Released April 14, 2009
EVERGREEN, Ala. -- When the housing market economy got worse in 2008, more workers tied to Alabama's wood products industries found themselves without jobs. Many of these wood product industries settled in smaller rural communities in southwest Alabama where pine timber sources were close by. This helped the counties to flourish, but most of their financial eggs were in one basket.
When the demand for new housing dropped, the demand for wood and wood products also dropped. This caused the timber and associated industries to almost come to a halt.
In Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh and Escambia counties, the effects of this slowdown have been especially harsh. Thousands of people are without jobs and looking for work.
Rick Zapata, a regional Extension agent serving those counties, was asked to develop a training program to help meet the employment needs of displaced workers. Many the workers had been at the same job for up to 15 years and did not possess current job-hunting skills.
Zapata met with Jim Kellen, executive director of Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council, and Al Etheridge, AWDC workforce coordinator. Kellen told Zapata that the employers they were dealing with placed a high priority on workers' skills rather than workers' experience. This information helped Zapata shape the focus of the training to meet the needs of the business community and the laid-off workers. He developed a three-session training program.
"Students come to us with the mindset that they need to look for work in the same industry they left," said Zapata. "The truth is that those jobs no longer exist and it is likely that their new employers will not be in the timber-related industries."
The first training session was at Reid State College in Evergreen. None of those attending had a resume, so the first class was spent helping students identify acquired job skills. All of the students were able to come up with six or more marketable skills.
These job skills formed the basis of their resumes. Once students finished their skill set worksheet, they began writing their resumes and cover letters targeting their job search to businesses and industries that required those skills.
One student said no one would hire him because of his age. During the class, that student came up with more than 50 acquired job skills. According to Kellen, this type of employee is exactly whom modern day industries and businesses are looking for.
During the second class, Zapata taught students how to do an Internet-based job search. Less than 1 percent had ever done an Internet job search. Students learned how to develop a job search network and how to use social media to enlarge the network. This networking approach to their job search was well received and evaluations indicated 100 percent of students developed their own job search network. The Alabama Career Job Center also did a presentation on receiving jobless benefits and free educational opportunities.
The third class focused on the importance of getting and preparing for an interview. Students learned how to fill out an application correctly, how employers use drug tests and background checks and how to dress for an interview. Zapata also introduced them to the ACES money management calendar.
Feedback from the students was positive. They stated that they felt better prepared to sit for an interview for a new job.
ACES will conduct additional workshops in April and May. These workshops will be conducted over two evenings instead of three. Information will be presented on all appropriate topic areas. Additional workshops will determine the need to change or modify agendas from time to time. A follow-up list with names and addresses is being developed to do a six-month follow-up evaluation to check for job location success.
ACES is partnering with several other agencies, including the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council Region 9, Alabama Career Ready Centers in Southwest, Alabama and the Alabama Junior and Community College System, to deliver these programs.
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https://sites.aces.edu/group/comm/tctblog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=85
Contact: Rick Zapata, (334) 703-2276
