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What is the San Jose Job Corps Center like?
San Jose is a large city of over 900,000 with many activities and
interesting things available for students. The Job Corps campus
is in a residential neighborhood near the city's east foothills.
It has a 10-acre campus on a former elementary school site. The
facility is well-maintained, very colorfully painted, and visitors
often comment favorably about the friendly demeanor of students
and staff. The entrance to the San Job Corps Center is on Gunn Court, which
is off of East Hills Drive.
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Who can I talk to about applying for Job Corps?
Contact a Job Corps admissions counselor. Call 1-877-270-5627 and
you will be directed to your nearest Job Corps admissions counselor.
Who pays for my travel to Job Corps if I am from out-of-town?
If you are from out-of-town and need transportation, Job Corps will
provide you with a travel ticket from your home to the Job Corps
center. Your admissions counselor will make arrangements for you.
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How do I get from the airport or bus station to Job Corps?
If you are traveling to Job Corps from out-of-town as a new arrival,
when you get to the airport, bus or rail station, call toll free
to 1-800-966-4240. Say that you are a New Arrival and need transportation.
Give your location and wait for instructions. Please follow the
instructions so that you can quickly be picked up.
What do I do on my arrival date?
On your arrival please tell the front gate security officer that
you are a New Arrival. You will be assisted with storing your luggage
and directed to the Job Corps Introduction of Center Life specialist, where
you will begin the Career Preparation
phase of the Job Corps Career Development Services System (CDSS). Everyone
will try to make you feel welcome and help you acclimate to the
program.
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What should I bring with me to Job Corps?
This is what you should bring:
- Medical records of your TB, polio, and tetanus immunizations.
Otherwise you will be given new immunizations.
- Your social security card.
- Your Medi-Cal or other medical insurance card, such as Kaiser,
Blue Cross, military health insurance, etc.
- Sickle cell test results if you have taken this test.
- A copy of your birth certificate.
- Birth certificates for dependent children if you will be sending
them an allotment.
- Your drivers license or permit, if you have one already.
- A copy of your GED or high school diploma, if you have either.
- List of emergency contacts, including names, addresses, and
telephone numbers of persons for Job Corps to contact in an emergency.
- A few personal items to make you feel more at home in your
dorm room, such as photos, stuffed animals, etc.
- A positive attitude. No matter what happened before, you can
make this a new start.
- We suggest that you bring the following clothing, if available.
These clothing items are suggestions only. Three pair of pants/trousers
(jeans/slacks/corduroys). Three shirts/blouses. One set of pajamas
and robe. Seven sets of underwear. Two pair of shoes. One pair
of slippers. Seven pair of socks. One medium weight jacket. Two sweaters.
Please place tags on your luggage.
- You may wish to bring a small amount of spending money. You
will receive $25 cash arrival pay the first week you are in Job
Corps.
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What should I leave at home?
Do not bring the following:
- No hotplates, cooking utensils, microwaves, portable heaters,
etc.
- No cars, bikes, skateboards, etc. (Non-residential students
may bring cars to the Center if they provide proof of insurance,
driver's license, and car registration to the Job Corps center staff).
- No gang related material.
- No weapons, drugs, or alcohol.
- We discourage bringing large TVs or boom boxes because of limited
room space and the group nature of life in dormitories.
Do I have to take a physical examination at Job Corps?
Yes. It is mandatory and includes a drug test. You will meet with
the Job Corps Health and Wellness staff on your second day in Job
Corps and by the end of your second week will have a complete physical
exam and drug test.
You may receive immunizations if required. Your physical exam will
include laboratory tests including blood tests, seeing Health and
Wellness medical personnel, and a pelvic exam for females.
You must take these tests or you cannot stay in Job Corps. There
are no exceptions.
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How am I assigned to a dormitory?
All new Job Corps students are assigned to specific dorm areas in
respective dorms for males and females. This allows staff to work
more closely with new students to meet their needs and to address
issues such are understandable home sickness and the stress of a
new environment. Remember that all new students have experienced
this. In a short time you will no longer be a newcomer and will
have made new friends.
What is zero tolerance?
Zero tolerance is the no-nonsense, strictly enforced Job Corps policy
against violence and drugs. There is no leeway in zero tolerance.
It is one-strike and you are out! And that means out of Job Corps.
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Is smoking allowed?
Smoking is allowed in specific smoking outdoor areas only of the
Job Corps center. Some of Job Corps partners, where you may go for
training, do not allow smoking at all on their campuses. The San Jose Job Corps Center policy protects non-smokers from the effects
of second-hand smoke. Job Corps provides opportunities for you to
take smoking cessation classes.
How long will I stay in Job Corps?
Two years is the maximum stay in Job Corps, with a few exceptions.
Most San Jose Job Corps students stay between 8 and 12 months.
Length of stay depends on your skills at entry, your progress, your personal career development plan (PCDP), your demeanor and your ability to find and retain employment.
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What is dorm life like?
The daily routine of dormitory living may feel different for you at
first, but you will soon fall into the swing of things with no trouble
at all. These are some of the things you will need to know:
1. Wake-up Time: Your Residential Advisor (R.A.) or one of his/her assistants will wake
you at 6:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. You must be out of bed
by 6:30 a.m. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays you may sleep until
9:00 a.m., but you are still responsible for maintaining your dorm
area.
