Metro Career Center-San Diego Workforce Partnershp

place is a joke. ghetto. full of ex-​cons looking for a job after being released from prison. the staff there assumes everybody just got out of prison. An ex-​felon announced during a workshop «I been in prison 5 years, show me how to get a job!». He got frustrated and just left. Not a safe place to visit. the parking structure has no lighting and ex-​cons are walking to and from their cars. never going back

So disappointed in their services. I did all that was required of me (paperwork, attending workshops, researching schools, meeting with career agent twice, etc) to start training for a career change and get funding for my training which consisted of 10 classes. My career agent went on emergency leave for 3 months which was before she officially enrolled me. I called to follow up on my status and nobody returned any of my calls. Finally my career agent returns from her leave and informs me AFTER THE FACT that funding for training can’t be reimbursed… so now I’m out $ 600 and she has to check and see if she can still enroll me for future training. I understand going on emergency leave but honestly somebody should have taken over her cases so that everyone in the process hoping to get financial assistance didn’t fall through the cracks unnecessarily. Total waste of time.

I’m only giving my review off of the lady at the «welcoming desk» if that’s what you want to call it. I recently got laid off due to office closing and heard this place helps with resumes. I walked in and lady was on the phone… For a good while. I even sat down. That’s how long she took. I told her I needed help finding employment. I didn’t know what else to say, I’ve never been to these places. She rolls her eyes and says… «We don’t help you find jobs here, you help yourself. You can use our computers for an hour. Do you know how to use one» wtf? Well the conversation went on for a little longer but it didn’t get any better. I walked out and was extremely mad at the way she was talking to me. She was Clearly judging me. Some welcoming desk I tell ya!

Be prepared you will ONLY be able to use the computers there is NO help at all. There are some classes, not top notch just entry level classes. The receptionist will tell you are on your own if you ask for ANYTHING! If you get stuck on ANYTHING you need to drive on down to the south bay office where REAL people work with you on everything.

I work upstairs on the fourth floor. The Metro Career Center is located on the third floor of this beautiful yellow building. I’ve referred friends to come here and do some job searching. They also have workshops that you can attend and come by and pick up some flyers for fair dates. They have programs to help out the underprivileged youth.

1÷16÷2013
*EDIT: It’s been two years since I wrote my review. I did make a mistake. My original review was actually about my experience at the South Metro Career Center and not this branch on University Ave.
I also accidentally made a phone call to this branch as well. I keep mixing up these two branches because 1) the metro career center branch names are confusing and 2) the University Ave branch and the South Metro one are both located near downtown San Diego.
Anyways, I am happy to report that I did have a positive experience talking to someone from this branch. I retold my experience at the South Metro branch, about how ignored I felt, and the representative said, «Well, we don’t do that here». He was willing to spend as much time as necessary to answer all my questions adequately. He also gave me some useful information. So, I suggest that everyone should call before visiting any branch to do preliminary research and scoping so when you actually do come in, you won’t be wasting any time. Please use their resources and know what your next steps are.
Ask about:
–Retraining and certificate programs at universities and other places (ask about reimbursement and for the website as well)
–Career couseling
–Free bus pass
–An example of a success story
–Do people with your background (whatever it may be) come in here for help
I also learned that membership at one branch does not constitute membership at other branches. You must reapply at every branch.
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7÷10÷2011
I normally give one star reviews to places I will never return to. However, I appreciate this place’s cause so I’ll give them a few more stars.
I took a class at UCSD that was taught by Professor Teddy Cruz and the course objective was to create new programs that interlinks the Metro Career Center, UCSD, and Casa Familiar in San Ysidro. What I learned from this class about Metro was that it’s a free career center for those who are unemployed and for people who need to get back on their feet. I also learned that this place was trying to make an effort at servicing the younger generation which is why I decided to give this place a try. Below is a list of what I have learned from visiting the Imperial Avenue branch on my own.
1) It’s very hard to find their website on Google. Click here:
2) There is no one-​on-​one time. The only one-​on-​one time you will ever get at the Imperial Avenue center is with the receptionist and she’s unfriendly. Before your trip to this place, they as you to bring in prepared documents. See «The List» here on the right hand side:
I’m certain that I brought in all the documents on «The List», but the receptionist told me that I was missing two documents. Thankfully, they were just forms that just needed to be sign. In exchange for the documents, I was given a paper membership card in return.
3) I didn’t know what to expect from this place. I thought I would at least talk to someone who will give me a starting point, tell me what I needed to do, etc. The receptionist even gave me a funny look when I asked «What’s next?» She later told me that what people here to do is use the computers in the room behind the receptionist desk. So, I gave that a try and there was nothing special about the computers there. The internet was slower than the internet I had at home and there wasn’t any special job directory that can only be accessed there. I quickly walked out of this place after that.
Conclusion:
In my opinion, I don’t think this place is ideal for people who just graduated from college. This place is good for people who need help from ground zero. If you don’t have internet or a computer, come here. If you don’t have a printer or any money for xeroxing /​prints, come here. If you don’t know how to write a resume or a cover letter or how to present yourself at an interview, come here because they have workshops on how to do so. If you need hand-​outs (also available in Spanish) on how to write a resume, cover letter, thank you notes, and other job-​related stuff, come here. They do run out of them sometimes so ask for a copy from someone.
Tips:
They don’t update their website as frequently as they should so their calendar doesn’t show any events. However, when I was there there was a large sign showcasing workshop and panels they were holding that day. I highly recommend that you call this place and ask any questions you might have before coming here.
Look around this place for things that I might help you. My visit here didn’t help me but I still looked around and I was able to find a hand-​out that listed some career fair dates. *Edit: I went to the career fair that was located at a hotel and it was a horrible experience. Folks, dress up and go to the university ones instead.
You don’t need to dress nicely to come here. Fully clothed is fin

Since I’m unemployed, I tend to spend a lot of time here. I do my job searching from home, but use the Career Center for faxing and some printing. I can always get a computer, and rarely have to wait.
This location is closer to where I live, and it’s not as large as the Metro Career Center on Imperial Avenue,. If you have questions or problems, you can sign up to talk to a representative. There’s also an EDD rep that comes in a couple times a week.
I think it’s a great place!