Nevadaworks

It is no secret that employers these days have the advantage in interview rooms.  With 13 plus % unemployment in Nevada there are no shortages of applicants for open positions..  Yet in our conversations with these employers it is evident that there are certain applicants that stand out far above the rest, even when education and experience are very similar. 

Employers are well aware of the tough economic conditions facing our nation.  Many of them are also well aware of what it feels like to be unemployed.  The interview room is not the place to discuss the struggles of everyday life.  It is not the place to discuss losing your home.  It is not the place to show how desperate you are for work.  

By the time you have a face to face interview with an employer, there is a good chance that you are qualified for the position given the information the employer has from your resume.  Many times your resume will show how long you have been unemployed, or underemployed, so there is no reason to discuss this unless you are directly asked.  The interview is the time to show the employer that you are just the person that they want working for them everyday.  They are not only hiring you as a worker, but as their co-worker, and positive thinking and positive actions are good for any work environment.  

Local employers have reported to Nevadaworks that it is this positive behavior, including good eye-contact and confidence, that often determines which qualified candidate gets the job.  Job seekers should leave everything else at the door and show the employers and their staff who they will be getting Monday morning.  All job seekers should be able to describe how they have used their time away from work to their advantage.  Elaborate on the skills you have learned, how you served the community, and how you will be a better worker now than you were before.  It’s understandable that you are desperate for work after a year of unemployment.  Employers do not want someone who is just taking a position because they are desperate.  They want someone who is excited about working for their company.  They want someone who is knowledgeable and passionate about what the company is passionate about.  

What attitude do you portray in job interviews?  What tips do you have for someone who wants to show who they really are, not just the situation that they are in?  The answers to these questions will help determine your ability to be successful in the interview.  Be positive and be proactive about yourself.  If you have an interview, the job is there.  Don’t talk yourself into another rejection!

Building Women Exploration Fair Set for Friday, April 16, at TMCC, Edison

Women interested in careers in construction and related areas are invited to attend the sixth annual Building Women Exploration Fair on Friday, April 16.  This year’s event will be at the TMCC/IGT Applied Technology Center at 475 Edison Way in Reno.

 Building Women runs from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is presented by the Western Apprenticeship Coordinators Association (WACA) in conjunction with the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, JOIN, Inc., Truckee Meadows Community College and Western Nevada Supply.  The event begins at 7:30 a.m. and is not a “drop in” program being as women will be rotating to various stations during the morning.

 “We’re proud to again present this special ‘women only’ event that is hands on.  Women will mix cement, paint a wall, operate a crane—and more—as they learn how to apply and qualify for free building trade apprenticeship programs,” explained Greg Smith, WACA president.  The event is no-smoking, English-speaking and attendees are asked to dress for construction work by wearing pants, no heels or open-toe shoes and very little jewelry, etc. 

 Registration forms are available online at www.buildingtradejobs.org, at both Reno and Sparks JobConnect offices or by calling 825-6866 in Reno. Pre-registration is requested by Friday, April 2.

 Represented at the fair will be carpenters, the City of Reno’s Public Works, electricians, ironworkers, operating engineers, painters & allied crafts, plasterers & cement masons, plumbers & pipefitters, sheet metal workers, NV Energy, Truckee Meadows Water Authority and TMCC’s Automotive and EMT programs. 

 The trades’ apprenticeship programs are individualized and the requirements vary but all contain these same basic elements:  Applicants must be 17-18 years old, have a high school diploma (or equivalent), a valid driver’s license and be physically able to perform assigned tasks.  Programs are open to all, males as well as females, minorities, etc.  Most demand excellent physical coordination and manual coordination coupled with mental ability, specifically math and analytical skills.   

 Programs combine on the job training under master craftspersons—while earning salaries that begin at just under $12/hour, minimum— with classroom learning.  All apprenticeship programs are free and most include paid college credits through Truckee Meadows Community College. 

 Apprentice programs run from two to five years and employment is virtually guaranteed at the programs’ conclusion.  Building trade work can be seasonal and relocation throughout northern Nevada is a possibility.  For more information, visit WACA’s website at www.buildingtradejobs.org

Traditionally, the start of a New Year is an optimistic time for many people. The old worn out year just ended has been shed and the clean new one is still bright and shiny. Optimism tends to replace pessimism in many and success is often anticipated. Adversity is expected to be overcome and the glass tends to look half full rather than half empty. Or so it has been in the past.

