Frustrated is an understatement. Ditto to the review below about negative behavior At first it sounded like a very supportive organization to sign up for, but once I started talking to the advisors and call staff it felt like they lacked empathy, condescending even. They emphasize following their process without explanation, just that it's the required next step. I initially followed as required, but then it just felt like they were not listening to my questions for clarity, just reiterating their steps. It just felt like they didn't give me credibility, just discomfort. :( read more

I was a NOVAworks member from April 2025 to November 2025, when I landed a new job. My experience with NOVA has generally been positive. The career and training advisors care and they do the best they can to provide guidance and advice. The advisors that I have worked with have been very positive, encouraging, and helpful. NOVA also offers a variety of workshops to cover various needs for job seekers (resume writing, interview skills, LinkedIn tips, etc). However, where I find NOVA really comes through for its members is access to resources. During my time, I was given opportunities to attend job fairs, an event at the LinkedIn campus, and regular networking events. Every Thursday NOVA also brings in a guest speaker to present key topics. Many of these speakers are very open to providing you with free consultations where I've had the chance to get different perspectives on my resume, career coaching, and networking advice. NOVA members also get free access to LinkedIn Premium and LinkedIn Learning for a year and courses on IBM SkillsBuild for 6 months. Most importantly, what you get with NOVA is a community of advisors and members to support you so you don't feel as if you're doing this job search alone. Best of all, all of these services and offerings cost you NOTHING, as long as you live within the qualified cities. Joining NOVAworks does not guarantee you will find a job because there is no one-size-fit-all approach to job searching. As a job seeker it's important to find an approach that works best for or is most comfortable to you. In that respect, NOVAworks does a great job of providing a foundation to work with, and fairly limitless access to tools and resources, that can enable and empower you. read more

I learned a lot about how to put together a better profile angled for LinkedIn, with encouragement and emotional support for my job search early on. It'll make you feel better about looking for work and finding the right balance of effort and time invested vs the rest of life's activities. Be prepared to give some effort, so make this the one of your first stops in finding work to reinvest lessons learned into your job search onward. Again, this is NOT a temp agency, but does offer coursework and programs aimed at getting you back into your career. If you are able to attend daily to three times a week, for a week or two, you should have enough prep and improved job hunting resources to continue remotely or continue your job search independently. If you find yourself between jobs more often, I would go here at least once, but might not be necessary. It would give you some insight into trends happening currently, to give you that extra edge. read more

Nova came highly recommended by a few people I know; however the onboarding process is not what I expected. First of all it took me over two months to attend an orientation. They were scheduling them out about 4-6 weeks. I wasn't able to attend my first one, so I had to "get in the back of the line" again, which has significantly delayed my job search given I need guidance. Also, orientation sign ups via Google Forms? No confirmation email? No reminder email? I'm having a hard time taking this place seriously so far, but I'll give it a chance before I go to another center closer to me in San Jose. read more

Novaworks is a hidden gem! Amazing group of counselors to help you navigate job loss.

This place is not a valuable resource for job seekers and I found the overall support lacking in both depth and accuracy. Many of the staff members and so-called career advisors I interacted with seemed ill-prepared to offer meaningful guidance. In several workshops and consultations, basic information was either glossed over or presented incorrectly--something especially concerning for those relying on this support during a challenging time. The teaching quality was inconsistent at best; several instructors appeared to be reading from slides without offering real insight or relevance to current job market conditions. In a space that should provide clarity and direction, I often left with more questions than answers. I appreciate the intention behind NOVAworks, but I believe there's significant room for improvement in both staff training and the accuracy of the information being shared. read more

NOVAworks has been instrumental in finding guidance, support, and encouragement in my job search. NOVAworks connects you with people who who have great wisdom in navigating job interviews, optimizing your resume, and finding jobs. And not only that ... you'll meet people who are in the same boat as you, so you'll have a sense of community in what often is a difficult and uncertain time. Kim Pham has been a wonderful help in connecting me with resources and programs that I didn't even know were out there, resources that are proving instrumental for me to remain competitive in the job market. I highly recommend signing up for NOVAworks to get the support you need to boost your career potential. read more