2. Curfew: You are expected to be in your dorm at the designated
curfew times unless you are on pass, leave, or some other authorized
center activity. The dorms will be secured at curfew time and if
you come in after that time you will be fined $5.00. Curfew times
are:
Sunday through Thursday - - - - - 10:00 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, Holidays- - - - - 12:00 p.m.
3. Night Bed Check: You must be in bed in your own room at lights
out time each night. Bed checks will be made and absences will be
reported. Lights out is at the first bed check.
Here is the bed check schedule:
Sunday through Thursday - - - - - 10:30 p.m./2:30 a.m.
Friday, Saturday, Holidays - - - - 12:30 a.m. /3:30 a.m.
4. Morning Attendance Check: Every weekday morning at 6:00 a.m.,
the resident advisor in your dorm will also conduct a morning attendance
check. Your presence at this check is what will establish your present
for duty status each day.
Non-residential students are counted as present for the morning
attendance check if they sign in at the security main gate between
7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday or at the Trainee
Records Office between 7:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you do not sign in, you will be counted as AWOL.
5. Dormitory Housekeeping: Each students is assigned housekeeping
duties in their dorms.
Housekeeping is Wednesday 7:00 p.m. and is mandatory and respectful of your fellow dorm-mates.
6. Room Inspections: Your room is inspected daily for cleanliness
and orderliness. Beds must be made and your room left orderly before
7:30 a.m. You and your roommates are equally responsible for the
neatness and cleanliness of your room.
7. Dormitory Meetings: Dorm meetings are held every Wednesday evening
at 6:00 p.m. and attendance is mandatory. Failure to attend this
meeting without a legitimate excuse will be reported and disciplinary
action taken. Your Residential Advisor (R.A.) may call additional meetings at different
times.
8. Dormitory Facilities
Telephone: Pay telephones are provided for your use and may be
used after class hours Monday through Friday, before curfew and
anytime before curfew on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Individual
calls should be limited to 15 minutes each on the pay phones as
a courtesy to others.
Linen: Linen is issued to all new students during Introduction
to Center Life and the center will provide students with clean linen
on a weekly basis. In order to be issued clean linen without being
fined, each students must turn in his/her linen. Linen exchange is
done every Thursday of every week. All linen that has been issued
to you must be returned to the Residential Living office at time
of separation. If you don't return the linen, deductions from pay
and allowances will be made.
9. Dormitory and Room Assignments
New students are assigned to special dorms for career preparation
period students. Transitioning students may be assigned to independent
living dorm facilities. No room changes are made without approval
by the Residential Living Manager.
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How many hours-long are classes each day?
Classes typically are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Some courses or training with partner programs may have alternate
schedules. Included in your training day is a break of at least
one hour for lunch.
Do I have to take academic classes?
If you do not have a GED or high school diploma, or if you score
below prerequisite levels for the vocational course you selected,
you will have to take academic classes. With your personal career
development plan (PCDP) as a guide, Job Corps staff will work in coordination
with you to set a class schedule. In some cases it may be possible
to arrange half-day academic classes and half-day vocational or
alternate activities.
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How old do I have to be to take a GED test?
You must be 17 to take the general education development (GED) tests.
This is a standard set by the administrators of the GED certification.
Can I get a high school diploma in Job Corps?
Yes. You may earn a high school diploma in one of two charter high
school located on the San Jose Job Corps Center. In addition, students
concurrently enrolled in Youth Build may access a charter high school through
that Job Corps partnership.
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How soon can I start vocational training?
You will begin career preparation pre-vocational skills training in your first few weeks
in Job Corps. During this period you will complete assessments, testing, and update your
personal career development plan (PCDP) to include your vocational training choices. During
your first 60 days in Job Corps (the Career Preparation Period -CPP phase), you will be
taught the basics of information technology, the essential basic skills of knowledge workers,
the vocations taught at Job Corps, and the basic skills necessary to find and retain employment.
As you make the transition from the Career Preparation Period (CPP) to the Career
Development Period (CDP) you will get closer to assignment to a vocational course.
Your assignment depends on your personal career development plan (PCDP), the availability
of the course requested, your academic development needs, and other scheduling influences
Are there any breaks or vacations for students?
There are two mandatory breaks, each of about two weeks, a summer
break and a winter break. The summer 2003 San Jose Job Corps break
is from June 26 to July 13. Students who live out-of-town are provided
with government paid transportation to and from their home-of-record
only.
What is there to do in free time?
There are recreation and leadership activities. There is free time at various off campus activities. On-campus the center has facilities such as television lounges, a recreation hall, weight room, and gymnasium. There is a quad and outside picnic area for relaxation. You may visit with friends or do homework. A Santa Clara library is a short distance away.
After you progress in the Job Corps phase system of earned privileges,
you may seek leisure-time employment or leisure-time college classes.
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Is there public transportation near the Job Corps center?
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority that serves Santa
Clara County has a transit bus stop located at Gunn Court at the
front entrance to the Job Corps Center.
Bus number 25 stops there and take passengers First and Goodyear
Streets in downtown San Jose, continuing on through Willow Glen,
Valley Medical Center and De Anza College.
Within a half-mile of the Center on White Road you may catch Bus
number 71 that provides transportation to a bus transit hub at Eastridge
Shopping Center.
On Alum Rock Avenue, you may catch buses with service to downtown San Jose, the Arena. San Jose has an extensive light rail system including access to San Jose Mineta international Airport and CalTrain.
Job Corps runs regularly scheduled transportation shuttles to the
bus stops at Alum Rock Avenue and White Road.
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