 2010 reality in Northern Nevada is far different for many individuals. A continuation of unemployment or a potential job loss is very real to them. Being overqualified for a current job with no prospects for improvement is the new norm for some. Fear of the unknown stifles initiative in others. Nevada is in the top five of states with high unemployment and looks to hold that distinction for some time. Wow, is reality truly this bad?

 Yes and no. Yes some people are still suffering greatly. No it is not the end of life as we know it. Yes some businesses will loose their grip and disappear this year. No events will not stay this bad. Yes high unemployment will not disappear overnight. No our workforce is not doomed. Read more »

WACA (Western Apprenticeship Coordinators Association) is an agency that recruits adults for several trade organizations in Northern Nevada.  WACA represents ten different trade organizations: carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, NV Energy utility workers, operating engineers, painting, drywall and floor covering workers, plasterers and cement masons, plumbers and pipefitters, sheet metal workers, and stationary engineers. 

Recruiter Bob Alessandrelli is very active in the Northern Nevada community.  He gives regular presentations to adults and high school students at area schools, employment agencies, and at the area JobConnect centers.  People ages 17-18 and older, with a high school diploma or a GED may apply to learn and earn on the job for a well-paying career in the construction industry.  All industries require physical coordination and working outdoors in the elements.  If someone is not prepared to meet these two requirements, the trades are most likely not for them. 

Alessandrelli is very upfront with all potential applicants regarding the pros and cons of careers in the trades.  Read more »

Cabinet, INK is now in production!  A partnership between the Children’s Cabinet and the Reno/Sparks Boys and Girls Club has developed an entrepreneurial training program for at risk youth in the area.  A $174,000 grant from Nevadaworks is funding the start up of this silk-screening and design venture with the goal that all profits made will go directly to the company’s continued operations.  

Three adult staff will be working directly with forty-eight youth in all aspects of the silk-screening business.  Youth have been active in every step of the business process thus far; including the creation of an industrial shop in a former administrative office, complete with all appropriate plumbing, lighting, safety equipment, and ventilation.  

A graphic designer has been hired to work with the youth in the designing of artwork to be printed.  They are gaining skills working with the latest graphic design software and enhancing their already outstanding artistic abilities. 

The director of the program, Taylor Morgan, states that artistic ability is not a requirement of youth interested in participating in the program.  “They will be involved in every aspect of this business from design, production, quality control, advertising, and sales.”  Eight youth will receive part time employment and an additional forty youth will receive training on a voluntary basis.  Each person interested will go through the application and interview process, providing essential skills for any career.  

One youth who has already been selected for the team is very artistic “but I am more interested in seeing how an actual business is run.”  Each of these young adults is excited about the possibilities and enthusiastic about this business.  After watching them in the production of a T-shirt, I have no doubt that this venture will be a great success. 

Most importantly, these youth know that they are learning skills that will help them succeed in life.  “Without this job I’d probably be selling drugs” remarked one young adult.   The Children’s Cabinet  is providing a valuable community service that will impact the lives of youth for many years to come.  “What better way to stop a bullet than with a job and a paycheck?” asks Morgan. 

If you know of any youth who may be interested in Cabinet INK or if you are interested in placing an order, contact Taylor Morgan at 775-352-8090 ext. 127 or at 682-1309.

The Workforce Investment Act, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1998, created Local Workforce Investment Boards such as Nevadaworks.  Congress awards funds to Nevadaworks every year for the training of Adults, Youth, and Dislocated Workers.  

In today’s difficult economic conditions, many northern Nevadans qualify to receive training with Dislocated Worker funds, but many are unaware that they qualify.  A Dislocated Worker is anyone who has ever been laid off from a job.  As many know, businesses are forced to lay off employees when they can no longer afford to employ them.  Even if someone was only released yesterday, they qualify as a Dislocated Worker if they can show any kind of document that shows they have been laid off.  Documents could include records of Unemployment Insurance, a letter from the previous employer stating that the position would be terminated or that the company was closing.  Basically, if you have ever been laid off for reasons out of your control, you can qualify for training funds for Dislocated Workers.  Read more »

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