When I got laid off, my friends recommended that I join NOVAworks Sunnyvale and I'm so glad I did! It can feel isolating looking for a job, so joining NOVAworks was a way to be in a community with other job seekers. I was assigned a wonderful Career Advisor, Kim, who helped me explore their services options. I was able to complete their Career Exploration program and sign up for an elearning Instructional Design Certificate so I can up-skill and make myself more marketable (I'm half-way through the program!). The best part is that this lead me to meet other NOVAworks members who were also in the certificate program and they invited me to join their NOVAworks Success Team - it's a group of fellow job seekers and we meet weekly to discuss our job search, set goals, be held accountable for following through, and build support and friendships. I also love the Weekly Connections Meeting where members share their successes, ask for leads, practice their job search skills, network, and learn from knowledgeable guest speakers. One of my favorite topics was about Building Career Confidence - this is so important in this competitive job market. NOVAworks offers a ton on online and I person classes. I'm also grateful that NOVAworks partners with LinkedIn, so I was able to take a course on-site at LinkedIn to learn how to leverage their platform in my job search. I also got access to LinkedIn Premium, including LinkedIn Learning. I highly recommend NOVAworks if you need training assistance to enhance their your skills for re-entering the workforce. read more

I went in to ask a question and Bailey at the front desk gave me wonderful information - she provided exceptional service.

Feb 2024- This review is based on attending Orientation only - (Sunnyvale City hall) -Beautiful location (brand new city hall, coffee vending machine and snack vending machine with high in sugar/fat options -Receptionist, Bailey was so helpful and kind to help me with printing. She is a delight -Chris the facilitator ‍wasn't the most engaging facilitator but he got the message across in regard to Nova services and the processes to follow. -‍Two ladies came in to assist with paperwork and they were very engaging, helpful. Seem to have zest and passion for their work. I appreciate your compassion and zest thru these difficult times (layoffs suck!) Im excited to see what else Nova has to offer read more

I come from oversea and know limit things about America. The knowledege that I learned before does match the US stiuation. So I started to learn English and try to find job. I heard the NovaWorks from the school. I connected the NOVA and I was assigned to Kim who help me with applying finacial aid, follwing me up with ZOOM meeting helping me revising resume and everything. Kim is very diligent and helpful throughtout the grogram. I haven't spend a cent so far, and I have finished the my 535 hours program and graduated. All of the NOVA services including resume revising, interview preparation, communication skills etc. are offered at no cost, and are all great. I highly recommend to regist the NOVA account. Thanks for Kim and NOVA teams' great help！ read more

I recently applied for a Senior Legal Typist position through CalCareers. One of the requirements is a typing certificate. On Tuesday, I interviewed for the position and was told to bring a copy of the typing certificate I previously uploaded to my account. At the interview, I was advised the certificate was unacceptable because it was not a five (5) minute in-person proctored certificate. The certificate I submitted was from a free online service and three (3) minutes. The State is firm in that they will only accept a five (5) minute proctored typing test taken before a live individual. After the fact I was provided with a link from CalCareers https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/find-american-job-centers.aspx?keyword=&location=95820&radius=25&persist=true&ajax=0 and told to enter my zip code for a list of the nearest facilities. The closest location to me, San Mateo Adult School, is closed until August 9. The other facilities are quite far from San Bruno: Oakland, Sunnyvale, Hayward, San Jose. It is important to note that not all locations on the list provide this service. I spent all afternoon placing phone calls and sending emails to no avail. Despite the distance, I was willing to drive to Sunnyvale to take a five-minute typing exam in front of a proctor. It would be a shame if I was offered a position by the State but because I did not have the required typing certificate, the job fell through. From my online search and in reading the reviews, NOVAworks in Sunnyvale provides this service. However, to my disappointment, when I called their office this afternoon, they indicated they no longer offer this service. The reason I still rated it four stars is because the young woman with whom I spoke did provide me with a list of other facilities that potentially provide this service. I began calling and the location below provides proctored five (5) minute typing certificates free of charge: Oakland Private Industry Council 1801 Adeline Street, Room 209 (In W. Oakland Public Library) Oakland, CA. 94607 (510) 419 - 0392 Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Call ahead of time for appointments) Fee: No Charge (must be registered with CalJOBS) A big shout out to Bailey Militano for her assistance and professional courtesy. read more

