18 Mar News and notes
Check out all the great things that have happened and are happening at your NCWorks Career Centers in Charlotte!
Charlotte Works benefits from new book on the American workforce
Two Charlotte Works clients have been profiled in a new book about working, “The American Workday: Tales of life and work in the United States today.”
Written by UNC Charlotte graduate and Fulbright Scholar Austin Halbert, the book showcases interviews with and photographs of workers from 38 diverse jobs. “From stock clerks to Fortune 500 executives, these workers explain what they wish others knew about their occupations. Furthermore, they reflect on how the conditions of their work have influenced life off the clock. Their insider views serve to shatter misconceptions circulated about different jobs and classes. The stories they share illustrate common motivations, struggles, and triumphs experienced by the 321,954,000 lives carried out within the nation’s borders,” says the website created for “The American Workday.”
Proceeds from the book’s sale will benefit Charlotte Works and Hire Heroes USA, an organization that helps veterans find jobs.
The hard copy is $34.99 and the e-book version is $9.99. Purchase online at “The American Workday.”
NCWorks Online rolls out enhancements for job-seekers, employers
You may have noticed some changes to various sections of NCWorks Online that rolled out at the end of February:
For job-seekers
Several new features make the resume builder easier to use:
- On the resume builder’s first page, the titles have been updated and icons added for the four ways to create a resume. A new “Quick Resume” option allows you to create one with minimal data entry. (While you may be able to start applying for jobs more quickly, using this option may offer lower match results.)
- If you’re uploading a resume, you now have an option to include or exclude certain items or elements such as education records.
- If you’re creating a new or updating an existing resume, you’ll now see a progress bar at the top of those screens.
- If you’re applying for a job and your education and work experience do not exactly match the requirements, an alert will allow you to click “OK” to continue with the application regardless or exit the application and review the specifics.
For employers
- When you create a job order, you now have the option of using the default “custom” method or a new “basic” method that shows minimal screens (five, for job description, compensation and hours, job skills, education and experience and driver’s license). Other screens will not display, but instead populate with default values.
- You can now print resumes from two locations as you’re viewing applications: the “print options” of an applicant’s summary page and the “summary results” view (allows you to print multiple resumes).
Two community locations added as CARE3 sites
Charlotte job-seekers now have two additional locations to access NCWorks CARE3 (Community Access to Resources that Engage, Empower and Employ) sites. The Relatives and St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church have joined approximately 30 community partners to extend Charlotte Works’ resources within local neighborhood and faith-based organizations.
The Relatives (119 East Eighth St., 28202), “is a system of resources that helps children, youth and young adults find safety, stability and pathways to successful futures.” The CARE3 site is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; access is only available to clients of The Relatives.
St. Luke (1600 Norris Ave., 28206) held a grand opening for its Druid Hills Career Center on March 3. Offering remarks were Julie Porter, president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership; City Council District 1 representative Patsy Kinsey; Charlotte Works Community Partnerships Manager Debra Dixon White; Darryl Gaston of the Druid Hills Community Association; and District 3 County Commissioner George Dunlap. Hours for the site are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Mayor’s out-of-school time summit seeks collective efforts for youth
More than 300 members of local community organizations and businesses gathered for Mayor Jennifer Roberts’s out-of-school time summit at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on March 14. The event highlighted the greatest after-school needs for middle- and high-school students and ways to help parents find quality after-school options to fit their budgets.
The summit kicked off with a panel discussion moderated by Time Warner Cable News Anchor Christina Watkins featuring the mayor, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Kerr Putney, Public School Forum of North Carolina and 2014-15 North Carolina Teacher of the Year James Ford and Police Activities League (PAL) afterschool program participant Herman Lawson. Key points included the need for collective efforts to empower youth, access to engineering and information technology job-shadow or internship opportunities and the challenge of providing transportation.
Eighth-grader Lawson received a standing ovation after he described how being a part of the PAL program has provided him with a safe place to learn and have fun, especially as a young, black man.
During a breakout session, participants discussed the idea of a clearinghouse for resources and the roles that organizations could play to support the mayor’s youth initiative.
Time Warner Cable, Foundation For The Carolinas and Charlotte Works served as event sponsors.
Perk up your job search at NCWorks Career Centers!
Join us for these back-by-popular-demand workshops through the end of this month!
*NEW LOCATION* Information Session: Criminal Record Expungement
Monday, March 21
2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
1401 W. Morehead St. (28208)
Does your criminal record stop you from obtaining or keeping a job? Charlotte School of Law’s student re-entry program helps members of the community understand more about expungements in North Carolina. Attendees can bring a copy of their criminal records (obtained from the Mecklenburg County Courthouse Criminal Clerk’s office) to see if they’re eligible for an expungement.
*BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND* Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits
Tuesday, March 22
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
5601 Executive Center Dr. (28212)
This informative workshop covers the basics of Social Security and reveals strategies for maximizing your benefits. You’ll learn the five factors to consider in deciding when to apply for benefits; strategies to coordinate with your spouse and other income sources; how to avoid the most common mistakes; minimizing taxes; and more.
*BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND* Navigating NCWorks to Your Advantage
Wednesday, March 23
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
5601 Executive Center Dr. (28212)
In this workshop, you’ll get a brief overview of everything NCWorks Online has to offer including completing your profile and uploading or creating your resume. Come prepared with your education and employment histories, licenses and certifications and other pertinent information. We strongly suggest that you attend an NCWorks Career Center Orientation before attending this workshop.
And, as always, don’t forget about earning the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC)!
Have you been to one of our open CRC prep labs yet? The North Carolina CRC is a portable credential that shows employers that you have the basic skills necessary to be successful in a particular job. Since the CRC accurately indicates whether you have the skills required to be trained in a new career, the CRC may be more meaningful to employers than a high school degree. We’re partnering with Central Piedmont Community College to bring you a free, open CRC prep lab.
Staffed labs are held multiple days and times each week at the NCWorks Career Centers at 1401 W. Morehead St. (28208) and 5601 Executive Center Dr. (28212). Check the schedule on NCWorks Online to grab a seat at one or more sessions!