Best Job & Career in Maine — 14 resources

About Job & Career for Women

Job and career resources for women run through the 2,400+ American Job Centers (AJCs) nationwide, the Department of Labor's Women's Bureau, and SBA Women's Business Centers. AJCs offer free job search, resume help, and WIOA-funded training (often

0,000+ in tuition for in-demand occupations). WANTO grants fund women entering nontraditional trades like construction, electrical, and HVAC. Registered Apprenticeships pay workers during training, and organizations like Chicago Women in Trades, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), and Dress for Success support entry and re-entry. For formerly incarcerated women, programs like the Center for Employment Opportunities provide transitional jobs. This directory includes AJCs, WBCs, apprenticeships, and women-focused workforce programs.

Job & Career in Maine

Maine district courts handle most family matters; superior courts handle more complex cases and appeals. The Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery operates under DHHS. Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, and Auburn are the largest cities. Pine Tree Legal Assistance and the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence support women, with strong online self-help resources for custody and support.

14 Resources

1. Maine Department of Labor — CareerCenters — Free

Maine DOL at 45 Commerce Dr in Augusta oversees the statewide CareerCenter network — 12 locations from Portland to Presque Isle offering free job search, resume help, WIOA training funds, and unemployment-claim support. Call 207-623-7900 to find your nearest CareerCenter and current workshop schedule.

207-623-7900 · 45 Commerce Dr, Augusta, ME 04330 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. Maine CareerCenters — Free

Maine has 12 CareerCenter offices statewide (Portland, Springvale, Lewiston, Augusta, Bangor, Brunswick, Wilton, Skowhegan, Rockland, Hinckley, Calais, and Presque Isle) plus mobile satellite hours. Services include resume coaching, job-search workshops, and WIOA-funded job training for eligible women. Call 207-623-7900 to find the closest office.

207-623-7900 · Multiple locations statewide · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Goodwill Industries of Northern New England — ME — Free

Goodwill NNE in Portland runs job-training programs (Workforce Solutions), career counseling, and the Project HIRE re-entry program for women with criminal records. Retail and warehouse work-experience placements pair training with paid hours. Call 207-774-6323 to schedule a career-counseling appointment.

207-774-6323 · Portland, ME · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

4. SBA Maine District Office — Free

The US Small Business Administration's Maine District Office in Augusta supports women entrepreneurs through SBA-guaranteed loans, the Women's Business Center at CEI in Wiscasset, and SCORE chapters in Portland, Bangor, and Augusta. Call 207-622-8242 for advisor referrals and current grant cycle information.

207-622-8242 · Augusta, ME · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

5. CareerOneStop — Free

US Department of Labor's career, training, and job-search portal includes Maine apprenticeship listings, in-demand occupations data, and the American Job Center finder linking Maine users to their nearest CareerCenter. Useful for big-picture career planning before walking into a CareerCenter.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. America's Job Centers — Free

Maine's 12 CareerCenters are part of the national American Job Center network. Use the locator to find services nationwide — relevant for Maine women relocating in or out of state, or for cross-border workers commuting to Portsmouth NH.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. DOL Women's Bureau — Free

DOL Women's Bureau publishes data on Maine women's labor-force participation, wage gaps by industry, and the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant — which has funded Maine trades-training programs targeting women entering construction, manufacturing, and energy.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. Dress for Success — Free

National Dress for Success site with affiliate locator. The Maine affiliate in Portland (dressforsuccess.org/affiliate/maine) provides free interview suiting and career coaching by referral from CareerCenters, ASPIRE, DV programs, or workforce partners.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. Bottomless Closet — Free

NYC-based but with a national virtual workshop series — useful for Maine women in rural counties without a local Dress for Success affiliate. Free interview clothing program; out-of-area women access the career-development webinars and resume reviews online.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Year Up — Free

Year Up is a free one-year career-training program for adults 18-29 that combines technical training with paid corporate apprenticeships. The Year Up Providence site is the closest hub for Maine students; remote-eligible cohorts are increasingly available statewide.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Goodwill Career Services — Free

National Goodwill site — in Maine, Goodwill NNE in Portland is the local affiliate. Use the national site to find programs if you relocate, plus the Digital Skills Academy and other free online career-readiness training available to all Goodwill clients.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Women Employed — Free

Chicago-based advocacy organization producing research and tools that have shaped national policy on equal pay, paid leave, and workforce development — relevant for Maine women researching their rights or organizing around workplace policy at the State House.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. SCORE — Free Business Mentors — Free

SCORE has three Maine chapters — Portland, Bangor, and Augusta — staffed by retired and active executives volunteering free mentoring for new business owners. Useful for Maine women launching home-based businesses, food trucks, or service businesses.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership — Free

SBA OWBO oversees the national Women's Business Center network including CEI's Maine WBC in Wiscasset. Use this site to access women-specific federal contracting set-aside information (WOSB) and small-business loan programs.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many job & career resources are in Maine?
Women's Corner tracks 14 job & career resources for women in Maine.
Are job & career resources in Maine free?
14 of the 14 listed job & career resources in Maine are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Maine have job & career resources?
Listings span cities including Augusta, Portland.
What are some examples of job & career resources in Maine?
Featured entries include Maine Department of Labor — CareerCenters, Maine CareerCenters, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England — ME, SBA Maine District Office, CareerOneStop.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
4 of 14 Maine job & career listings include phone numbers.
Where do I get free job training?
Your local American Job Center (find at CareerOneStop.org or call 1-877-872-5627) offers free training, resume help, and job placement through the WIOA program. Goodwill, Dress for Success, and Bottomless Closet provide job-readiness, interview clothing, and coaching. Community colleges run short-term certificate programs (CNA, medical billing, IT) under
,000 that lead to immediate jobs.
Are there programs that hire single mothers?
Yes. Many employers partner with Goodwill, YWCA, and Workforce Boards on second-chance and single-mom hiring tracks — childcare assistance, flexible schedules, and tuition reimbursement included. Look at 'Family Forward NC' style state initiatives, certified Family-Friendly employers, and federal contractors (required to support working parents). Healthcare and logistics are the fastest-growing single-mom-friendly fields.
How do I write a resume after years out of the workforce?
Skip the chronological format — use a functional or hybrid resume that leads with skills (organization, budgeting, time management, problem-solving from caregiving counts). Reframe volunteer work, PTA, and freelance work as professional experience. Free help: American Job Centers, Dress for Success Career Center, LinkedIn's free resume builder, and the SBA Women's Business Centers.
What if I have a criminal record?
You still qualify for most jobs — Ban-the-Box laws in 37 states delay background questions until later in hiring. Federal contractors can't ask about records on the initial application. The Federal Bonding Program insures employers against loss for hiring you. Many states allow expungement of certain records after a waiting period — ask legal aid about clearing your record.