Do any of these apply to you?

• Have you been laid off from a job? Or...
• Are you receiving food stamps?  Or...
• Are you receiving TANF?  Or...
• Are you eligible for a PELL or MAP Grant? 

If you answered "yes" to one or more questions, you may qualify for the program.  Even if you answered "no" to the above questions, you may still qualify based on special circumstances.

Partners for Employment (PfE) is able to help many individuals with the costs of attending school.  In addition to providing a scholarship for tuition, books, and fees we may also be able to help you with transportation and child care.

You must be able to answer "yes" to the following two questions.

1. Authorized to work in U.S.?
2. Do you reside in any of the following counties?
   • Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson or Whiteside

AND you must be able to answer "no" to the following two questions.

1. Are you in default of a student loan?
2. If you are an active student, is your grade point average under a 2.0?

Step 1    Complete Preliminary Application

If you are interested in job training fill out the Preliminary Application. Once the application is completed please click on the submit button.  A  PfE staff person will contact you within three business days.   While you are waiting to hear from a PfE staff person, you can continue completing the Next Steps Process.   You will need to have or create an email address before beginning the Next Steps Process.

Step 2    Next Steps Process

• Go to the IllinoisworkNet website. 
• Click on Individuals Enter Here .
• Click on "setup a free IllinoisworkNet Account" located at the top of that web page.
• Complete all the required information that is in red.
• Then click the "Next Step" tab located at the bottom of the web page. Please write down your user name and password.
• Now, log on to IllinoisworkNet using your user name and password. 

Step 3   Do you already have a resume? 

• If yes, you do not have to complete this step.
• If not, at the  top of that web page, 
  • Click on the "Job" Tab. 
  • On the left hand side of the web page, under "Prepare for a Job," click on "Prepare Your Resume ."
  • Click on the link, "Illinois workNet online Resume Builder." make sure you are logged into your IllinoisworkNet account.  
  • Complete and print out a copy of your resume.

• At the  top of the web page,
  
  • Click on the "Job" Tab.
  • On the left hand side of the web page under "Prepare for a Job," click on "Skills and Interests ."
  • Choose either "Skills Profiler" or "O’Net" to complete the Career Research and Interest Assessments.
  • Print out information.

You will also need to complete Career Research by selecting the "Wages and Trends" listed under "Prepare for a Job." Print out information.

Step 4   Register on Illinois Skills Match

If you already have an updated Illinois Skills Match account, you do not have to complete this step.

If you do not have an updated Illinois Skills Match account, compete this step.

• At the  top of the web page,
  • Click on the "Job" Tab.
  • On the left hand side of the web page under "Find a Job," click on "Illinois Skills Match ."
    You will need to set up an Illinois Skills Match Account if you do not already have one. After creating a user name and password, log on to Illinois Skills Match.
  • Complete and print out a copy of your Illinois Skills Match information.

Step 5   Call Your Partners for Employment Office

• Carroll County
  301 N. Main, Mt. Carroll, IL 61053, (815) 244-2522
• JoDaviess County
  300 West Avenue, Elizabeth, IL  61028, (815) 858-3630
• Ogle County
  803 W. Lincoln Avenue,  Rochelle, IL 61068, (815) 562-3478
• Stephenson County
  1826 S. West Avenue, Freeport, IL  61032, (815) 235-1801
• Whiteside County
  2323 E. Lincolnway, Sterling, IL 61081, (815) 625-9648

Step 6   Additional steps that need to be completed.

• Apply online for Student Financial Aid after completing the financial aid application, print out the confirmation page.
• If needed, apply for child care assistance for residents of JoDaviess and Stephenson Counties at: http://www.inccrra.org/parentsandpublic.aspx?id=245#SDA_1
• If needed, apply for  child care assistance for residents of Carroll, Ogle and Whiteside Counties at: http://www.four-c.org/howtoapplyccap.html
• Meet with college or training institution advisor and receive a semester by semester plan.
• Schedule Placement tests at the attending College or training institution if you have not attended before.  If you are a prior student, you need to provide a copy of your transcripts.
• Call and make an appointment with a Career Advisor at your PfE local office.

You have now completed the Next Steps Process