Keeping that resolution: getting a new job for the new year

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

There are a lot of things people think about at the beginning of a new year; resolutions to be kept, people to be remembered, debts paid and for some, changing jobs.

There are a variety of methods of looking for a job; going in person to possible employers, contacting the Workforce Development Division of the Missouri Career Center, going to a private employment service, or searching the Internet using an online service.

Employment services are available locally from a variety of sources, public and private.

With all of the technologically driven methods of finding a job there are still some basics that job applicants need to keep in mind. Mary Elliott of Penmac Personnel Services had some tips for job seekers.

"When you go in somewhere, always appear clean and well groomed -- even to just apply for a job," Elliott said. "First impressions are sometimes all you have, so you have to make the right first impression."

In addition to personal appearance, Elliott says it is also very important that your resume also looks neat and is well written.

"You want your resume to be neat and organized with no misspelled words," she said. "It's just a matter of looking it over and checking very closely."

Elliott said her company has services to help job seekers update skills, produce resumes and improve interview skills -- in addition to the basic service of connecting job seekers with employers.

"We have a free service to help people update their clerical skills, it's self-directed software," Elliott said. "We're always happy to help someone update their resume."

Private employment services can act as employers themselves, hiring workers and paying them for work they do for companies contracting with the service. They can also act as a go-between for companies and prospective employees, giving screening tests and pre-qualifying applicants before sending them to the employer and helping job seekers update their skills that help them prepare for the jobs that are available.

Public services like Workforce Development provide many of the same services as private employment companies, sometimes more --except such public services typically don't hire contract workers.

Annette Moberly of Workforce Development's Nevada office said job seekers can find many services at their office and can be referred to other agencies that provide more specialized services such as Experience Works, for older workers looking for employment.

"When someone first comes in we make them aware of every other service available," Moberly said. "We have a resource room with eight computers, people can get on them to look up Greathires.org and make their resume available online and do job searches. We can help people understand the process of filing an unemployment claim, they can come in and register for the four weeks of reporting they have to do."

Moberly pointed out the services available to disabled job seekers. "We have assistive technology for the hearing and visually impaired individual to help them get the services they need," Moberly said.

Other services at Workforce Development included a resume program and typing tutor. "We have a resume program that produces a very professional resume and we give the job seeker a disk to keep so they can come in later and update it if they need to," Moberly said. "We have Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing so people can improve their typing. We can administer typing tests for prospective applicants."

Dave Grace of Volt Services Group said his company is one of the ones that will hire people and then place them with companies needing temporary help.

"We find people for companies and do direct placement, contract workers and others," Grace said. "We specialize in helping companies find people in technical fields," Grace said. "We have a lot of relationships with large companies but we look at all businesses."

Volt is in the process of working with Workforce Development to help the 3M plant find employees. "People can get in touch with us by going through Workforce Development, go to our Web site, www.volt.com, stop by the office or we even advertise on job boards like Monster.com," Grace said.