Fortress.wa.gov is a government website dedicated to finding work for unemployed residents of Washington State. At this site you can search through more than 15,000 jobs listed, all within Washington. You can do a basic search for jobs close to your residence, or you can do an advanced search, which will allow you to choose the zip code, job type, hours, etc.
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The site is entirely free, and designed to help struggling Washington residents. For employers, you can list your job opportunities and find high quality, hard working local residents to help you out. Whether you are looking for laborers, telemarketers, or something that needs a college education, you can find what you are looking for.

The site also offers a listing of government jobs in your area. There is no job more secure than a job with the state. State workers get fantastic benefits and great pay, and are virtually never laid off.
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To search for a job or look for employees, go to:

https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/worksource/Employment.aspx?CurrentPage=Employment

This link will take you directly to the search form. All you have to do is fill in your location and press “search”. Or, if you are looking for a more specific job, you can choose more options on the basic search screen, or click on “advanced job search” to choose from even more options.

There are many sites out there that will help you find employment. However, how do you know if they are trustworthy? If you use Fortress.wa.gov, you are using an official government website. Your resume and personal information is completely safe with them.

http://fortress.wa.gov/ offers many different links to other helpful sites. They have resources available for you use, all of which cost nothing. You can train for a new, higher paying job, or become an apprentice. Or you can get help properly constructing your resume. Resumes are very important. If an employer sees a well constructed, properly formatted resume, they are likely to hire you. However, if they see a sloppy, miss-formatted resume, they will most likely not hire you. The site will also help you properly construct your cover letter, which will also improve your odds of being hired.

When you register for http://fortress.wa.gov/ you will be able to store your resume and other personal info on the site. You may submit your resume to potential employers, or just search through job opportunities.

The state of Washington enforces and encourages fair treatment of employees. http://fortress.wa.gov/ contains links to several sites that provide you with labor laws, fair wages, and other info to protect your rights as a worker. While these resources are not actually on the site itself, the site provides links to many of the resources for your convenience.

The best link I found on http://fortress.wa.gov/ was a list of jobs in Washington State and how much they pay per hour. This would be very helpful for someone who is looking for a higher paying job but doesn’t know where to look. Also, if you plan to go to college soon, this list will help you choose what to major in, in order to make the most money. You can view this list at:

http://www.workforceexplorer.com/cgi/dataanalysis/?PAGEID=4&SUBID=146

Just click on the second link on that page, and you can view the list. You can also sort the list by clicking on the icons at the top. You can sort by per hour wage, average wage, etc. It is very helpful, especially in this tough economy, to see what jobs are still paying well. There are a lot of obscure jobs out there that pay much more than a normal job.

Unemployment Benefits in Washington State

With the economy in its current condition, more and more people have begun to file for unemployment. Most of these people have had jobs all their life and have never had to file for unemployment benefits before. Therefore, these people have absolutely no idea how to apply, where to apply, how much they will receive, and other important details. Not having a job is a bad enough experience, but to make it as easy as possible, I recommend you read this article and use the resources listed. Unemployment is not easy, but it doesn’t have to be as hard as most people make it.
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The number one question that people ask is “am I eligible for unemployment benefits?” Basically, to qualify for unemployment benefits, you must have at least 680 hours of Covered Employment in your Base Year. If you were laid off by your employer because the employer did not have enough work to do, you are almost guaranteed for unemployment benefits. If you quit or were fired, it is up to the discretion of state officials as to whether or not you will receive benefits. In most cases both you and your old employer will have to submit paperwork to the state. In order to qualify, you must be able bodied and able to do work. You must also continue to look for employment every week. If you are not able to work, there are separate benefits that you can apply for.
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Most people have no idea as to how much money they will actually receive from unemployment benefits. The actually amount you will receive varies widely from case to case. However, the absolute minimum you can receive weekly is $129, and the most you can receive weekly is $541. The amount you receive will vary depending on your old job, the members of your family, your current savings, etc. You will be told the exact amount you will receive each week when you apply and are accepted for unemployment benefits.

Money can get tight when you are unemployed, so you need to know exactly when you will be receiving your checks. When you are accepted for unemployment benefits, you will receive a check every week. The actual day your check arrives will vary due to mail service. Keep in mind that to receive your checks you must submit a claim EVERY WEEK. You must consistently look for work and prove to the state that you are making progress.

If you are reading this article, you obviously have access to the internet. If you are interested in applying for unemployment benefits, you will find that http://www.esd.wa.gov/index.php is very useful in gathering information. To actually apply, you should visit: https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/uia/icintro/intropage.aspx?lang=en-us

http://www.esd.wa.gov/index.php is a great source of information not only for filing for unemployment, but also for finding new jobs. The site is offered in English and Spanish, and sections of it are available in 6 different languages. If you need more information concerning unemployment, or you would like to submit your resume to potential employers be sure to check out this site.

If you follow these instructions and do some research of your own you can make the process of unemployment much easier. Just keep in mind that you must file a claim every single week in order to receive your check. This is required because unemployment benefits are intended to be a temporary solution. You must prove to the state that you are actively searching for a job.

Washington’s Workforce Explorer

Workforce Explorer is designed for the sole purpose of providing residents of Washington State with valuable information concerning employment. They display on the site current economic news, important announcements, workers rights, and much more.

The main goal of this site is to help people choose a career, not just a job. There are a number of resources on Workforce explorer that can help you plan for the future. They offer information regarding training services, apprenticeships, and much more. They will tell you what jobs you would be good for considering your current education and experience, as well as tell you what jobs are currently hiring.
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There are also a number of links on Workforce Explorer that lead you to job listings. If you are looking for just a job, you can look at the jobs currently available. However, as I mentioned, the ultimate goal of Workforce explorer is to help you choose a long-term career, set goals, and therefore, improve your life.

One of the best features on Workforce Explorer is their “jobs in demand” list. In tough economic times like those of today, it can be hard to find a job, let alone a long-term career. The jobs in demand list gives you a comprehensive look at all the jobs that are currently hiring in Washington State. When the market changes, the job demand changes, and if you are aware and look through the list, you can find some great opportunities. For instance, since gas is so expensive now and global warming is no longer “just a myth”, the alternative energy industry is booming. Federal agencies as well as private companies are constantly looking for bright, dedicated people to develop new energies to not only save us money, but also save the earth.
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Everything I mentioned above is, quite obviously, for people who are looking for careers. However, if you are an employer looking to hire, Workforce Explorer can help you as well! On the site there are many links to sites that allow employers to search for potential employees. There is also a vast amount of important information that business owners simply must know, such as minimum wages for different jobs, worker rights, and more. You can also post your job offer up to the general public using Workforce Explorer. This will drive many interested, talented, and highly qualified potential employees to you, making your search very easy. All you have to do is select the best of the bunch, and hire them!

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