If you could test drive talent on real work, train to your exact standards, and in some cases tap public resources to offset risk, you would not call that a nice to have. You would call it a growth plan or talent pipeline management. Internships, apprenticeships, and work experience are three straightforward ways to build […]
The Power of NAPCA
Expanding Opportunity Across Generations: How NAPCA’s SCSEP Supports Seniors and Community Organizations Communities work best when experience, purpose, and opportunity align. NAPCA’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) does exactly that—creating a bridge between older adults seeking meaningful employment and community organizations that need reliable, skilled support. The two attached flyers outline both sides of […]
FREE Mobile Basic Digital Literacy Class Starts Next Week!
Bringing Digital Skills to Your Doorstep: Free Mobile Digital Literacy Classes The American Job Center is excited to announce our FREE Mobile Basic Digital Literacy Class, which runs from February through June 2026, designed to meet people where they are—literally. Instead of asking you to travel across counties or navigate unfamiliar buildings, we’re bringing short, […]
CAREER COMPASS – Networking Without the Awkward Small Talk
Many people hear the word “networking” and feel a pit in their stomach. They picture crowded rooms, stiff handshakes, and the kind of small talk that makes everyone stare at the floor. The truth is that networking does not have to feel like that at all. In fact, real networking is much quieter and much […]
Why American Job Center Is Not A Staffing Agency
Why AJC Is Not A Staffing Agency When people first hear “American Job Center,” they sometimes think it is just another staffing agency. It is not. Staffing agencies are businesses that place people into jobs for their own clients. American Job Center is a public service that helps you build a career, not just fill […]
Opportunities – Standard Forwarding Closure
When One Door Closes, Others Are Already Open: Job and Training Opportunities After the Standard Forwarding Closure The closure of Standard Forwarding is more than a business headline. It’s a personal disruption for the drivers, technicians, office staff, and support teams who kept freight moving day in and day out. Losing a job can feel […]
Learn How to Learn: Join Our Metacognitive Learning Workshop
Ever feel like you’re putting in the study hours but not getting the results you want? The problem usually isn’t effort—it’s strategy. That’s where metacognition comes in. Metacognition simply means thinking about how you think. When you understand how your brain learns, you can study smarter, catch confusion earlier, and choose techniques that actually work. […]
WORKFORCE WIRE – Get Paid to Train Your Employees? Yes, Really.
For many small and mid-sized businesses across Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties, training new hires can feel like an expensive leap of faith. You invest time and resources in someone who might not stay long enough to make that investment worthwhile. But what if you could offset those costs? Through the On-the-Job Training (OJT) […]
CAREER COMPASS – Closing the Skills Gap: Training for the Jobs of Tomorrow
The future doesn’t wait, and neither should your career plan. The industries of tomorrow are already hiring today. With the right support, you can be ready to walk through that door. Closing the skills gap this month is about matching demand with opportunity, and helping job seekers bridge the skills divide. That way they can […]
The Emotional Rollercoaster of Job Searching and How to Stay Sane
It’s 10:32 a.m. You’re staring at your inbox again. No reply from the three applications you sent yesterday. A small sigh escapes before the thought hits: “Maybe it’s me.” The emotional rollercoaster of job searching is real. Sound familiar? Job searching can feel like an endless emotional loop—hope, silence, rejection, repeat. But beneath the spreadsheets […]