Hays County

Austin Community College, in partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission, is proud to announce an outstanding opportunity for area veterans. The Veterans Training Program is designed to prepare local veterans to enter a career in information technology. Participants may choose from training tracks designed to lead to a career as a Computer User Support Specialist, Network and Computer Systems Administrator, Information Security Analyst, or Apple iOS Developer. There is no cost for qualified veterans to participate in this program. All that is required is your time and commitment.

To learn more about this program visit ACC's Veterans Training webpage or view ACC's Veterans Training Flyer.

To find out more about counseling, job placement, and additional services available to veterans, contact or visit one of our Workforce Solutions offices nearest you.

Other Veteran Resources:

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Texas Veterans Commission

For information about unemployment benefits in Texas, including eligibility requirements, how to report work and earnings, and appeal procedures, use the Texas Workforce Commission's Unemployment Benefits online services to apply for benefits, request payments, view claim and payment status and more.  

To speak with a customer service representative, call an unemployment benefits Tele-Center toll-free at (800) 939-6631. Business hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time.

Career interest and skill assessments are available in our Workforce Solutions offices if you qualify for one of our Workforce programs.  However, there are also information and assessment tools available online that can help anyone explore their career and educational options.  Here are some examples:

• Career One Stop - Pathways to Success
• O*NET Online
• Career Interests Game (University of Missouri)
• Labor Market and Career Information at Rural Capital Headlight

The ultimate purpose of a resume is to get you a job interview.  But you should remember that it is your ‘advertisement’ – not your life story.  A good resume will help ‘sell’ your specific skills, abilities and accomplishments and provides information that will let an employer know how you are a good match for the job.  

Workshops are available to assist you with creating your resume.  Check our events calendar for locations, dates and times or contact one of our offices for more information.

A Labor Market is the ‘market’ in which workers compete for jobs and employers compete for workers.  Understanding what is happening in your local, state and national labor market can help you to determine what type of job or career that you want to pursue. 

Workforce Solutions provides various types of labor market data both through the Rural Capital Headlight website and our offices.  Some of these include: 

• Texas Labor Market Review (updated monthly)
• Employment & Wages
• Employment by Size Class
• Emerging and Evolving Occupations
• Occupational Outlook

When you visit one of our offices, Workforce Solutions staff members are available to assist with the access and use of our primary job search tool, WorkInTexas.com.  They can also direct you to a wealth of information in our Career Resource Library and provide information about other services and programs available.

Attending a job fair can be very productive activity for a job seeker.  It’s one of the few times that you will have several businesses and other employers gathered together in one spot for the sole purpose of talking to you about a job.  Job fairs can also provide valuable information about what is happening in the local economy – what companies and industries are growing and what positions are in the most demand at that time.

Check our events calendar for the locations, dates and times of job fairs in your area or contact one of our offices for more information.

An interview is your chance to show an employer that your skills and experience would be a great asset to its operation.  It is normal to be nervous before and about the interview, however, there are ways to prepare for and manage your anxiety.

At Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, our staff members can help you prepare for a job interview by answering a few simple questions:

• What do I wear?
• What kinds of questions will the interviewer ask?
• How should I respond to tough personal questions?
• What kids of questions should I ask the employer?
• Are there some questions that are illegal for an employer to ask?
• Are there any rules or hints that might benefit me?

For more information concerning job interviews, visit one of our offices and ask about ‘Interviewing’ videos and books available in our Career Resource Library.

The topics of the workshops offered in our offices area as varied as they are many.  They range from typical job search subjects such as resume writing and interviewing to tips for healthy living and family violence prevention.  For more information concerning upcoming workshops and events, view our events calendar or contact one of our offices directly.

You may discover during the course of your career search that you need a certain kind of training or education for the type of job/career that you desire. Or, you may have other goals such as getting your GED or learning a new language that require further study.

For young people ages 16 through 24 that qualify as low income, Job Corps is a free education and training program that helps to learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and keep a good job.  Job Corps provides the all-around skills needed to succeed in a career and in life.  For more information about what Job Corps has to offer, please vist http://jobcorps.gov/Home.aspx.  If you or someone you know is interested in joining Job Corps, contact your local Admissions Counselor at (512) 665-7327.

Other education and training resources:

• Community Colleges
• Public Universities
• Other Training Providers and Programs
• Paying for Your Education

Sign up to use a computer in the Resource Room of your local Workforce Solutions office in order to build your resume or access the Internet.  With this resource, you can access vital job search tools such as WorkInTexas.com and locate information about local employers and communities in your area. 
Other equipment available for use with job-search related activities include the following:

• Copy Machine Access
• Fax Machine Access
• Adaptive Equipment for Customers With a Physical Impairment (Visual, Auditory, or Ambulatory) 

For more information regarding equipment and services available, visit or contact one our offices nearest you.

Child Care Services (CCS) assists parents who are striving to become self-sufficient by providing them with more choices of child care arrangements and also by helping them find qualified caregivers.  If you meet certain income guidelines, CCS can reimburse some or all of your child care costs. Visit the Child Care section of our website to learn more.

Since many of the resources available in our offices are designed to be used independently, job seekers have the option of browsing a wealth of career and job search information in both the printed and video format.

Some examples of topics covered by the books & videos in our Career Information Library are:

• Job Search Techniques
• Job Search Tips for People with Disabilities
• Resume Writing and Cover Letters
• The Resume Catalog: 200 Damn Good Examples
• America’s Top Resumes for America’s Top Jobs
• Blue Collar & Beyond: Resumes for Skilled Trades and Services
• Interview with Confidence
• And more…

For more information about the specific publications available, visit or contact one of our offices nearest you.

The Labor Law Section of the Texas Workforce Commission administers the following two programs: the Texas Payday Law and the Child Labor Law.  They also provide information on the Texas Minimum Wage Act. 

If you believe that you are owed wages, or are not sure of your rights and responsibilities as an employer or employee, or wonder if a minor should be performing a particular job, you may contact the TWC Labor Law Section for more information at (800) 832-9243 (within Texas only).