“It’s still about jobs,” said Kay Durand, the strategic center’s executive director, noting that Troup has gained automotive jobs, but continues to lose them in small businesses and other industries such as Emerson and T-Mobile.
The center launched a website, troupcountyworks.com, in February, providing county residents with access to job opportunities at 107 employers in this area. During the first month, 947 job-seekers visited the site and the number has grown steadily to 1,602 in July.
But people looking for jobs “need more help,” Durand said.
“Every effort has been made to expand and refocus programs for the current workforce as well as the emerging workforce on Wednesdays,” Durand said. “Bringing focus to Wednesdays will highlight the workforce initiatives and better engage the community to become more involved in preparing and developing Troup County’s workforce.”
From Sept. 15 until April 20, half-day workshops will be held throughout the county with human resource professionals offering information on resume writing, behavioral interviewing, determining skills and interests, dressing for success and other topics.
Other resources will be available at the workshops, including the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Work Ready, LaGrange College, West Georgia SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), staffing agencies, Troup County Works, Veterans Affairs, Vocational Rehab, LaGrange College, Columbus State University and West Georgia Technical College.
The workshops are free, but reservations are required by contacting Durand at (706) 298-3639 or by email at troupcountyworks@gmail.com. Callers must give their names, mailing addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
Here’s the schedule for the workshops, which will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.:
n Sept. 15, LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce;
n Sept. 29, Hogansville Public Library;
n Oct. 20, West Point Hawkes Library;
n Nov. 10, Chamber of Commerce;
n Jan. 19, Hogansville Public Library;
n Feb. 16, Chamber of Commerce;
n March 16, West Point location of Columbus State University; and
n April 20, Chamber of Commerce.
Two previous workshops on employability and resume writing were well-attended.
“When people get help with their resume, it makes a huge difference,” Durand said.
Janice Greer, director of post-secondary opportunities for Troup County schools, said the workshops are “just a place for a person who wants coaching to get on the right track with his job search. You could be a 60-year-old or someone who is just entering the work force.”
Throughout the year, Troup County schools and the chamber’s education committee will have career focus sessions for high school sophomores who can apply through their CTAE supervisor. The seminars will focus on teaching education, small business, health care, engineering and manufacturing. Students will spend the morning learning about the career and the afternoon in an actual job setting.
Here’s the schedule for all the sessions, which will be at the Chamber of Commerce on Bull Street:
n Sept. 22, teaching education;
n Oct. 20, small business;
n Nov. 17, health care;
n Jan. 26, engineering, and
n March 9, manufacturing.
Job shadowing also is available to high school juniors through their CTAE supervisors. Interested employers may call Dave Lewis at (706) 881-2328. Many students have to be turned down because there aren’t enough participating employers.
In addition, West Georgia Tech will be offering Wednesday evening sessions on workshop days to help employed workers who want to take advantage of Georgia Work Ready certification. More than 2,600 county residents have taken the test and become Work Ready.
“It gives these people a leg up in their job search,” said chamber President Page Estes. “More than a dozen employers use Georgia Work Ready in their hiring process, but it needs to go exponentially higher.”
Engaging the community is critical to lowering the unemployment rate, Durand said.
“The traditional institutions can no longer meet the needs alone,” she said. “Churches, businesses, industry, community agencies and individuals all play a role.”
Post a Comment
