How many job & career resources are in Minnesota?

Women's Corner tracks 16 job & career resources for women in Minnesota.

Are job & career resources in Minnesota free?

16 of the 16 listed job & career resources in Minnesota are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in Minnesota have job & career resources?

Listings span cities including St. Paul, Minneapolis, Spring Lake Park.

What are some examples of job & career resources in Minnesota?

Featured entries include Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), MinnesotaWorks.net, Dress for Success — Twin Cities, Minnesota SCORE — Business Mentoring, Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota — Career Services.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

7 of 16 Minnesota 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 $1,000 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.

Best Job & Career in Minnesota — 16 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 Minnesota

Minnesota district courts hear family matters across its 87 counties. The Child Support Enforcement Division operates under DHS. Minneapolis-Saint Paul anchors the state; Rochester, Duluth, and Bloomington follow. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, and Violence Free Minnesota (the statewide DV coalition) serve women.

16 Resources

1. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) — Free

DEED at 332 Minnesota St in St. Paul runs Minnesota's workforce system, including 50+ CareerForce locations across the state, the Dislocated Worker Program, and Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Call 651-259-7114 weekdays to find your nearest CareerForce center for free in-person help with resumes, training referrals, and job search.

651-259-7114 · 332 Minnesota St Suite E200, St. Paul, MN 55101 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website

2. MinnesotaWorks.net — Free

MinnesotaWorks.net is DEED's free state job board listing 100,000+ active openings from MN employers, with filters for remote work, part-time, and apprenticeships. Mothers can build a profile, save searches, and apply directly. Call 651-259-7114 weekdays for help if you cannot reset your account or upload a resume.

651-259-7114 · Online Service · Online 24/7 · Visit Website

3. Dress for Success — Twin Cities — Free

Dress for Success Twin Cities at 252 University Ave W in St. Paul provides MN women with free professional interview attire, a one-week work wardrobe after landing a job, and the Professional Women's Group career mentorship program. Call 651-251-0825 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm to schedule a referral appointment.

651-251-0825 · 252 University Ave W, St. Paul, MN 55103 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

4. Minnesota SCORE — Business Mentoring — Free

SCORE Minneapolis at 100 N 6th St offers free one-on-one mentoring and workshops for MN women starting or growing a business, with mentors who have run companies across software, retail, food, and professional services. Call 612-370-2324 weekdays to be matched with a mentor or register for a free workshop.

612-370-2324 · 100 N 6th St Suite 210C, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

5. Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota — Career Services — Free

Goodwill-Easter Seals MN at 553 Fairview Ave N in St. Paul provides free career counseling, skills training (banking, IT, healthcare), and job placement for women with employment barriers — including criminal records, disabilities, and re-entry needs. Call 651-379-5800 weekdays to ask about the next FastTRAC program in your area.

651-379-5800 · 553 Fairview Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

6. Rise Inc. — Career Development — Free

Rise at 8406 Sunset Rd NE in Spring Lake Park is a 50-year-old MN nonprofit providing employment, residential, and education services for women with disabilities, mental illness, and other significant barriers to employment. Call 651-772-4412 weekdays to be screened for supported employment or day services.

651-772-4412 · 8406 Sunset Rd NE, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website

7. Minneapolis Small Business Development Center — Free

The Minneapolis SBDC at 100 N 6th St provides free one-on-one business consulting, financial-modeling help, and low-cost workshops for women entrepreneurs. Funded by the SBA in partnership with the U of M Carlson School. Call 612-332-6332 weekdays to schedule a confidential consulting session.

612-332-6332 · 100 N 6th St Suite 210C, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

8. CareerOneStop — Free

CareerOneStop is the US Department of Labor's career portal with free resume builders, interview prep, training searches, and the American Job Center locator covering all 50+ CareerForce MN locations. Useful as a backup when MinnesotaWorks.net does not show jobs in your specific field or industry.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. America's Job Centers — Free

America's Job Centers (AJC) is the federal network that includes Minnesota's CareerForce centers. The locator finds the nearest AJC in MN for in-person resume review, training-grant screening (WIOA), and one-on-one career counseling — completely free, regardless of unemployment status.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. DOL Women's Bureau — Free

The US DOL Women's Bureau publishes research and policy work on women's earnings, occupational segregation, and pay equity, with data tools showing Minnesota-specific wage gaps by industry and demographic. Useful background for MN women negotiating salary or considering a career pivot.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Dress for Success — Free

DressForSuccess.org is the global network's main site, listing affiliates including Dress for Success Twin Cities. Useful for MN women relocating to or from other states who want to maintain access to the Professional Women's Group programming.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Bottomless Closet — Free

Bottomless Closet provides free interview-appropriate clothing and career development services for women seeking economic independence. While headquartered in NYC, the model is similar to Dress for Success Twin Cities — useful background for understanding how women's career-clothing nonprofits operate.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Year Up — Free

Year Up runs a free year-long career training program with paid corporate internships in Minneapolis-St. Paul, partnering with companies like Target, Optum, Best Buy, and U.S. Bank. Open to 18-29-year-olds without a college degree. Useful for MN women looking to break into corporate-track careers without a four-year degree.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Goodwill Career Services — Free

Goodwill's national site links to MN-specific career programs run by Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota, with free job training, career coaching, and direct placement available statewide. Especially strong for women with employment barriers seeking customer service, retail, healthcare, or trades pathways.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Women Employed — Free

Women Employed is a Chicago-based national advocacy organization working on policies that improve women's economic status — paid leave, fair scheduling, anti-harassment, and credential equity. Useful for MN women interested in workplace-rights advocacy beyond direct service.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

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

The SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership funds the Women's Business Center network, which in Minnesota includes WomenVenture and partners. The national site explains certification for Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) federal contracting — a meaningful revenue stream for MN women-owned firms.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many job & career resources are in Minnesota?: Women's Corner tracks 16 job & career resources for women in Minnesota.
Are job & career resources in Minnesota free?: 16 of the 16 listed job & career resources in Minnesota are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Minnesota have job & career resources?: Listings span cities including St. Paul, Minneapolis, Spring Lake Park.
What are some examples of job & career resources in Minnesota?: Featured entries include Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), MinnesotaWorks.net, Dress for Success — Twin Cities, Minnesota SCORE — Business Mentoring, Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota — Career Services.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 7 of 16 Minnesota 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.