Why Sign Up for an Account large

Why Sign Up for an Account?

May 9, 2023

Illinois workNet provides resources and tools to help reach career, training, and employment goals. Our site is responsive which means you can use it across all devices, this includes PCs, tablets, to smartphones. This gives you 24/7 access to resources at your fingertips.

Sign up for an account to access tools via My Dashboard to help:
  • Plan for a career
  • Build a resume
  • Get hired
  • Connect to training programs
  • Learn about special programs
  • Stay current on events and news
  • Take assessments to earn a badge
To get started:
  • At the top of this page, select Sign Up.
  • Fill-in the required fields.
  • Accept the Terms and Conditions.
  • Click Submit to save your information.
  • Check your email for the link to click for account verification.
  • Now, login to utilize tools and resources. Start by selecting My Dashboard.
  • Check out each of the tools below for more information about account benefits.

Assessments

An Illinois workNet account offers access to various assessments; results can be saved to My Dashboard. If you took an assessment administered by a Career Advisor or Instructor, you can also find results in your dashboard.

Assessments are available anytime:
  • Skills and Interests Surveys
  • Employment 101 Pre and Post-Assessments is a self-guided approach to research careers and training, organize your job search, create goals and plans, then test your knowledge of what you learned to earn an Illinois workNet Certificate and Badge.

Skills and Interests Surveys

Complete a survey to identify skills, explore interests, and discover career paths. Illinois workNet partners with Illinois Career Information System to offer assessments to complete and save to your Dashboard. You can complete each survey an unlimited amount of times.
There are nine Self-Surveys to complete:
  • CCI Quick Pic - Use images to help you find career clusters that match your interests.
    • CCI Quick Pic Guide (PDF​)
  • ​Career Cluster Inventory - Find out which career clusters match your interests.
    • Career Cluster Inventory Guide (PDF)
  • Entrepreneurial Assessment - See if self-employment is a good fit for you.
    • Entrepreneurial Assessment Guide (PDF​)
  • Interest Profiler - Discover work areas that match your interests.
    • Interest Profiler Guide (PDF)
  • Learning Styles Survey - Identify the ways you learn best.
    • Learning Styles Survey Guide (PDF)
  • Occupation Sort - Learn more about your work preferences.
    • Occupation Sort Guide (PDF)
  • Reality Check - Find out how much money you need for the lifestyle you desire.
    • Reality Check Guide (PDF)
  • Workplace Employability Skills - Evaluate your employability skills.
    • Workplace Employability Skills Guide (PDF)
  • Work Importance Locator - Learn what work aspects you value to decide what jobs to explore.
    • Work Importance Locator Guide (PDF)

Employment 101

If you need help with setting employment goals or figuring out how to reach them, Employment 101 is the tool for you! It includes:
  • Pre-Assessment to check your current knowledge (but it isn't required).
  • A guided approach and planning tools:
    • Career and Training Research
    • Job Search Organizer
    • Achieve Your Goals Notes
    • S.M.A.R.T. Plan
  • Post-Assessment to check what you learned and unlock your Certificate of Completion.
  • Certificate of Completion to add to your resume and portfolio.
Access saved plans anytime from your dashboard, make updates or changes, or review your information.

Others

If you are working with a Career Advisor or Instructor, they may offer other assessments, such as:
  • Self-Evaluation of Essential Skills
  • Observational Assessment
  • Worksite Evaluation
  • TABE
  • Casey Life Skills

Bookmarks

Easily find items later by using the Bookmark. View results anytime from your dashboard. Get started on Illinois workNet and be sure to Bookmark:
  • Training Programs
  • Articles & Tips
  • Service Locations Near You
  • Job Postings
  • Career, Wages, and Trends Information
  • Demand Occupations
  • Company Specific Layoff Pages

Messages

This feature allows you to write, send, and receive messages through your account. You can send messages of questions or suggestions to the Illinois workNet Team. If you're working with a workforce partner at a local Center, enrolled in a special program, or receiving WIOA services, you may receive direct messages from the Case Worker or Instructor. Additionally, use this feature to receive updates and news from Illinois workNet regarding new features, resources, and more.

Resume Builder

The Illinois workNet Resume Builder is the tool for you if you need to:
  • Create or update your resume or video resume
  • Access and use resume samples and keyword banks
  • Build and organize your portfolio
  • Manage and prep for interviews
Start creating specific and personalized resumes for your job search, then access at a later time via My Dashboard.
  • Illinois workNet Resume Builder Help (PDF)

Settings

A handful of useful account settings are located under My Dashboard:
  • Update My Profile – Update personal information, such as your name, date of birth, email, and Zip code.
  • Change Password – Update your account password.
News Subscription Settings – Manage email subscriptions, subscribe and unsubscribe from various topics, and set preferences for frequency of updates you would like to receive. Topic areas include Illinois workNet, Apprenticeship Illinois, Business Partners, disabilityworks, Layoff Assistance, WIOA ePolicy, WIOA Works for Illinois, and Workforce and Education Partners.

Special Programs

If you are an applicant or enrolled in a special project/program, you will find specific tools under My Dashboard. Information about available special programs can be found on the homepage and social media.
Current special programs/projects:
Past Programs:
  • Community Youth Employment Program (CYEP)
  • Youth Apprenticeship and Career Pathways
  • EPIC
  • Returning Citizens (IPRC)
  • Building Futures
  • Disability Employment Iniative
  • National Emergency Grant (NEG) Project
  • Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) Project
  • Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
  • Accelerated Training for Illinois Manufacturing (ATIM)
  • Job-Driven National Emergency Grant Project
  • Talent Pipeline

Becoming an Illinois workNet Partner

If you run a service or community organization, consider becoming an Illinois workNet partner. Becoming a partner is free and open to any organization that offers services to help individuals, employers, or others to achieve career, training, and employment goals. Read this article for more information.
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