One-Stop Career Center Welcomes  Emergency Unemployment Compensation Claimants

The downtown Oakland One-Stop Career Center, operated jointly by the Oakland PIC and the Employment Development Department (EDD), will provide assistance to a new group of job seekers in the coming months.

The anticipated influx is due to the Middle Class Tax Relief and Jobs Creation Act of 2012, which requires participation in Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) appointments. The new mandatory REA appointments apply only to those individuals beginning a first tier of extended unemployment insurance benefits or transitioning to the second tier with a claim starting on or after March 25, 2012.

The state EDD estimates that this legislation will impact more than 600,000 unemployment insurance claimants in California. About 12,000 of this number will be served by the downtown Oakland one-stop, from approximately June through December 2012. Affected claimants will be notified by EDD.

"Through this new legislation, we look forward to meeting with individuals who may not already know about the wide variety of job search and reemployment services available at the one-stop," said Dollie Hamilton, manager of EDD Workforce Services, Alameda County. "We expect to provide a seamless transition to effectively serving these new customers."

On the Job Training Dollars Benefit Businesses and Job Seekers    

Attention all small and medium-size businesses in Oakland and Alameda County! Are you looking to hire additional staff? The PIC has a menu of on-the-job training (OJT) programs that can defray the training costs of your new hires! Working together with OJT dollars, we can put significant numbers of unemployed Oakland residents to work.

The OJT program is designed to support employers during the critical period when new hires acquire the in-house skills needed to be a fully productive member of your organization. OJT candidates receive extensive pre-employment skills training and are assessed for aptitude in various fields. The OJT dollars allow employers to tailor those skills to an organization's particular needs. OJT funding can provide as much as $4,000 to $6,000 of training reimbursement, based on the wages paid to the candidate. OJT dollars can give your business a competitive advantage in this difficult economy.

"OJT funding is probably one of the most effective but under-utilized employer resources in Oakland," explains PIC CEO Gay Plair Cobb. From the perspective of the agency, the benefit to the job seeker is equally important. "On-the-job-training is a valuable resource that our job candidates bring to the hiring process and it provides a clear incentive to the employer to hire our candidates."

In addition to the training subsidy, PIC's job candidates also bring the case management and administrative support of the PIC staff. PIC staff will carefully walk employers through each step of the OJT process and expedite the handling of OJT invoices, as part of its business services to employers.

For more information about the on-the-job-training program or to speak with an employer liaison about hiring needs and funding that may be available, please contact Richard deJauregui at (510) 768-4476.

East Bay PEN Provides Peer Support and Networking Opportunities  

East Bay PEN members including Ben English (left), and Ron Gentile provide resume critiques at a recent job fair.

You've probably heard the expression, "Looking for a job is a full-time job." In addition to devoting sufficient time to finding work, successful job seekers know that peer support and networking is also essential. That's where the East Bay Professional Experience Network (East Bay PEN) fills a critical gap.

East Bay PEN is a volunteer-run association designed for managerial, high tech, and business professionals seeking employment. Members represent a wide range of fields including education, engineering, healthcare, IT, legal, media, and transportation. Hosted by the downtown one-stop Career Center, East Bay PEN provides a no-cost, peer-based opportunity for members to update their job search skills and share job leads in a supportive environment. It's also a resource for employers seeking highly skilled candidates. 

"For those of us in transition - either unemployed or underemployed - we typically begin searching for a position that's similar to the one we recently separated from, only to discover that we have to redefine our career path or even redefine who we are," said Lorenzo Blades, president of East Bay PEN. "We often find that job titles have changed since the last time we looked for work, and job descriptions are worded more technically."

Through a variety of services and resources, East Bay PEN helps members return to the workforce. Members take workshops on career transition and job search strategies, resumes and cover letters, and interviewing and salary negotiation.

Other member resources include success teams and guest speakers. Success teams provide peer support for developing action plans, identifying transferable skills, and sharing networking opportunities. Guest speakers regularly visit the group to provide inspiration and advice on topics including hiring practices and self marketing.

East Bay PEN's methods work. Julie joined the group after she had been laid off from her finance job. She wanted to transfer her accounting expertise to another industry or go into business for herself. After hearing an East Bay PEN guest speaker describe how he started his own business, she realized this was also the path she wanted to pursue. Supported by her success team, Julie developed a business plan and began to take on clients. She's thrilled that East Bay PEN encouraged her to make her dream job a reality.

"We don't just help people update their resume or prepare for an interview," said Lorenzo. "We also provide motivation, and we build confidence in every member."

As a volunteer-run organization, East Bay PEN depends on member participation to sustain the group. Members contribute several hours of volunteer service each month, which helps them develop or enhance skills such as leadership and pursue additional networking opportunities.

To learn more about East Bay PEN, visit http://eastbaypen.org, call (510) 768-4497, or attend an orientation. Attending an orientation is the first step for prospective members. Orientations are held each Thursday, 1:30-3:00 pm at 1212 Broadway, Suite 200, and no advance registration is needed.  

PIC Offers New Tool for Jobseekers and Employers

The Oakland PIC now offers a nationally-recognized tool that helps job seekers stand out from a crowded field of applicants. In addition to highlighting skills and qualifications on their resumes, local job seekers can demonstrate their employability by earning the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) at the PIC. To date about 25 individuals have earned the certificate through the PIC.

The certificate is awarded following successful completion of the WorkKeys assessment. WorkKeys covers three areas: applied mathematics, locating information, and reading for information. Each area has about 35 questions and takes about an hour to complete. The NCRC was developed by ACT, a national testing organization.

The first step in earning the NCRC is to take a KeyTrain assessment, a pre-test that determines readiness for WorkKeys. For skills deficiencies in the areas assessed, the KeyTrain prescribes e-learning modules that can be taken to improve one's skills and ensure successful performance on the WorkKeys assessment.

On a weekly basis, the PIC administers pre-tests, e-learning modules, and assessments for the NCRC at the downtown Oakland One Stop Career Center. Pre-registration is required, and is easily accomplished by visiting www.eastbayworks.com/oakland, creating an account, and signing up for a testing appointment. Participants also must meet basic eligibility criteria. To learn more about the NCRC, including eligibility requirements, please email adacci@oaklandpic.org or call (510) 622-4348.