Shiawassee Service Center
Employment Services
OWOSSO EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
In the Owosso area, we have suffered major losses in industry resulting in increased unemployment. Therefore, our main focus has been to offer our clients hope in their job search by offering a variety of services. Those would include:
Employment Counseling/Job Search Assistance
This is usually accomplished through assisting the client with a resume to assure that their backgrounds and qualifications are presented in such a way that a potential employer would be interested in the job seeker and contact him for an interview. Consequently, the resume can become an excellent tool in helping the client understand the skills they can bring to a job and how those skills can transfer to other positions they may not have thought were possible or qualified for in the past. The job search can involve using additional websites along with the Michigan Talent Bank in searching for positions that would meet the skills/experience that the client can offer plus give the client easy access to apply for those jobs of interest.Career Assessment, Planning, and Consultation
We offer the ONet profile assessments in work and personal interests that can give the client the opportunity to investigate new careers/career changes based on these assessments. Once those profiles are complete, we can sit down with the client and review the results and assist them in evaluating those results with other investigative tools within the ONet system to better understand the type of job that they think they would like and what it entails. Once that process is complete, a plan to meet those goals can be set in motion to give the client an even better understanding as to what kind of commitment would be required on their part to reach that goal.We offer various equipment in order to make their employment search less stressful which includes free access to:
- Fax & copy machines
- 10 computer workstations with high-speed internet along with MS word for professional cover letters and envelopes
- A specially equipped/accessible computer (IntelliKeys, marble mouse) with ZoomText, JAWS, IntelliKeys, WinWay (resume writer for disabled) for those with special needs.
- Public phone availability with TTY capability for the hearing impaired.
- Resource Library
Referrals and Employment Registration
Since we are in a One-Stop facility, we are able to refer our job seekers to several WIA (Workforce Investment Act) agencies where they can receive additional services in resume writing, job seeking skills, short term training, job placement, clothing allowance, and various other assistance. We can also refer them to a Veterans’ representative, Rehabilitation Services or Customized Training/ Community Services if they require their services.Unemployed clients can register for work (a requirement of their unemployment) in the Employment Services office.
Trade Act Assistance
The Trade Act Assistance program was set up to aid those individuals who have lost their jobs due to foreign competition. Employment Services is involved in attending informational meetings to explain or assist affected employees in a preliminary sign-up at which State and local agencies participate in explaining the TAA program and what services are available to them under the program.Once the employee has received their indefinite layoff from a State certified TAA facility, Employment Services offers a one-on-one consultation with the individuals affected. This involves a detailed explanation of the entire TAA program (training options, relocation assistance, job searching, unemployment/TRA benefits, among other benefits) and the continuing personal follow-up required between ES and the participant. This interaction gives the participant a less stressful experience as they have a contact person that can assist them if needed.
EMPLOYER SERVICES
Employers in the surrounding area can contact Employment Services for help in finding qualified candidates to fill their job openings. ES can instruct the employer to enter their jobs into the Michigan Talent Bank or offer to do that service for them. The employer has the option of searching the MTB for possible candidates or ES can assist them in their search as a service.The Owosso ES office has seen an increase in requests from area businesses in searching for qualified candidates in the last 6 months which may be partly due to ES’s increased presence in the community or possibly because of the downsizing of some companies which has caused a loss of personnel to handle this function. All in all it is a Win-Win situation for the company and the job seeker.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The Owosso Employment Services office is involved in the community as a member of the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce as well as other community programs, ie, SIT (Supporting Inclusive Transportation through the ARC), Health & Human Services (area agencies get together to discuss their services and current events), food bank distribution, cancer drive and many others. It is the goal of the office to become a “recognizable face” in the community in order to better service business and job seekers alike.
