Goodbye letter from the 2012 Chairman

Barbara Edwards, 2012 Chairman of the WORKFORCE plus Board of Director's

It’s been my pleasure to serve as the Chairman of the WORKFORCE plus Board of Director’s over the last year.  Words can’t express my sincere appreciation to my fellow board members, community stakeholders and to the staff that have worked hand in hand to create a positive impact in our local community. It was through our shared vision to advance the economic well-being of our community, in one of the toughest economic climates our nation has ever experienced, that our commitment has shown through.

Over the last year, much of our time has been spent addressing the impact of the economic recession, high unemployment rates and declining job opportunities.  During the same time, we have experienced an increased call to support regional employers in their efforts to maintain their employees and to ensure that they keep their doors open and remain competitive. 

Though prior to the economic downturn we had identified other priorities to target, the increasing number of unemployed jobseekers in our community quickly became our top priority.  Fortunately, we were able to establish many jump-start programs and initiatives such as Jobs = Paychecks Now, which provided the necessary investment back into our unemployed workforce through re-tooling efforts along with incentivizing employers who hired these “work ready” individuals. This level of investment placed us in a heightened position of ensuring the type of accountability and transparency the general public expects from stewards of their trust in a time of unprecedented need. We are proud to say that we have faced these challenges head on with much work still ahead of us and remain strongly committed to supporting efforts that foster the continued development, training and preparation of a workforce that meets current and future needs. 

I would strongly encourage you to continue reading our website to learn more about our programs and services available. To learn more or to speak directly with a Counselor, please call us toll free at (866) WFP-JOB1 or local at (850) 922-0023.

New Year's Job Resolution Guide: Bringing It All Home

Over the last few days, we dived into the components of a strong and successful job search in the New Year.

Beginning a new job search can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Take this article and put it on your fridge as a reminder of the keys to a successful employment journey.

Begin by preparing yourself mentally.

• Discover free resources. WORKFORCE plus is one.
• Secure your self-marketing materials.
• Become competitive.
• Know where to look.
• Use career events to your advantage.
• Understand how best to deal with employers
• One final word of wisdom for starting your New Year strong: stay positive!

“An efficient job search is one with a comprehensive approach to success,” Kimberly A. Moore, CEO of WORKFORCE plus said. “Consider all of the elements put forth in this article and strive to make the most of every effort in your journey for gainful employment.”

If you are interested in taking your job search to the next level, contact WORKFORCE plus today. You can call 1-866-WFP-JOB1, email wfp@wfplus.org, go online to www.wfplus.org or visit any of our offices. We look forward to serving you, and have a Happy New Year!

New Year's Job Resolution Guide: Wowing Employers

Yesterday we talked about taking advantage of employment-related events to boost your chances of success in the New Year. But what do you do at those events when hiring employers are present?

Meeting hiring employers at events such as the JOBS = PAYCHECKS NOW Job Fair & Expo requires some level of face-to-face finesse. Here are some tips to keep in mind when communicating with an employer:

1. Do your research first. Apply to a position only after having researched the company and the position available. If you do not have the time to research before meeting an employer, (say you’ve just met an employer standing in an elevator) introduce yourself and extend your card to inquire about their available positions. That day, go home and research the company and see what it would mean to work there. 
2.  If the position and company could be an appropriate match for your employment goals and values, contact the employer and submit your materials. 
3.  Follow up with a thank you within the week. Remind them of your availability, interest in their company and desire to interview and thank them again.

New Year's Job Resolution Guide: Events

Online job boards are great places to start your employment search. Remember to consider in-person employment events as well. Networking events, job fairs, career expos, recruitment events and business open houses are all great events to consider as a strategy in your job search. In fact, WORKFORCE plus has a job fair coming up soon that you should consider.

The JOBS = PAYCHECKS NOW Job Fair & Expo is WORKFORCE plus’s 9^th annual career fair and has quickly become the largest, most successful recruitment event of the year from the Florida panhandle to South Georgia. It will take place Thursday, January 19, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Leon County Civic Center and costs nothing to participate. Job seekers are encouraged to come dressed in professional business attire, bring a flawless resume and stride with confidence onto the showroom floor. Hundreds of job seekers gained employment through the efforts of the 2011 Job Fair- will you be one of the hundreds in 2012?

New Year's Job Resolution Guide: Knowing Where to Look

Equipped with the preparation, resources, materials, and competitive edge you need to succeed, you may be asking the question “Where do I begin looking for employment opportunities?”

With an ocean of online job listing options, WORKFORCE plus recommends beginning your job search with Employ Florida Marketplace. Employ Florida Marketplace offers more than the average job board: not only does it provide access to thousands of hiring employers and it lists new jobs daily, it connects you to trained Career Consultants who act as no-cost recruiters on your behalf. 

Once you begin capitalizing on the Employ Florida Marketplace, remember to consider focusing your efforts to the industries hiring the most applicants. Numerous monthly reports explain which industries do the most hiring every month. In our area, the medical industry has consistently been one of the strongest hiring sectors for an extended amount of time. If your experience is in retail and you have great organizing abilities, discuss how your customer service skills are just what a busy medical office needs to succeed. If you are trained in information technology management, illustrate how your efficiency and program lead skills easily translate to what a hiring employer needs in the leisure and hospitality sector. The top hiring industries in Florida during the month of November were trade, transportation and utilities; private health services; leisure and hospitality; professional and business services; financial activities; and manufacturing. Begin your search by looking for opportunities in these industries.

New Year's Job Resolution Guide: Becoming Competitive

Now that you’ve got a handle on how to market your value to employers through self-marketing materials, let’s discuss other ways you can be a competitive job seeker. One way is by updating your computer skills through the Training Academy, WORKFORCE plus’s technical skills school. Whether you are completely new to computers or you are looking to gain a mastery of Microsoft programs, the Training Academy has courses for you that will make you a more competitive job seeker.

“I am especially grateful for the instruction and opportunity to participate in the Microsoft Office classes through the Training Academy,” Robert Framingham, a WORKFORCE plus customer said. “The instructor not only had advanced computer skills, but also the personality and the drive to motivate the students to succeed. I absolutely believe it led to me getting my job.”

 If you need additional certifications, WORKFORCE plus can facilitate some of the trainings for you and even provide no cost access to training opportunities. 

Finally, any job seeker who has recently been involved in a layoff can use that circumstance to their advantage, thanks to WORKFORCE plus’s JOBS = PAYCHECKS NOW (JPN) initiative. WORKFORCE plus created the JPN program to create an incentive for employers to hire skilled applicants are currently unemployed. If you qualify, you can inform an employer of the program to give them an extra reason to hire you: they will have part of their training costs reimbursed for their proactive investment in their business and the community.

New Year's Job Resolution Guide: Marketing Materials

You've set goals and discovered some great resources that will support you in your job search- what's next?

It is time to start preparing your self-marketing materials. Self-marketing materials are the tools you use during your employment journey that help you communicate your value to potential employers, such as a resume or business card

You should aim to create at a minimum a resume and a cover letter for each position to which you apply. To ensure that you maximize your job search efforts, create a business card, online or digital portfolio, list of references and a professional online profile on a website such as LinkedIn. WORKFORCE plus offers workshops that address Resume Writing, Cover Letter Basics, Social Media in Your Job Search and much more.

Simply come into any WORKFORCE plus office to learn when the workshops take place or visit www.wfplus.org to see the workshop schedule.