Two Ladies, A Career Center, and a Way Forward

From the Five Cities area, the Career Center meets, on an average, 120 people a day. The goal is to reduce underemployment anxiety and assist with job research.  To do this, they conduct workshops, inspire and motivate, and create and help with individual resumes

The Center has helpers. The Employement Developent Department helps. With this type of support, Liz and Rachel are urging employers to see them first, before seeking workers elsewhere.  For example, Shoreline Corporation uses their services for re-training programs, finding truck drivers, and providing medical billing services.

There are Green Technology training programs, that have for some included taking CuestaCollege courses in solar installation, green roofing, and solar hot water heating to add to a person's skill set and make them a desirable hire.  What employers are looking for and what they are willing to do to help the individual is what the Career Center does to help serve the underemployed in our area.  With job blasts and on-the-job training, they help businesses with thin gs they wouldn't ordinarily want to do. Their on-the-job training takes from two weeks to six months, and that combined with financial incentives for small businesses creates jobs and opportunity.

With resources of over $75,000 annually, the Career Center uses that to transition a new hire with an employer.  Reverse referrals, as in an employer has someone they want to hire, but needs the Career Center help to fully orient the hire with the job at hand, and if they are qualified they will get the needed transitional help.

In short, the Job Development Center/Career 1 Stop trains, tests, and screens to create a win-win situation with worker and employer. The Career Center is hopeful that with their unique and helpful program, everyone involved will be happy!