Best Job & Career in Washington — 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 Washington

Washington superior courts handle family matters in each of its 39 counties. The Division of Child Support operates under DSHS. Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Bellevue are the major metros. Northwest Justice Project, the King County Bar, and the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV) provide statewide civil legal aid and safety services for women.

16 Resources

1. WorkSource Washington — Free

WorkSource Washington at worksourcewa.com operates 40+ comprehensive American Job Centers statewide where women job seekers get free career counseling, workshops, computer access, and direct connection to training scholarships under WIOA. 877-872-5627 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.

877-872-5627 · Various locations statewide, WA · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. YWCA Workforce Development - Seattle — Free

YWCA Seattle's Economic Resilience Initiative at 1118 5th Ave runs BankWork$ banking-careers training, the Working Wardrobe interview-clothing program, and the Project Welcome resettlement-jobs partnership. 206-461-4888 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.

206-461-4888 · 1118 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Washington Women in Trades — Free

Washington Women in Trades in Seattle runs pre-apprenticeship trades training, Trades Rotation programs, and annual Women in Trades Fair connecting women to electrical, carpentry, and construction unions and contractors. 206-903-9508 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

206-903-9508 · Seattle, WA 98101 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

4. Apprenticeship & Nontraditional Employment for Women — Free

ANEW at 550 12th Ave in Seattle is Washington's leading pre-apprenticeship for women entering construction trades — 12-week TradesUP cohorts, paid stipends, childcare and transportation supports. 206-235-2212 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

206-235-2212 · 550 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

5. Spokane WorkSource Center — Free

WorkSource Spokane at 130 S Arthur St operates as the comprehensive AJC for eastern Washington — job fairs, RESEA reemployment services for UI claimants, and Trade Act assistance for women displaced by foreign competition. 509-532-3000 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.

509-532-3000 · 130 S Arthur St, Spokane, WA 99202 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

6. Ada Developers Academy — Free

Ada Developers Academy at 315 5th Ave S Suite 200 in Seattle is a tuition-free 11-month software-development bootcamp followed by a 5-month paid internship — exclusively for women and gender-expansive adults. Application is highly competitive. 206-397-4377 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

206-397-4377 · 315 5th Ave S Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98104 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

7. Ventures Nonprofit - Women's Business Center — Free

Ventures at 1425 Broadway Suite 540 in Seattle is the SBA-funded Women's Business Center serving low-income aspiring entrepreneurs — Business Basics classes (free), microloans up to $40K, and the Ventures Marketplace for selling. 206-352-1945 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

206-352-1945 · 1425 Broadway Suite 540, Seattle, WA 98122 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

8. CareerOneStop — Free

CareerOneStop from US DOL includes the WorkSource Washington locator (40+ sites), Worker Reemployment Connection, and free O*NET career exploration tools.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. America's Job Centers — Free

Washington's AJCs (WorkSource centers) offer free workshops, computer access, resume reviews, and one-on-one career counseling. Find your nearest at the CareerOneStop locator.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. DOL Women's Bureau — Free

DOL Women's Bureau publishes research on Washington's gender pay gap, occupational segregation, and caregiving's impact on women's earnings — useful when advocating for raises or policy change.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Dress for Success — Free

Dress for Success Seattle is the Washington affiliate outfitting women for interviews and the first weeks of work. Free professional attire plus career coaching by appointment.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Bottomless Closet — Free

Bottomless Closet offers free online workshops on interviewing, salary negotiation, and workplace strategies that Washington women can attend regardless of physical location.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Goodwill Career Services — Free

Goodwill.org locates Washington's two regions: Goodwill of the Olympic and Rainier Region (western WA) and Goodwill of the Inland Northwest (eastern WA) — each offering free workforce development.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Women Employed — Free

Women Employed publishes free guides on Washington-relevant topics like the WA Paid Family Medical Leave Act (PFML), ban-the-box rules, and pregnancy-accommodation rights under federal and Washington state law.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. SCORE — Free Business Mentors — Free

SCORE chapters across Washington (Seattle, Pierce County, Spokane, Bellingham, and more) match women entrepreneurs with retired-executive mentors for free one-on-one counseling.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

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

SBA's OWBO funds Washington's Women's Business Centers (Ventures, Spokane Workforce, Pierce County) and certifies WOSBs for federal contracting — opening doors to capital and federal contracts.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many job & career resources are in Washington?
Women's Corner tracks 16 job & career resources for women in Washington.
Are job & career resources in Washington free?
16 of the 16 listed job & career resources in Washington are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Washington have job & career resources?
Listings span cities including Various locations statewide, Seattle, Spokane.
What are some examples of job & career resources in Washington?
Featured entries include WorkSource Washington, YWCA Workforce Development - Seattle, Washington Women in Trades, Apprenticeship & Nontraditional Employment for Women, Spokane WorkSource Center.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
7 of 16 Washington 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.