This is a wonderful institution that can help you in your career journey. They offer abundant assistance in resume writing, career pivots, networking opportunities and a whole lot more. Their services are at no cost to the individual... so why not give it a go? read more

Novaworks has been a big help to me. They provided many online workshops that help me so much. They also helped me to sign up for training classes and help do all paperwork with EDD to pay for the training, read more

Excellent services at Nova. I loved all the material that they use and I have learned a lot of excellent techniques that proved helpful in my job search. The various one on one sessions with the career counselors were instrumental in keeping me motivated and hopeful. I am very grateful for the grant I received which allowed me to finish a certificate in marketing management at a time when I decided to pivot my career. Before completing the degree, I already landed a new job doing what I was dreaming of - marketing and events. My income also saw a 30% increase. Nova was a very successful part of my professional journey. I appreciate all the help and guidance, especially to Kim Pham who came along every step of my journey through the certification. We need to celebrate! read more

Novaworksn is a great place for whoever needs to prepare for work or going through unemployment. I got my learnings through the organization without costs and was so amazed by the stuff members and their willingness to support you. Definitely recommend this organization to someone who is looking for new role or impacted by the current roles. read more

They are very professional and they successfully applied government fund for my school of training. Give big applause for their awesome work! read more

NOVAWORKS provided incredible support for my job search and training! By helping me navigate smoothly when I lost my job. Kim Pham was very supportive in helping me choose the relevant courses I needed for training, I received funds towards training, resources to learn and support my family. Attending NOVA workshops are helpful and I would suggest to following their advise on how to navigate during job search to anyone. read more

I recently had the pleasure of using NOVA Service, and I must say it exceeded my expectations in every way possible. From start to the ongoing process, the experience was seamless, efficient, and incredibly satisfying. NOVA support team is not only knowledgeable but also incredibly friendly and responsive. I was assigned to Kim who help me with applying financial aid, following me up with ZOOM meeting, helping me revising resume and applied to study AI related courses at CSTU. Kim is very quick to address my queries and went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly. My experience with NOVA Service was nothing short of exceptional. If you're looking for a reliable, efficient, and innovative service, I highly recommend giving NOVA a try. Thanks again to Kim and the NOVA team for their great help!! read more

NOVA provided incredible support for my job search and training! By filling out paperwork to indicate I had all other skills listed on a few job postings and just needed this training, I received $6,000 toward a certificate in UX and Web Design from UCSC Silicon Valley Extension. I had become interested in UX Design while working in libraries and helping people with technology. I lost my job in a university library due to the pandemic. I attended all of the NOVA workshops (some several times, since I was unemployed for 1.5 years), received great suggestions and feedback from advisors, and was able to build my Linkedin network with speakers and other NOVA clients. The flexibility to make an appointment with an advisor was amazing! I enjoyed their services so much, I would send other job seekers I met while networking to NOVA. If they weren't in the area, I would send them the link to NOVA's job search plan. I mentioned this in my job interviews and am now working in recruiting at Meta. Because I had experience recruiting clients for NOVA :) read more

I am currently enrolled in CompTIA A+ and NovaWorks has been a great help in my career shift during my period of unemployment. It is a free service where you can find all the support and assistance you need from start to finish. You will not regret getting into this program and in fact, it's life-changing. Nova's got very accommodating staff and most of all, great training advisor, Kim Pham, who has been genuinely helpful from Day 1. She checks on me from time to time no matter how busy she is, making sure she is updated with my schooling. I am thankful I applied for training benefits at Nova. read more

In my case, I did reach out to Nova because I lost my job after 20 years. I was assigned to Kim as a career and training advisor. She has been great. I was approved for a certification at UCSC. I am looking forward to continuing working with Nova, and hopefully, I can find a job using their services read more

