family members help support the student's commitment to complete the program. Will my son or daughter earn money at Job Corps? Job Corps students earn a bi-weekly basic living allowance. The allowance is usually used to buy personal items such as soap or toothpaste. The longer students stay in the program, the more living allowance they are given. Students can also earn money for completing training in their career areas and/or earning their high school diploma or GED. Job Corps also provides free basic medical and dental care to all students and offers many recreational activities for students to enjoy in their free time. Centers also frequently arrange visits to nearby attractions. If you wish to send your son or daughter money, we strongly recommend you purchase a money order. This is the safest method to ensure the funds are received. Some students prefer to use prepaid cards for long-distance phone calls and other expenses. A reminder: Never send cash in the mail. What can I do to help my son or daughter complete Job Corps? One of the most common problems Job Corps students experience is homesickness. In some cases, students have never lived away from home. It is understandable that your son or daughter feels anxious about leaving home and moving to a center in a different city or state. Most students attend the Job Corps center closest to their hometowns, but the transition to life away from home can still be a challenging experience. Homesickness can make small problems appear larger than they really are. This is common during the first couple of months until students adjust to this big change in their lives. In this case, your child will need your support and reassurance so that he or she will feel more comfortable and make new friends. Your son or daughter should not use complaints such as "I don't like the food" or "I haven't made any friends" as excuses to come home. In time, most students find Job Corps is a rewarding program that helps them grow personally as well as professionally. Students not only learn the skills they need to gain employment in good-paying, quality jobs, but also develop the social and employability skills necessary to thrive in today's workplace and to succeed in life. Each student also learns to take on new responsibilities while adjusting to life in Job Corps, including cleaning his or her room and certain areas of the center campus on a regular basis, and participating in community service projects. What rules does Job Corps have? Job Corps strives to provide students with a safe, rewarding experience living and learning on the center campus. Violence and other forms of misconduct are not tolerated and are infrequent occurrences on center. When discipline problems do emerge, center staff intervene directly and swiftly. Each center provides a complete list of its rules and policies to all of its students during their first week in the program. Students should pay careful attention to their specific center's regulations. Job Corps has a Zero Tolerance Policy against drugs and violence. Students who commit a violent act will be dismissed and will not be allowed to re-enter the program. Students who test positive for drugs will be immediately expelled from the program if they are not drug-free prior to their 45th day. How do I enroll my son or daughter in Job Corps? Call (800) 733-JOBS or (800) 733-5627 to learn more about Job Corps and to contact your local outreach and admissions office. Additional information is also online at http://www.dol.gov. Potential students who are under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian approval to enroll in Job Corps. Success Lasts a Lifetime Job Corps can make an important difference in a young person's life. The education and career training opportunities at Job Corps provide students with real skills and experience that will lead to quality jobs. Please encourage your son or daughter to seriously consider joining Job Corps, because with Job Corps - Success Lasts a Lifetime.
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