Tampa Bay job seekers, get help here

At a time when the unemployment rate in the Tampa Bay area has surged to 11.1 percent and almost a million Floridians are looking for a job, it can be hard to stay positive. But with crisis comes opportunity. The federal government has allocated $4 billion for job training and career development programs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and modifications of the Workforce Investment Act. If you are one of the many unemployed or underemployed Americans, it may be a good time to consider a career change. Here are a list of steps for those who need a fresh start.

Look at what's going on in the local labor market.

You can use the online Employ Florida Marketplace to find in-demand jobs in your area. Tom Stewart, vice president of work force solutions for Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance, said job seekers should also take a step back and do an inventory of the skills they have and see what's transferable to another job.

Online resource Employ Florida Marketplace employflorida.com

Find a one-stop career center to assess your skills and discover which career is best for you.

Centers provide free job search and placement assistance as well as skills assessments. Some offer group workshops and individual career counseling. Employers also use centers to recruit and screen job candidates.

Online resources WorkNet Pinellas worknetpinellas.org

Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance workforcetampa.com

Career Central (Pasco, Hernando) careercentral.jobs

Attend job training sessions from an eligible training provider.

Different careers require different levels of training. To discover how much training is needed and find program locations, visit Employ Florida Marketplace. Some centers help provide basic computer training or assist with funding resources.

WorkNet Pinellas financially assists people who meet certain criteria, said president and chief executive Ed Peachey. WorkNet's largest training provider is St. Petersburg College.

Besides colleges and vocational schools, other organizations also offer training programs. The Wal-Mart Foundation recently launched a program for seniors re-entering the work force. Goodwill is currently offering free customer service training for Tampa Bay residents.

Online resources

Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation floridajobs.org

Wal-Mart's Putting Experience to Work Program experienceworks.org

Goodwill goodwill-suncoast.org

Create a resume and post it online.

Centers offer resume writing workshops along with interview help. Post resumes on as many sites as possible, such as Monster.com and Employ Florida, but also remember to find Web sites that cater to your specific industry as well, Peachey said.

Online resources

Monster.com

HotJobs.com

FloridaJobs.com

Network!

The more people who know you and know what you are looking for, the better. Attend a job fair or volunteer at a nonprofit to get your name out there, Peachey said. He also suggests joining a job club like what WorkNet Pinellas offers to establish a networking and support group with other job seekers.

Online resource

Career section of TampaBay.com: jobs.tampabay.com