Most people think of Indeed, LinkedIn, or Glassdoor when conducting their job search. But there is another option that provides cutting-edge AI functionality and tools these other platforms don’t.
Check out the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) Virtual Career Center (VCC) — a free online portal designed to assist job seekers in finding employment and career planning. The VCC is perfect for youth and young adults exploring career options for their future, as it has the tools to help them make informed decisions about the training and schooling they need to fill in-demand jobs.
VCC functionality includes:
- A Career Planner that provides step-by-step guidance in helping job seekers journey to their ideal career. Job seekers can create a clear, customized plan for career advancement.
- Career Exploration tools that provide insights into various industries, job roles, in-demand job trends, and salary guides.
- Skills Assessments & Training Recommendations: Identifies skill gaps and suggests relevant training programs and schools to enhance employability.
- Resume Builder & Critiques: Helps job seekers create and refine resumes to improve their chances of getting hired.
- AI-Powered Job & Candidate Matching: Uses smart technology to connect users with job opportunities that align with their skills, experience, and career goals. The platform also sends information about candidates with the right qualifications to employers, giving job seekers an extra level of service if they miss a job posting alert.
- Job Search Tools: This NYS-centric portal enables users to browse job postings by sector, geography, and role, set alerts, and track applications.
- Career Center Staff utilize the VCC in helping both employers and job seekers connect.
Map out a Career Path
A unique feature of the VCC is its ability to help job seekers map out their career paths. Users complete self-assessments to identify their current skills, strengths, and career interests. AI-driven tools analyze the user’s work history, education, and competencies to present a list of potential career options tailored to the user’s background and interests. Each career suggestion includes information on job descriptions, required qualifications, salary expectations, market demand, and growth opportunities within the field.
Explore Job Roles
Job seekers can choose a potential job role they aspire to and take AI-driven skills assessments to evaluate their existing qualifications in comparison to the skills required for their target job role. The user can add skills they may have forgotten and explore multiple variations as the VCC generates a real-time “top company” list looking to hire for each role. This “role exploration” tool is extremely helpful in clarifying what skills and experience are needed to get hired or advance in one’s career.
Identify Skills Gaps & Training Recommendations
Once a job seeker selects a desired role, the system generates a skills comparison, highlighting current skills the user possesses and the skills gaps that need to be filled to qualify for the position. The VCC platform then provides custom training suggestions such as workshops, apprenticeships, certifications, local community college and/or vocational training programs needed to bridge the gaps. Users can filter training options based on cost, duration, and learning format (online or in-person). Each training option links right to the institution. The platform allows job seekers to track their progress as they complete training and acquire new skills.
How the Virtual Career Center Connects Employers With Candidates
Employers within New York State must request to register with the VCC and are vetted and approved before posting a job. This ensures all job postings are authentic, which gives jobs seekers a more reliable experience. Employer functionality includes:
AI-Powered Candidate Matching that analyzes employer job postings and identifies candidates with the right skills, experience, certifications, and qualifications. Employers receive a curated list of potential candidates, reducing the time spent on reviewing unqualified applicants.
Access to Pre-Vetted Job Seekers who have already completed skills assessments, training programs, or workforce development initiatives.
Direct Employer-Candidate Engagement: Employers can send job invites to matched candidates, encouraging them to apply.
Workforce Development & Training Alignment: Employers seeking to fill high-demand roles can partner with the career center to develop customized training programs for job seekers, ensuring a pipeline of skilled workers. Businesses can also access incentive programs for hiring candidates from New York State Department of Labor-supported training initiatives.
By integrating career exploration, skill mapping, and training recommendations, the NYS Virtual Career Center helps job seekers and employers take a structured and informed approach to achieving their goals. A ny.gov account is needed to access the VCC. Job seekers can visit labor.ny.gov/signin to log in or register. Employers can create an account at dol.ny.gov/virtual-career-center.
Key Differences Between the Virtual Career Center and Indeed
| Feature | NYSDOL Virtual Career Center | Indeed/Glassdoor |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Provides career guidance, skills assessment, and training recommendations alongside job search tools. | Browse and apply for jobs posted by employers using location, salary, job type, company rating filters. |
| Job Matching | Uses AI-driven matching based on skills assessments and career goals. | Matches based on keywords and job titles in resumes and applications. |
| Career Planning Support | Offers career coaching, resume-building, and skills gap analysis to help job seekers prepare for long-term success. | View estimated salaries for specific roles at specific companies. See pay ranges and compare by location, industry, and experience level. |
| Training & Upskilling | Suggests training programs, apprenticeships, and certifications to help job seekers gain necessary skills. | Offers job search workshops and blog style guides and tips. |
| Employer Involvement | Helps employers find pre-vetted candidates, align with workforce development programs, and access hiring incentives. | Employers post jobs, search resumes, and can pay to promote listings. |
| Cost | Free for both job seekers and employers, as it is a government-supported tool. | Free for job seekers; employers pay for premium job postings and resume access. |
| Geographic Focus | Specifically tailored for New York State residents and local workforce needs. | Global job search platform, not specific to any region. |
Which One Should You Use?
- If you’re looking for comprehensive career planning, training recommendations, and personalized job matching, the Virtual Career Center is a great tool.
- If you want to quickly search and apply for jobs across various locations and industries, Indeed or Glassdoor may be more useful.
Using both types of platforms together can maximize job search success — leveraging the Virtual Career Center for career planning and skill-building while using commercial platforms for broad job-search opportunities.
Sherry Bruck is a Career Center Operator in the Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network as well as the owner of marketing firm Harquin.
Related: Westchester Training Providers Teach In-Demand Skills
