A New Approach to the Job Hunt In Iowa
Iowa job program offers resources for four main groups, job seekers, unemployed, veterans, and employers. The program provides job listings, resume and interview tips, as well as typing and computer lessons to those who need it
A New Approach to the Job Hunt In Iowa | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weather | Local News
NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa - 36 Iowa Workforce development offices will close tomorrow due to budget cuts, many of them in small towns. Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque and Iowa City will all remain open. But new employment kiosks will now be available as a resource in areas that no longer have offices. The computers can help people find jobs, gain computer literacy, and find unemployment information.
Brenda Dodge, the Operations Director for the Iowa Workforce Development Office in Iowa City, says the new kiosks will help spread resources needed for those seeking employment all over Iowa. "I think this allows greater access to services that would not be available in those communities where the offices are closing," Dodge said.
The kiosks are also known as virtual access points. They can be found mostly in libraries and private community organizations. North Liberty Library is one of the first places in Eastern Iowa to have the new program. Jennie Garner, is the assistant library director at the North Liberty Library, and is hoping people utilize it. "I think it is a great addition, since we are so far out from Iowa City. If you are unemployed or out of work it also may be a challenge to find transportation," Garner said. "We only had offices in 55 location, and we have 99 counties. We have never had access in all 99 counties but now with the virtual access we can make partnerships with counties to provide more availability to services," Dodge said.
The program offers resources for four main groups, job seekers, unemployed, veterans, and employers. The program provides job listings, resume and interview tips, as well as typing and computer lessons to those who need it. "It was sort of a sigh of relief for me to see that was there to help people. I think some big challenges are that people don't know how to use a mouse, or how to point and click," Garner said.
The kiosk also offers an online chat option that allows users to ask questions to someone in a workforce office, even if they are sitting in a library. "We don't anticipate or expect that the librarians would be someone who could answer questions especially on unemployment insurance and the application process," Dodge said.
The program is free of charge to install and free to users. With Iowa unemployment holding strong at six percent, some are hoping this kiosk will help provide the resources needed to put Iowan's back to work. If you would like to find a kiosk near you, you can check this link or call: (866) 239-0843.
A New Approach to the Job Hunt In Iowa | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weather | Local News
A New Approach to the Job Hunt In Iowa
Posted by staff at September 2, 2011 02:02 PM