Work Force Connection helps local job seekers

Danny Meehan, an employment counselor for Work Force Connection, pops in from 2:30 to 4 p.m. every Thursday at the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce office, 44870 Hathaway Ave. Suite No. 5, to help sign people up for jobs.

Work Force Connection is an employment service provided by the state. Meehan also is an employment counselor for veterans and a business representative for Pinal County.

“I work with businesses throughout Pinal County to obtain and list their job openings with Work Force Connection,” Meehan said. “All job orders are posted to our statewide database.”

Meehan said some employers choose to enter their own job orders and others contact him to enter the information for them. Once job orders are entered online, employers can search our database for qualified applicants, review their online resume and call applicants in for an interview.
Job seekers do not have to take an assessment to register for work but that some employers have applicants performs skills or knowledge prior to their hire, he said. He also says anyone can register for the program, even if they are currently employed. There is no charge for this service for either the applicant or employer.

“We get job orders from many companies,” Meehan said. “Companies with federal contracts are required to list their job openings with us. Any other company may also list their job openings with us. We get job orders from most major companies in our area. A few of the larger companies that list with us are Hexcel, Abbott, Frito-Lay, Harrah’s, National Vitamin, Corrections Corporation of America and Union Pacific Railroad.”

 

The website http://www.ArizonaVirtualOneStop.com can be accessed by both employers and applicants. Those seeking jobs can perform their own searches and jobs are posted from all over the state.

 

The online database has a “wizard” to help people organize their resume. However, one of the reasons Meehan comes into the chamber office in person is to assist anyone that may require help and if there are any questions about the process. Meehan will show them how to use the database to their advantage.

“There is an upswing in job openings for skilled workers, such as industrial machine repair workers and health care workers,” Meehan said. “I’d like to see a bigger boost for construction and general production workers. Hopefully though, things will start to pick up some more and more people can start working again.”