Direct Care Worker (Candidate)

Introduction

This guide is designed to provide detailed information for Direct Care Workers using the Direct Care Careers website. Images in this guide may not match all images on the platform due to continuous platform improvements. While images may vary due to ongoing platform updates, the instructions remain accurate.

As additional resources become available, they will be added under the Help section of the platform.

Register

1. From the https://directcarecareers.com page, select your state.

2. Once you have selected your state, create an account by selecting the category in the Let's Get Started section that applies to you.

3. Enter the required information and agree to the Terms of Use by checking the box.

4. When done, click the “create new account” button to register the account and log in.

   

Log In

1. Go to www.directcareers.com

2. Select the Login icon in the upper right-hand corner.

   

3. Click on this icon and enter the email address and password you used when you registered. 

   

   4. Click Continue.

   If you have forgotten your password:

   • Click the “Forgot password?” link at the bottom of the login box.

     • On the next page, enter the email used to create the account and then press continue. An email will be sent with instructions on how to reset the password. 

       Note: If you did not receive an email to reset your password, contact the help desk at helpdesk@directcarecareers.com

Changing the site Language

1. Go to the top-right corner of the page and click the language menu.

    

2. Click the dropdown icon in the white box.

   

3. Choose your preferred language from the list.

    

4. The page will refresh in the selected language.

My Workspace

After successfully registering for an account or logging in, you will be taken to My Workspace. My Workspace is where you can change your profile password, build your user profile, see job matches, send and respond to messages, and update your notification preferences=.  

To get to My Workspace from any page:

1. Click the circle icon on the top right of the homepage.

   

2. Select “My Workspace”: You can additionally click on “My Workspace” on the left side menu.

   

Setup Your Profile

When you create an account, you’ll build your user profile by adding information about yourself in the various tabs across the top of My Workspace. The more details you share, the easier it will be for the system to connect you with job posts that match your skills and preferences.

As you fill out your profile, a progress bar will help you track what’s left to complete your profile. You will receive notifications reminders of your profile progress if it is less than 50% complete.

Personal Information

The Personal Information section includes Date of Birth, Sex, Language, Address, and Phone number.

You can get to this section through My Workspace.

1. Go to My Workspace

    

2. Click on Personal Information

   

3. Fill in the fields as applicable

   1. Date of Birth 

   2. Gender

   3. Language(s) you speak 

   4. Address 

   5. Zip Code where you work 

   6. Phone number 

   7. Communication Preferences 

       

4. Click Save

You can update any of these fields later from My Workspace. 

Note: Only the ZIP code is required; the other fields are optional but help match you with appropriate opportunities.

Work Preferences

The work preferences section is where you can enter work preferences, which are used to match you to a Job Post.

1. Go to My Workspace

    

2. Click on Work Preferences 

   

    

3. Keep the box checked that says “Select this box if you are currently looking for work and would like to be matched with a potential employer” in order to be matched with job postings. 

   

4. Enter your work preferences. This section includes choices for: 

   1. Availability (full-time/part-time)

   2. Start Date/End Date

   3. Preferred days of the week to work

   4. Shifts needed

   5. Populations you can give support to 

   6. Distance you are willing to travel for work

   7. Distance you are willing to travel during work with the client

   8. Willingness to relocate for work

   9. Environment you can work in (for example, in a home with dogs)

   10. Minimum/requested hourly rate

        

5. Click Save. 

Work Experience

The work preferences section is where you can enter your work experience, which is used for job matching.

1. Go to My Workspace

    

2. Select the Work Experience tab

   

    

3. Enter your work experience details, including: 

   1. Years of experience 

   2. Types of services that you can provide as a direct care worker.  Types of Services you can provide is the most important information used for job matching.

      

   3. Current employer (if applicable)

       

   4. Past employer(s) and related details 

      

      4. Click Save

       

Education/Training and Qualifications

The Education/Training and Qualifications section is where you can add information on your education, training, and qualifications.

1. Go to My Workspace

    

2. Select the Education/Training tab

    

3. Enter details of about your education and training background, including:

   1. Types of degrees or training earned.

   2. Graduation status and related details.

   3. Types of Technical Qualifications you have. Technical Qualifications are used for job matching.

       

4. Click Save.

Credentials 

The Credentials section is where you can add information about credentials you have received.  

1. Go to My Workspace

    

2. Select the Credentials tab

   

3. Choose the credential(s) you hold from the drop-down menu.

   

4. Enter the dates the credential is valid. 

    

5. Select “Add another credential” button to add additional credentials.

    

6. Click Save.

Additional Information

The Additional Information section is an area to upload a Resumé, Cover Letter, and Reference Letter. In the text box, you can enter any information you want the employers to know about you. This could be skills, experiences, hobbies, or anything else you feel want to add to your profile.

1. Go to My Workspace

    

2. Select the Additional Information tab

   

3. Click “choose file” under the document type you want to upload and find the document you want uploaded on your device. You should put all the files in the same folder on your desktop for the easiest access.

    

4. Once the file is selected, click “open” on the file selection window.

    

5. Click Save. 

My Messages [there needs to be a section added for DCWs on how to contact an employer]

The Direct Care Careers Website allows communication between direct care workers and employers. To access your messages:

1. Go to My Workspace

    

2. Select My Messages

   

3. Click on the subject line of any message to open it.

   

4. Select Reply on the lower right side of the message. You can also select Delete if the message is no longer relevant.

   

If the message contains inappropriate content, you can Block the user by Selecting “Block” and/or Report the message to moderators. Reporting the message automatically will block the user from contacting you.  

