Planting a garden, spring cleaning, rediscovering the outdoors. Spring is the season of growth and renewal. What better time to think about launching a career!

Everyone has the potential for a career. You don’t have to just “find a job.” A job is any paid work. But a career means building a profession over the long term. It can allow you to grow and learn, and it can pay better too. What’s more, you don’t always need a college degree to have a career.

Launch your career with support from the Free Library! Philly Career Launch is pleased to announce a spring season’s worth of programming for budding career seekers, coming to a library location near you.

Attend a Career Exploration Workshop

Here’s your opportunity to explore careers that build on your strengths and interests and get hands-on experience with online resources. Shake off the winter blues and join us for a unique session that combines self-reflection, small group discussion, and information sharing.

Boxed lunch provided. Free. Registration required. Please register for any sessions prior to attending.

• Logan Library

  1333 Wagner Avenue

  Tuesday, April 19, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

   

• Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library

  68 West Chelten Avenue

  Wednesday, April 20, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

   

• Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library

  125 S 52nd Street

  Tuesday, April 26, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

   

• South Philadelphia Library

  1700 South Broad Street

  Wednesday, May 4, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

   

• Northeast Regional Library

  2228 Cottman Avenue

  Tuesday, May 10, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

   

Come to the Spring Career Fairs

Connect in person with training programs that prepare you for careers in Philadelphia industries that pay family-sustaining wages. Many of these programs have very low or no cost, and for some you do not need to have a high school degree to enroll. Enjoy the spring weather while making valuable connections with training organizations.

Free. No registration required.

• Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library (outdoors)

  68 West Chelten Avenue

  Thursday, April 21, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

  (Rain date: Friday, April 22, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.)

   

• Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library (outdoors)

  125 S 52nd Street

  Friday, April 29, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

  (No rain date.)

   

• South Philadelphia Library (outdoors)

  1700 South Broad Street

  Thursday, May 5, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

  (Rain date: Friday, May 6, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.)

   

• Northeast Regional Library (outdoors)

  2228 Cottman Avenue

  Thursday, May 12, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

  (Rain date: Friday, May 13, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)

   

• Parkway Central Library (indoors)

  1901 Vine Street

  Wednesday, May 25, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

   

If you can’t make the Career Fairs, you can still search for career training opportunities using the brand new Career Training Database, which introduces job seekers to new career pathways. Connect with over 200 Philadelphia training programs in key industries, including:

• Health Care
• Information Technology
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Business
• Food/Hospitality
• Transportation
• Education and Arts

Training programs in the database require at most a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent. You’re one search away from your future! Available for free at: careertraining.freelibrary.org.

And visit the Free Library’s Job Seekers Explore page to explore careers in four featured industries: construction and skilled trades, health care, information technology, and manufacturing. Click on the “Explore Careers by Industry” green button at the top of the page to view video testimonials of industry experts and fact sheets on each industry.

Philly Career Launch is made possible by PECO and Citizens Charitable Foundation.