Novaworks is a good company. It offers different types of services, and they're all great. The one I had it help me in my studies. I really value and appreciate it. They are willing to help you and at no cost. read more

Kim was amazing!! Thanks to Nova it helped me introduce to lovely people , technology and amazing beginnings. Pray it to be great journey ahead .Dream of a value added life and FTE role again! read more

I have been a NOVA member for close to ten years and I have never been disappointed. I love everything here (workshops and classes). I especially love getting help from the career coaches. They are excellent and very kind. They care about you and do not want you to fail with whatever is your goal. There is a computer lab with close to twenty computers as well as a printer and a fax machine. Just make sure whatever you do is job related. If you print not job related things, you will get in trouble. I am definitely not kidding. If you are looking for a place to do your job search, then this is the place. Yes, I highly recommend it. read more

NOVAworks - This sign says it all. - Employment Agencies Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

I had an excellent experience with Novaworks services through Kim, she gave me a lot of guidance and helped me a lot in my search for a job opportunity. Novaworks is a serious company and our success is their success and they go to great lengths to help you. Thank you very much Novaworks. read more

Very friendly staff. So much potential however until they fully utilize the beautiful space they have to serve the community and keep up with the market trends they don't deserve 5 stars. They give outdated tips for job searching. In this highly competitive global market these tips won't make anyone stand out. They need to open up space for in person networking so posers can be weeded out for both perspective employers and perspective employees. Otherwise we are all wasting time playing games and being mismatched. read more

From seeing people's comments on NOVAWorks services, there are some good and some bad as always for anything based on personal perspectives. Maybe my comment does not affect much, but I just want to express my gratitude toward my good support that I've been receiving from the agency staff. When I was introduced to NOVAWorks, I was skeptical about the agency since it's my first time asking for help in training services. As I am going through the requirements with NOVAWorks, I can see how efficiently this agency works. The documentation is transparent, and the staff are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. From the first meeting with Christian Familetti for orientation, to Grace as career advisor, and especially my career training advisor Kim Pham are very professional in their works. They were able to help me settle into NOVAWorks programs for learning, finding courses that meet my career needs, so I can proceed forward with my career training. Currently I am in class and THANKS to NOVAWorks staff who have given me the opportunity. read more

Nova is perfect for those who are seeking an interview, communication, and resume skills. I am so thankful for their services for the past several months. I think people underestimate the power of networking even if it is with those who are not in your line of work. You'll be surprised what you learn from listening and exchanging what we know from one another at difficult times. Now I know. I will recommend Nova to anyone who is seeking to improve their interpersonal presentation and communication skills. We must be willing and open to opinions and suggestions to anyone no matter where we are in life. read more

I can write accolade after accolades, but the most important thing I can say is that every single counselor, advisor, trainer, and receptionist really care about your well being and success!!! They know what they are doing. Listen, learn, participate. Repeat. NOVA will help you get ready for the next chapter in your life. read more

I have a need to write about Nova services and to make sure people know they are out there for us (unemployed people or people that want to upgrade their skills). I highly recommend Nova. The Nova staff is amazing, every single person is willing to help and to find a way to how help you. Very much appreciate the opportunity they gave me to take required classes at UC Santa Cruz extension. I thank each person at Nova, in this process who "pushed" me and made me obtain a Business Administration Certificate. Keep in mind it is a free amazing service available to everyone who is willing to get a job and move on with their life. read more

NOVA is a great (free) resource for job-seekers of all ages and all career junctions. I would say they seem to be the most helpful for people who are not as informed on the current job market and skills needed, such as people re-entering the workforce or trying to build their skillset. It seems to skew to an older demographic, but as a young adult I still found their services and programs very helpful. Would highly recommend the workshops, especially for building a resume or cover letter. I walked into that workshop thinking I wasn't going to learn much, but I got a lot out of it. I would also recommend joining ProMatch, which is the professional networking group that runs alongside (but really separate) from NOVA Be aware that you will get out of this service what you put into it - it is a time commitment and you will need to take a few steps to get fully enrolled. The staff at NOVA were always very polite and helpful, and the counselors were generally available same-day or the next day. If you're overwhelmed with the Bay Area job hunting process or just need support & motivation, this is a good start! read more

