Jobs and Job Training

Please note. This guide shares general information only. It is not legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Laws vary by state and city. For advice about your situation, talk with a licensed professional.

Hi friend. Looking for work takes real courage, especially when money is tight or life has thrown you a curveball. I'm cheering you on.

Here is the easy first step: find your local Workforce Solutions office. Their help is at no cost, and they can help with job leads, resumes, training and more. This guide walks you through it, plus unemployment pay, help for people with disabilities, and a fresh start if you have a record.

A few things to know

• You choose. Use what feels right for you and skip anything that doesn't.
• Each place decides who it can serve. We share what each place says it offers and how to reach it. We can't promise a job, money or a spot in any program.
• Hours and details change. Call ahead when you can.
• In danger right now? Call 911. Thinking about suicide or in crisis? Call or text 988.

Where can I get no cost help finding a job?

Start with your local Workforce Solutions office. Texas has Workforce Solutions offices across the state, working with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

They offer no cost help with job searches, resumes, training and more. WorkInTexas.com is the state's job matching site, where you can search jobs and sign up.

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Use the library, too

No computer at home? Your public library has no cost computers and WiFi, and many libraries have no cost help with resumes and applications. Easy peasy!

What if I just lost my job?

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) runs unemployment benefits in Texas. If you lost your job through no fault of your own, you may qualify.

Here's what TWC's handbook says.

• Apply online at https://www.twc.texas.gov/services/apply-benefits or call TWC at 800.939.6631.
• Register and start searching for work within three business days after you apply. Texas residents register at WorkInTexas.com or at a Workforce Solutions office.
• Request payment every two weeks, even while you wait for a decision.
• Keep a work search log of your job search activities each week, and be ready to send it if TWC asks.

Source (As of October 22, 2026): https://www.twc.texas.gov/sites/default/files/ui/docs/unemployment-benefits-handbook-twc.pdf

Losing a job doesn't say anything bad about you. It's a season, and seasons change. One phone call at a time, friend.

From the Bunklow team

How does Texas unemployment work after I apply?

It can feel like a lot of rules at once. Here's the path, in plain words, from TWC's Unemployment Benefits Handbook.

How you get paid

• TWC pays on a TWC debit card that comes by mail, or by direct deposit. Activate the debit card right away. TWC says you have one year to activate it, or the payments go back to the state.
• Direct deposit can take up to eight days to verify. You can also request payment by phone on Tele Serv at 800.558.8321.

Working part time while you look

• You must report all the hours you worked and your earnings before deductions, every week you request payment.
• TWC says you can earn up to 25 percent of your weekly benefit amount before your payment goes down. If you earn more than 125 percent of it, you can't be paid that week.

Who qualifies

• You must be out of work, or working fewer hours, through no fault of your own. TWC lists examples like a layoff, cut hours, or being fired for something other than misconduct.
• If you quit, it has to be for a reason covered by law, like not being paid, and you need proof that you tried to fix the problem first. TWC says quitting for a personal reason doesn't qualify.
• You must be able to work, available, and looking for full time work each week.
• Want a rough idea of your amount? TWC has a Benefits Estimator at https://apps.twc.texas.gov/UBS/benefitsEstimator.do

Source (As of October 22, 2026): https://www.twc.texas.gov/sites/default/files/ui/docs/unemployment-benefits-handbook-twc.pdf

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Keep your log

TWC says it can ask to see your work search logs for up to two years from when your claim started. A simple notebook or phone note works great!

What if I have a disability?

Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services, called VR, helps Texans with disabilities get, keep or move up in a job. Here's how to start.

• Go online to the Start My VR portal and fill in your information. It's a self referral form, the first step.
• You'll get a confirmation request number.
• VR staff will contact you to talk about how VR services may help.
• Questions? Call VR at 512.936.6400, or find an office at https://www.twc.texas.gov/VRNearMe

Source (As of October 22, 2026): https://www.twc.texas.gov/sites/default/files/vr/pub/twc-start-my-vr-flyer-twc.pdf

Can I get a job if I have a record?

Yes, many people do. CareerOneStop, from the U.S.

Department of Labor, has a no cost section for people with a criminal record, with tips on talking about a conviction in an interview, a ReEntry Program Finder, and help with IDs and basic needs. Many job centers also offer reentry help, so ask your local team.

• Use the ReEntry Program Finder at careeronestop.org to find a program near you.
• Need your ID first? See Guide 11, Getting ID and Documents Back.

Source (As of October 22, 2026): https://www.careeronestop.org/JusticeImpacted/default.aspx

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Practice your answer

Practice a short, honest answer about your record, then turn it toward what you learned and what you can do now. Saying it out loud a few times makes it so much easier. You've got this!

Where can I get no cost job training?

• Training money. Ask your local job center about training help and on the job training. Workforce Solutions offices can tell you what training help is open.
• Apprenticeships. You earn a paycheck while you learn a trade. Ask your job center what's open near you.
• Job Corps, ages 16 to 24. Job Corps says it is a no cost career training and education program for young adults with low incomes, with no cost housing and meals while you train. Call 800.733.5627.
• SNAP job help. If you get SNAP, ask your Workforce Solutions office about job and training help for SNAP members.

Source (As of October 22, 2026): https://www.jobcorps.gov/

How do I get ready for interviews?

• Write a simple resume. One page is fine. List your jobs, skills, and any training. Your job center can help at no cost.
• Plan the trip. Know the bus route and leave early. Dial 211 to ask about ride help.
• Dress neat and clean. Need interview clothes? See Guide 5, Clothing and Hygiene.
• Bring copies. Your resume, your ID, and a list of references with phone numbers.
• Follow up. A short thank you call or email the next day helps you stand out.

What if my boss didn't pay me?

That's not okay, and Texas has a way to help. You may be able to file a wage claim with the Texas Workforce Commission.

Here's what TWC says.

• Wages are pay you're owed for work you did. That can be by the hour, by the task, by the piece or by commission. Vacation, sick or severance pay counts only if a written agreement or policy says so.
• Questions about when you should be paid, or about final pay? Check the official page below.
• File a wage claim online, or by mail or fax, soon after the wages were due. There's a deadline, so don't wait.
• Questions or a paper form? Call TWC at 800.832.9243.

Source (As of October 22, 2026): https://www.twc.texas.gov/sites/default/files/fdcm/docs/wh-52-eng-are-you-owed-wages-twc.pdf

Questions people ask a lot

Federal help (works in every state)

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

Texas

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

Harris County (Houston)

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

Dallas County

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

Tarrant County (Fort Worth)

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

Bexar County (San Antonio)

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

Travis County (Austin)

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

Collin County

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

Denton County

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

El Paso County

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

Fort Bend County

Here are some places to start.

Other local groups may also help.

My job plan for this week

Fill this in with a pen, or snap a photo and keep it on your phone. You've got this!

Key numbers to keep

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Please let me know if you have any questions

If something in this guide is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it. I'm proud of you for taking this step. Make it a great day, friend!

About this guide

Made by the Bunklow team. No sign up, no paywall, no cost. Please share it with anyone who could use it. Bunklow does not run these programs and cannot speak for them. We list what each place says it offers and how to reach it, and you decide what to use. This is not a full list of every place that can help. Every source was checked on October 16, 2026. If something has changed, please tell us so we can fix it. We are always happy to hear from you!

Please note. This guide shares general information only. It is not legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Laws vary by state and city. For advice about your situation, talk with a licensed professional.

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Last updated October 16, 2026