The Alabama Career Center, located at 117 West Commerce Street, has more things to offer to the public than one might expect.

"Many people are either looking for employment or are looking to possibly change careers altogether," Janice Grayson, Alabama Career Center manager, said. "If someone needs help writing a resume or filling out a job application online, we can help with that."

Grayson said that the office has three main partners that work together when it comes to helping people find employment.

Those partners include Employment Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and Career Link.

"Under our employment service, we have job shop workshops that teach people how to do anything from going to a job interview to how to use and access the Internet for job searches," she said.

"In the training room, there are ten computers where people can get assistance with filling out job applications online, work on their resumes, or do job searches. Overall, the office has a total of 17 computers which can be used by the public for job-related searches."

"One of the newest things we really want people to know about is the new website that will assist in any and all kinds of job searches," she said.

"That website is www.joblink.alabama.gov, and it can be accessed from any computer with Internet access."

Grayson said that anyone can register with the Alabama Career Center at the Job Link website. If someone finds a job notice that he's interested in, he can apply online, and either the career center or the employer will send a reply email with further information about the job notice and company. If the company puts in its own job notice, Grayson said that applicants should simply follow the directions that are given online.

In addition to job notices, there are other kinds of job links from this website that will enhance an applicant's job search. Anyone can find information on job fairs, career exploration, workman's compensation, unemployment information, college searches, trade school searches and Katrina assistance.

"We also have a vocational rehabilitation counselor who comes in every Wednesday," Grayson said. "She works with people who have disabilities, and she works with those who have been injured on the job. She helps that person explore new careers or new job options."

In addition, a job developer comes to the office each Monday. He works with companies to develop jobs for people with disabilities.

For people who are interested in going back to college, whether it's a technical school or junior college, the Alabama Career Center has its Career Link.

"The Workforce Investment Act is a federally funded program that provides money for technical and trade schools or post-secondary schools," she said. "Our facilitator, Mary Beth Driggers, does the assessments, and then she sees who is eligible for the WIA funds."

The Alabama Career Center is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

They can be reached at 334-382-3128. Anyone may access the Job Link website 24 hours a day, seven days a week.