Event brings together employers, job-seekers

Max Tilt works in a factory that will shut down by the end of the year.
So, he’s beating the bushes to find another job.
Thanks to a partnership at the Missouri Career Center in Hannibal, Tilt has a bigger stick to work with.
The center at 203 N. Sixth held its first-ever “Career Morning” Wednesday. The event brought together employers and people who are looking for jobs.
“I’m getting back in the job search,” Tilt said. “It’s pretty tight right now.”
Tilt is a machine operator and is looking for something similar.
“Finding something with comparable pay is the hard part,” he said. “You have to start at the bottom. Everyone has a starting wage. Some go up faster than others.”
Tilt and about 60 others attended 30-minute sessions with potential employers. A partnership of government, educational and non-profit groups was the sponsor.
Rosalie Gulso, a supervisor with the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, saw benefits for both sides.
“The goal is to give the opportunity for businesses to present their needs and what they expect to interested, committed job-seekers,” Gulso said. “You can’t have businesses stay in your community unless you provide them with a skilled workforce.
Technology always is advancing, but Gulso said workplace laws, policies and expectations also have changed over the years.
“We have to educate people that it’s not the way it used to be,” she said.
Dan Hardwick, who is unemployed, said Career Morning was a good reminder of the common sense tools he plans to use in finding a full-time job.
“This is helping,” Hardwick said. “It’s good to hear it again. Companies have changed. They tell you what to expect.”
Selena Pratt welcomed the chance to pick up a few pointers to pass on to clients. She’s an employment specialist with Learning Opportunities, a non-profit group that works with disabled people.
“It gives you a good idea of what employers are looking for on applications,” Pratt said. “The application gets you in the door.”
Joe Pettit, director of adult education with the Hannibal Career and Technical Center, was glad to participate.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to link employers with job-seekers,” Pettit said. “I’d be surprised if we don’t have a hookup or two here.”
The event also served as a reminder that the Career Center is more than just a place to pick up an unemployment check.
The facility offers a wide variety of services, including employment searches, on-the-job training, resume assistance, workplace skills classes and interview preparation. There’s even a program that will tell you what the hot jobs will be through 2014.
And it’s not just for the unemployed or low-income people.
“Yesterday, I worked with someone who has a Ph.D,” Gulso said.
More information is available by calling the center toll-free at 1-888-728-5627 or locally at (573) 248-2520.
Meanwhile, Tilt doesn’t have many leads, but he’s keeping his nose to the grindstone.
“I’m trying to stay ahead of the game and get a jump on things,” he said. “The early bird gets the worm.”