Employment and Training Services for Job Seekers
Workforce Essentials offers a wide variety of resources and workforce services to help job seekers find employment and training services to reach their career goals.
Furthermore, we are the administrators of WIOA Services and training grants for the thirteen Tennessee counties that make up the Northern Middle Local Workforce Area.
We also help those needing testing services such as career readiness certification, drug testing, or paternity testing, all with affordable options. More of our services include our popular driver’s education, free high school equivalency diploma courses, and Jobs For Tennessee Graduates Programs.
Find a Job
We offer employment and training services for individuals looking for a job in Tennessee. Whether you’re unemployed, a Veteran, a person with disabilities, or a mature worker, we can help you find your next job
We offer . . .
- Resumé writing
- Interview skills
- Assistance for job applications
- Short-term training or tuition assistance for in-demand careers
- Financial support
- Skills assessment and career planning
- Assistance for your unemployment insurance claim
- Guidance to connect with local employers
55 or Older
Are you 55 or older and looking for a unique opportunity? Are you eager to give back to your community while gaining valuable job skills and experience? If so, we have just the opportunity for you!
Do you reside in one of these counties: Cannon, Davidson, Dickson, DeKalb, Hickman, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Van Buren, Warren, Williamson and Wilson.
Join the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) today! This is a special federal program designed to assist older adults who are unemployed and meet certain financial criteria, helping them re-enter the workforce and stay active.
Here’s what you’ll get with SCSEP:
1. Purposeful Work: Gain hands-on experience in various roles while providing vital services to your community.
2. Skill Building: Learn new skills or brush up on existing ones, increasing your employability and self-confidence.
3. A Caring Community: Join a network of peers who support each other in achieving professional and personal goals.
4. Income Support: Receive a subsidy while you’re learning and looking for regular employment.
You may be eligible to join if you:
• Are 55 years old or older.
• Are currently unemployed.
• Have a family income of no more than 125% of the federal poverty level. If you’re unsure about this, don’t worry – we’ll help you understand if you meet the criteria during the application process.
We’re committed to providing equal opportunities for all and do not tolerate discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
What are you waiting for? Contact us now to find out more and join SCSEP!
Testing
Earn your High School Diploma with the HiSET test (what Tennessee now accepts instead of a GED), take a drug test, or take a paternity test. We offer affordable and convenient options for all our testing services.
Learn more about . . .
- HiSET High School Diploma test to qualify for college, earn more income, and open job opportunities.
- Drug tests for owner/operators in trucking, self-employed individuals, court proceedings, and families.
- Paternity tests such as instant testing, laboratory testing, hair follicle testing, and more.
Training
If you’re seeking a job change but lack the necessary skills, we’re here to assist you! Through our partnership with local American Job Centers, qualified individuals can access free job training programs. These programs, funded by the WIOA grant, offer training in high-demand career fields such as:
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Construction
- CDL Certification
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Transportation/Logistics
- Education
- and more
To find out more information about training programs and if you qualify, contact your local American Job Center. Click here to find the AJC nearest you.
Earn Your Diploma
If you are in search of earning your High School Equivalency Diploma, you’ve come to the right place! Workforce Essentials is the premier high school equivalency preparation program in Middle Tennessee.
Our program helps you quickly pass the HiSET exam, earn your diploma, and move ahead toward your goals.
Driver Education
Workforce Essentials Drivers Ed Classes are the perfect way to jumpstart your independence and hit the road! Our excellent instructors passed extensive background checks and qualification exams. Parents can be assured their teenage and young adult child will learn the knowledge and skills to make smart driving decisions.
Our classes are . . .
- Year-round
- Certified by the State of Tennessee Department of Safety
- Eligible for discount
Individual FAQs
Absolutely. Workforce Essentials has partnered with the state and federal Departments of Labor and you are allowed to attend training and receive Unemployment Insurance while participating in approved job training.
Training must be short-term and in-demand for your area. By ‘short-term’ we mean 18 months or less and ‘in-demand’ means that employers are currently looking for employees with skills that result from the training or schooling you receive. Loads of possibilities abound!
We’re glad you asked! We currently have hundreds of people in training in such occupations as Surgical Technology, HVAC, Industrial Maintenance, CDL Certification, LPN, Bookkeeping, A+ Computer Technology, Accounting, and many, many more. An example of training that would not be approved (at this time) would be manicurist or cosmetology training. There are over 300 schools in Tennessee that are approved training providers. This means there are numerous opportunities to match you up with your career desires, capabilities, and needs.
No, the tuition fees and associated training costs we cover are all provided free of charge to those who qualify. What we ask of you is to commit to the training, see it through, do your best, and focus on getting a job as soon as you complete your training. Workforce Essentials will also provide job leads, help prepare you for job interviews and assist in creating a resume that works! We like to pay it forward…now you can too!
Tuition, associated fees, and labs can be paid for under this program. There may even be some funding to offer you some level of support to cover expenses such as mileage or daycare during your training or schooling. What Workforce Essentials cannot pay for is your house payment, non-approved training, four-year college degrees, rent, insurance, or other bills unrelated to your training. Still sounds like a good deal to us!
Unfortunately, all of our training programs are dependent upon available state and federal funding. That is why it is important for you to act quickly and explore your opportunities by making an appointment to see if this is the right program for you. Our career counselors will be happy to walk you through it.
It would be impossible to explain all the possibilities and/or limitations of this program on one page, BUT if you are interested and think you may qualify for job training please call us. Our training opportunities are customized to each individual. Our goal is to get you into a job that enables you to be self-sufficient. Now that’s a good plan!