Try attending a church service, then staying afterwards to introduce yourself to the pastor or priest. Explain that you’re trying to find a job and wanted to know if the church offered any programs to teach you useful skills or help you apply.
These training sessions are a great resource, so make the most of them! Learning these skills could be crucial to helping you get a job. If you have an idea of what kinds of jobs you’re most qualified for or interested in, try to go to sessions that seem applicable. For example, if you’re looking for an administrative or office job, you may want to attend sessions that focus on computer proficiency or workplace organization.
Finding treatment may be difficult, but it’s the first step to getting a job and changing your life.
Ask a local homeless shelter or aid organization if your state offers a housing program for job-seeking homeless people.
Contact the local homelessness coalition to find other programs that are available, such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and services from other religious or poverty organizations that offer employment services. [5] X Expert Source Amber Rosenberg, PCCPacific Life Coach Expert Interview. 8 March 2022. All of these programs have websites that explain what services they provide, who is eligible, and how to contact them. [6] X Expert Source Amber Rosenberg, PCCPacific Life Coach Expert Interview. 8 March 2022.
A good place to start is the US Department of Labor’s website for federal programs for people experiencing homelessness. [8] X Expert Source Amber Rosenberg, PCCPacific Life Coach Expert Interview. 8 March 2022. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) for chronic homelessness also provides vocational services. [9] X Expert Source Amber Rosenberg, PCCPacific Life Coach Expert Interview. 8 March 2022. You can search for jobs by simply googling something like “entry level office jobs in New York City” or “construction jobs in San Francisco. ” You can also search on job websites like LinkedIn or Craigslist. Look for jobs that fit your experience and skill level, or that don’t require much experience. You might take a temporary job or an internship to get some money flow for the time being, then try to transition to a full-time position once you get a foot in the door.
If you don’t have your own computer, write up your resume with an online word processor, like Google Docs, and save it to your email so you can access it from anywhere. If you can, ask staff at your local homeless shelter for help in crafting your resume. They can help you decide what to list and how to make the most of the experience you have.
Use your full name in your email address and make sure it sounds professional, such as “johnsmith123@gmail. com. ”
You can also ask at a homeless shelter to see if you can use their address on your forms.
A cell phone is an essential form of contact when you’re applying for jobs. Keep the phone on you at all times in case potential employers call. Answer professionally, saying something like, “Hello, this is Mary,” and talk to them in a calm, quiet area.
Try to buy at least 5 shirts and 2-3 pairs of pants. If you get hired, people might notice if you wear the same shirt twice in a week, but they won’t notice if your pants are the same. To keep your professional clothes from getting dirty, try keeping them in boxes or shopping bags.
For example, if they ask you how your previous experience has prepared you for the job, you could say, “In the past, I’ve held jobs at fast-food restaurants, and I learned how to do a variety of different roles, including cooking, serving, and taking orders. I have experience in customer service, too. I could bring these food industry skills to this cashier position as well. ” Stay calm in the face of hard questions. Take a deep breath and say, “Hmm, that’s a good question,” to buy yourself time to think.
If your homelessness doesn’t affect your ability to get to work on time, or your performance while you’re at work, you may not need to mention it if you get the job, either. It’s your personal business, and your employer doesn’t need to know unless it affect your work. [15] X Research source