[Need to update this screenshot]

Notification Preferences

By default, the Direct Care Careers website will send you a Daily Digest that will contain job-related updates. To update how often you receive notifications, follow the steps below:

1. Go to My Workspace.

    

2. Select the Notification Preferences tab.

   

3. Choose how often you would like to receive an email for each type of action listed on the page (None, Immediately, Daily, Weekly).

   

4. Note: some preferences cannot be changed or are limited (such as when an employer is interested and profile progress notifications).

    

5. Click Save. 

Change Password or Deactivate Account

The system will ask you to update your password every 45 days. To update your password: 

1. Go to My Workspace.

    

    

2. Select the Edit My Account tab.

   

3. Scroll down to Password Management. 

    

4. Click “Reset Password.”

   

5. Type in a new password.

    

6. Re-type the new password. 

    

7. Enter your current password to confirm, if not already entered.

    

8. Click Update Password. 

   

To deactivate the account:

1. Go to My Workspace.

    

2. Select Edit My Account.

    

3. Click the “Deactivate Account” button at the bottom of the page.

   

View Job Matches 

In the Account Details section, you will find a section called Potential Jobs.

If you have put information in your profile, you will find a list of open jobs you have been matched with.

You can get to this section through My Workspace, and will see it appear automatically.

Image 37

To look at a job, click View Details to open the job information (Image 38).

You can also click the job title to get to the same place.

Image 38

On the next page, you can see the job details. From here, there are two ways to let an employer know you are interested in a job:

1. You can view the employer's contact information by clicking the name or icon (Image 39).

   

   Image 39

   The profile page will have the employer's name and email address where you can message them (Image 40). It may also have a website URL or more information. To go back to the job listing details, click the back button on your Internet Browser.

   

   Image 40

2. You can also click the “I am Interested” button to open up the direct messaging feature (Image 41).

   

   Image 41

   This will take you to a new page where you can send a message to the potential employer (Image 42). Make sure to fill out the subject and body of your message and press “Send Message” when you are done.

   

   Image 42

   You can view all sent messages to employers in the “My Messages” section under My Workspace (Image 43).

   

   Image 43

   All job posts that “I am Interested” are clicked on will show up under the “My Job Posts” page in My Workspace (Image 44).

   

   Image 44

Seeing All Open Positions

To view all open positions, click on the “Jobs” menu item in the left sidebar of My Workspace (Image 45).

Image 45

Type in what you want on the Jobs page in the search bar.

You can also search by Job ID, CDS Employer Name, or a keyword from the job title (Image 46).

For example, if you are looking for a job as a personal care assistant, you can type “personal care assistant” into the search bar, and the system will pull all jobs that match.

Image 46

To view full details about the job, click View Details to open the job information (Image 47).

You can also click the job title to get to the same place.

Image 47

On the next page, you can see the job details. From here, there are two ways to let an employer know you are interested in a job:

1. You can view the employer's contact information by clicking the name or icon (Image 48).

   

   Image 48

   The profile page will have the employer's name and email address where you can message them (Image 49). It may also have a website URL or more information. To go back to the job listing details, click the back button on your Internet Browser.

   

   Image 49

2. You can also click the “I am Interested” button to open up the direct messaging feature (Image 50).

   

   Image 50

   This will take you to a new page where you can send a message to the potential employer (Image 51). Make sure to fill out the subject and body of your message and press “Send Message” when you are done.

   

   Image 51

   You can view all sent messages to employers in the “My Messages” section under My Workspace (Image 52).

   

   Image 52

   All job posts that “I am Interested” are clicked on will show up under the “My Job Posts” page in My Workspace (Image 53).

   

   Image 53

Using Filters

Filters can be used to find jobs based on the type of work you want to do and their qualifications. You can also use filters to find jobs that match language, gender preferences, or the company's name.

It is easy to use filters to find the type of job you want, and Image 54 shows how to do it. When you are in the Jobs screen, on the left-hand side of the screen will be a box labeled “Type of Care Needed” You can select which tasks you would like included in the filter and hit “Apply” on the upper right side of the page.

Image 54

Saving Job Posts

If you like a job and want to save it for later, you can save it by clicking the “Save Job Post” button (Image 55).

Image 55

Saved jobs will show up on the “My Saved Jobs” tab in My Workspace (Image 56).

Image 56

You can also print job posts you are interested in (Image 57). Clicking the print icon on the upper right side of the screen will download the page to your computer.

Image 57

Viewing Resources (Information and Training provided by your State)

To view resources, click on the Resources menu item on the left sidebar of My Workspace (Image 58).

Image 58

Here, you can find Documents and links to websites, videos, and training posted by the State by typing in keywords (Image 59).

Getting Help

Help Documents Library

For questions about the DCC Website, you can go to the document library.

To do this, click on “Help” on the left sidebar of My Workspace (Image 60).

Image 60

Some guides help answer common questions.

You can type in what you are looking for in the search bar.

You can also use the boxes on the left side of the screen to search by topic, language, or user type (see Image 61)

Image 61

Help Desk

If the help documents library cannot answer your question, you can contact our support team in two ways:

1. Live Chat:

   Talk to a live person by clicking the arrow on the green “Chat Now” box in the bottom right-hand corner (Image 62).

   

   Image 62

   Once open, you can enter their question, and a person will get back to you soon (Image 63).

   **Make sure you choose your state from the menu. **

   

   Image 63

2. Email:

   Click the Contact Us button on the left sidebar of My Workspace to be directed to an email form (Image 64).

   

   Image 64

   Type in the subject (question), name, email address, and a message. The question will be replied to soon. (Image 65).

   You can also email the help desk at helpdesk@directcarecareers.com.

   

   Image 65