Story last updated at 9/1/2010 - 12:11 pm
Walking into the Juneau Job Center for the first time, you might be surprised by what you find. The atmosphere is electric with positive energy, from both the people working at desks and those seeking employment. Without a doubt, the center is your one stop shopping spot for getting a job in Juneau.
Shopping is the wrong term to use, as all of the services available are completely free, both for employers and workers, says Manager Michael Hutcherson, who immediately gives you the impression he could think himself through a brick wall - though he would undoubtedly employ a better use for it instead. The door of the center is open to anyone looking for almost any kind of service. An open door policy is all part of the bigger picture. There are no criteria to meet to get help from the center. People can come in and use the facility for any employment services, accessing computers, help with paperwork, or even a telephone to use.
The center runs work readiness workshops, where people can learn about resume writing, job search techniques, workplace expectations. It also runs the ALEXsys job system, which can help connect employers and employees.
One of the most valuable services offered are custom tailored mock interviews, Hutcherson said. People provide a copy of the job description and any other information, and they in turn are given an interview that simulates what they can expect in either a one-on-one or panel situation.
Interviews are vitally important for applicants, Hutcherson said.
"If your paperwork is at least OK, you're going to get a phone call for an interview," he said. "If you're not getting the interviews, you're not getting the jobs."
The mock interviews can also be recorded and watched to help people see where they might need improvement with their techniques.
"We want that person to be as prepared as possible, and understand the process," he said. There could be something going on that they're not aware of. Like my old coach used to say, 'The eye in the sky don't lie.'"
One of the things Hutcherson stresses is the importance of reaching out to marginalized groups looking for jobs, who might struggle finding employment due to a handicap or criminal record. The center offers incentives like fidelity bonding, which offers coverage for any potential financial loss. Businesses can also receive work opportunity tax credits of up to 40 percent for certain workers.
Many employers aren't aware of these potential benefits, Hutcherson said, which can create a safe win-win situation.
Alaska has been buffered some from the flagging economy much of the U.S. has been facing, but Hutcherson said that effects are still being felt at home. This is the first year the state hasn't seen growth, he said, after a 20-year period of continued growth.
"We have felt it, but it just hasn't been as tough as a hit as it has been down south," he said.
Hutcherson recounted a story of a local resident who had years of civil work experience and a couple of degrees. He relocated to the Midwest and was unable to find a work. While he was there, a custodian from a local school district retired. Almost immediately, 700 applications were filed for the janitorial position. The man returned to Juneau, and within a six-week period he found a job.
There is a large cowbell on the corner of one of the desks in the office. When someone gets a job, he or she rings the bell, and everyone sticks their heads out of their offices like gophers and congratulates the newly employed person. Hutcherson said it's good to motivate the folks who run the Juneau Job Center, but also others who are there seeking jobs.
"We see people put in the time, the blood, the sweat, the tears," he said. "Basically for us, it's our feel good moment, pat on the back, Christmas bonus, whatever you want to call it. It's a recognition that we again have been successful in our quest to get somebody employed or reemployed."
The center will be hosting a job fair October 6. For more information about the center and its programs, call 465-4562, visit its website at www.jobs.state.ak.us, or stop by the office at 10002 Glacier Highway, on the left just after the Brotherhood Bridge.