I worked at Nova Job Center for a long time and was an excellent employee. NOVA talks about helping people will disabilities but they didn't help me but that it was time to retire. I didn't have a disability when they hired me. It developed over a few years. My boss told me not to answer the phone because of my speech but my doctor couldn't believe because it was good practice for me. I told the clients that I had speech problems so if they couldn't understand me to let me know but my boss told me not to tell them that like they were ashamed of me. I asked if I could work at home part time like the career advisors did since Covid but I was told no. I liked my job but they didn't treat me well since I got the disability. NOVA wanted me to retire. They also like to hire young employees. Thanks for listening. I had to get this off my chest. read more

Rhonda helped me. I took a 5 min certified typing test. I checked in, Rhonda told me I scheduled it for yesterday (wed) but i really scheduled it for a Thursday. She was nice enough to squeeze me in though. I was able to take a practice test for three mins and when i was done i was able to take my 5 min test. No one else is in the room with you. You have all these different computers but that one computer is designated for the speed test. After the test was done she printed them out and she also sent me a soft copy to keep online in my file. The only down side is that it's cash only and the parking lot/ building is huge. I was going through a maze just to find this place. But the ladies in the front were nice, especially Rhonda who helped me. read more

This review is for an incredible support I received from Kim during my career transition in 2019 and to applaud all the work Novaworks does to help people make professional transitions and succeed. After years with one company, I got laid off at the time. I had to juggle a baby, a job search, while recognising the need to upskill. Kim went an extra mile to help me get into the right training program (within last few days of closing application deadlines in December 2019). UC Santa Cruz Extension program made a huge difference on my career trajectory and helped me regain confidence and get back on track professionally. Thank you, Kim! read more

Very good resource for job counseling and training. I would have not known about programs available if it weren't for NOVA. Great advisors and counselors - and at no cost! A gem of a resource for career planning, job search tools and career planning. read more

I have had a positive experience at NOVA. The ladies at the front desk and instructors are extremely organized, helpful and patient, as well the classes are helpful. the reason for minus one star - every time i call-in, they seem to RUSH with the conversation about certain question(s). I feel like who has time to go call-in/go online exactly @ 12pm for open schedule if your busy with work or watever else that is important. They always say call back tomorrow to see any openings.. just want to see any opening "this week". ... read more

NOVA is a great resource for job seekers. This is the second time that I seek help and support from NOVA. I find NOVA to be extremely helpful to me because NOVA offers useful and practical classes to help job seekers to prepare themselves for new job opportunities. I have learned how to customize my resume for each job opening and also learned to respond to interviewers' questions in a tactful and meaningful way. My career advisor, Kim Le, has been a valuable source of information in the area of career planning and also advising me what classes to take to enhance my job search. She is polite and understanding of my career training needs. NOVA is a hidden gem that more job seekers should know about. I personally feel that not enough job seekers know about the existence of NOVA. Some form of publicity would be good so new job seekers would know that they can obtain assistance from NOVA in their job searches. read more

I've attended top class professional job hunting/ training elsewhere. This is as good as any I've been to. Best of all, it is free!! I should have gotten their help over 30 years ago! They will also mentor you after you get a job. Their Communication class taught by Marsha was top notch!! I was at loss as to handle tough bosses. Now I know how to better communicate to those bosses - thanks to Marsha. They will also give you one-on-one career counseling. Most of the counselors are great! read more

Don't waste your time coming here while you can find all the necessary information online. If you are seeking Federal/State Funding, DROP the idea. Besides providing them SS card, Driver's License, and Passport for them to make a copy, those are NOT enough to prove who are are. They requested ridiculous documents, e.g. I-20 that you had some twenty years ago, and give you a number to call for that organization to issue you a certificate...etc. And when you called, that organization's staff was shocked, What the heck... They don't issue such certificate... And when I told them I quit applying and asked to trash my personal data, they said they will keep it in their record for future reference. read more