Job fairs connect candidates to careers
MONTE VISTA— Even in big cities such as Denver and Colorado Springs, finding the right job isn’t always an easy task. Drill that down to less populated areas such as the San Luis Valley and job opportunities seem like slim pickings. That’s where the Colorado Work Force centers in Monte Vista and Alamosa come in. Both are tapped into dozens of local job listings, from police officers and emergency dispatchers to nurses, human resource professionals, wait staff, dump truck drivers and store managers.
In late September, the Monte Vista Workforce Center held a job fair at Kids Connection. Nearly 20 employers attended but only about 10 people stopped by inquiring about jobs. The turnout was surprisingly low given the 5.1 percent unemployment rate in Rio Grande County in August, according to economic data compiled by the St. Louis Fed Economic Research Division. The U.S. Department of Labor listed the national average at around 3.7 percent during the same month.
As a division of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Monte Vista Workforce Center holds several job fairs annually. “Sometimes we hold our own,” said labor and employment specialist with the workforce Augusto Basterrechea. “Sometimes we piggyback with job fairs hosted by other organizations.”
And it pays to go. The workforce center advertises jobs for employers and helps to connect job hunters to those openings. There are plenty of jobs for people who want to work, said Basterrechea, who prints out a list every morning of current openings around the Valley. There are over 200 job openings listed on the workforce center’s website alone. “In the last week or so, we’ve been able to help more than 10 people find jobs,” he added.
People can see job lists by visiting the workforce center (just behind Subway) or registering on the center’s website. Registering on the website not only ties job hunters into local job openings, it also connects them to jobs around the state, including state government positions. Services provided by the Colorado Workforce Centers are free.
Another benefit is that the workforce staff regularly investigates employers to ensure credibility. “We make sure they are a legitimate employer and check that their link goes to a real website and a real job application,” said career counselor with the center Felicity Archuleta.
Organizations at the job fair included Blue Peaks Developmental Services, Monte Vista Estates and the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley. Blue Peaks need caregivers for its group homes servicing developmentally disabled residents. Monte Vista Estates is a nursing and rehabilitation facility with positions in activities, nursing, housekeeping, dietary and transportation. The Early Childhood Council provides teachers for the area’s childhood centers. All three organizations provide free on-the-job training to some degree, depending on the position.
Other job resources utilized at the workforce centers include connectingcolorado.com and governmentjobs.com. People can set up their own profiles on these websites and receive alerts about jobs in their area. “These websites tap folks into jobs all over the state as well, including jobs with divisions such as CDOT, state nursing facilities, tourism and department of corrections,” said Justin Icenhower, a human resources business partner with the Colorado Department of Labor.
Online work is another consideration, which allows employees to work at home and with more schedule flexibility. The only caveat is finding legitimate employers. When applying for online jobs in which the pay sounds too good, it could be a scam. Also, at-home phone work for online companies usually requires a dedicated landline with no options and a quiet work area. The companies also usually require a background check. Hours can be part-time or full-time.
Here are a few trusted online employers that can offer a full-time career or help bring in extra money for the holidays.
Vipdeskconnect.com provides online customer service for companies such as Eddie Bauer, The Children’s Place and Bluefly.com. If there are no current job openings, sign up for email alerts and check back from time to time. Extra money on top of base pay can be made on sales. Arise.com and 4lateam.com are both trusted players in the work-from-home market, providing an array of options for lateral mobility and advancement. Most employees are subcontractors. Appen.com and Lionbridge.com offer non-phone work that includes web-search analytic projects for companies like Amazon, Google, eBay, etc. Though no experience is necessary, applicants must pass a quick test to see if they can pay attention to instructions. High-speed internet and a 20- to 30-hour work-week is typically required.
Suitable websites for internet job leads include ratracerebellion.com and wahadventures.com. Companies like Marriott, Hilton and American Express also hire remote workers. AmEx pays upwards of $20 an hour and jobs go fast.
To keep abreast of local job openings, visit the Monte Vista Workforce Center at 2079 Sherman Ave. or the website at www.yourworkforcecenter.com or call 719-852-5171. The center is planning another job fair after the new year, so stay tuned to its website or register online for alerts.