Where To Start

Washington State has a variety of resources available to those seeking employment. The State Employment Security Department is the agency that handles unemployment insurance and claims. WorkSource is an organization that brings together employment listings, employment counseling, training programs, apprenticeships, and more! WorkSource is a national program, but you must sign up for it at your local office. These two organizations are important places to begin learning about your benefits and options.

One more piece to the puzzle is having a SAW account. SAW stands for Secure Access Washington. Creating an account is necessary if you wish to file for unemployment or use WorkSource to search for jobs.

Helpful Links for Job Seekers

Cypress Resume has the tools and templates to create a professional resume. Simply type in your information, select a style and produce a custom resume or cover letter. This product requires your library card number to login.

Linkedin Learning is an online learning portal that delivers hundreds of courses.  This resource is particularly good for learning computer and office skills. Login with your library card number and PIN, then create an account to save your progress. 

O-Net is a site that blends multiple federal government resources for job seekers. Includes the Occupational Outlook Handbook that lists hundreds of jobs, average annual salaries, education requirements, career growth outlook, and more.

Reference Solutions (also known as ReferenceUSA) is the premier business and consumer reference and research tool offering instant, real-time access to in-depth information on millions of U.S Businesses and Consumers. Access tons of jobs and internships on this resource.

The Washington State Library has compiled an excellent resource with information on unemployment, grants, employment resources, training, and other useful information for those seeking jobs, benefits, and grants with special emphasis on Washington residents.

Washington State Employment Security Department---Unemployment Benefits Page. If you are furloughed or laid off from your job, start here to apply for benefits.

WorkSource Washington is a statewide partnership of state, local, and nonprofit agencies that provides an array of employment and training services to job seekers and employers in Washington. Studies show that people who use WorkSource services tend to find work faster and earn more money than those who don’t.