Returning after years away
Your employment gap is not the end of your working story.
Begin with support that understands long-term unemployment. Build one recent experience, one current reference and one marketable skill at a time.
Local, On-Site Temporary Work
PeopleReady offers a nationwide search for local assignments in general labor, hospitality, events, warehousing and manufacturing. Enter your city or ZIP code; availability and requirements vary. This is an on-site work resource.
Search PeopleReady Local Jobs — New TabAvailable nationwide · All 50 states & Washington, D.C.
Free Local Job & Training Help — American Job Centers
American Job Centers can help you find local openings, connect with employers, prepare for interviews and explore training assistance. Basic employment help is free. Some training and additional services require eligibility approval and available funding. Services vary by center, and employment is not guaranteed.
Enter your city or ZIP code in the official finder. Contact the center to confirm services and appointment requirements.
Ask for more than résumé help:“Which employers are hiring near my city? Can you refer me to suitable openings? Are hiring events, paid training or on-the-job training available?”
What is WIOA, and who pays for this help?
WIOA means Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It is a federal law supporting employment and training services nationwide, not an agency or a job board. American Job Centers bring together public workforce programs and partner services. Local names vary; in California they are called America’s Job Centers of California.
Centers can provide job listings, employer referrals, placement assistance, hiring events, skills assessments and career counseling. Eligible applicants may also receive approved training or other support. Ask your local center which services it provides; a referral does not guarantee an interview or a job.
Federal funding is allocated to states and local workforce areas, alongside other partner-program funding. Standard public job-search and referral services are free to job seekers and employers; employers do not pay a placement commission for these referrals. These are public workforce services rather than a commercial recruiting agency.
You can ask for basic job-search help without assuming you qualify for every WIOA-funded service. Staff determine eligibility for programs with additional requirements.
Official explanations: U.S. Department of Labor — WIOA · American Job Center services. Reviewed October 9, 2026.
Use the right words
What to request at an American Job Center
WorkSource Centers are called American Job Centers nationally. Services and funding vary locally, but these specific requests help a counselor understand the assistance you need. This is a checklist to discuss with your counselor; availability and eligibility must be confirmed locally.
Build recent experience
Places frequently seeking volunteers
Favor a recurring assignment with a defined title, regular schedule, supervisor and meaningful duties. After 60–90 days, ask for written verification and permission to use a supervisor as a reference.
VolunteerMatch
Local and remote volunteer assignments across many fields.
Search opportunities ↗AmeriCorps
Community service, education, food programs and disaster-response opportunities.
Search opportunities ↗Points of Light Engage
Local, virtual, one-day and continuing service opportunities.
Search opportunities ↗AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
Community assignments for adults age 55 and older.
Search opportunities ↗Feeding America
Find food-bank sorting, packing, distribution and delivery opportunities.
Search opportunities ↗Habitat for Humanity
Construction, ReStore, warehouse, office and community projects.
Search opportunities ↗American Red Cross
Blood drives, administration, disaster services and virtual support.
Search opportunities ↗United Way
Connect with local United Way offices and nonprofit partners.
Search opportunities ↗Volunteers of America
Community programs that may need clerical, food-service, maintenance and client support.
Search opportunities ↗A practical way back
Paid fields that often contain entry-level openings
No employer can be guaranteed to overlook an employment gap. These fields regularly contain roles in which reliability, availability and willingness to learn may matter more than recent experience.
Select a field below to search Indeed job listings. On Indeed, enter your city or ZIP code and review each employer’s requirements. Results can include roles that require experience; listings and availability change.
Turn service into experience
Volunteer work belongs on a résumé when the responsibilities are real.
Use a heading such as Recent Experience. Include your title, organization, dates, schedule, duties, equipment or software used and measurable contributions.
Volunteer Inventory Assistant — Community Food BankMarch 2026–PresentSort and organize donated inventory during two weekly shifts. Prepare food packages, maintain accurate counts, follow safety procedures and work with staff and a rotating volunteer team.
Look behind the institution’s name
Hospitals, schools and public buildings may hire through outside companies.
Patient transport, food service, environmental services, custodial, security and facilities jobs may be posted by a contractor rather than the building where the work takes place.
Local help matters
Continue with your state and city resources.
Each National Job Services state center connects this pathway with local workforce help, volunteer searches and re-entry job searches for its largest cities.
Choose a state →