What is the good and bad about your state's employment agency?
What have any of you experienced, good and bad, when working with your own state's employment agency? Are there programs or processes that you really appreciate or you think could be better? Please share your thoughts.
Good Answers (6)
Joseph O.
Software Tester & Employee for the 21st Century
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I've had experiences similar to Allen Daniels: They're okay for getting menial labor jobs but are horrible for networking into mid-level or senior jobs. At least in Wisconsin, the Department of Workforce Development has absolutely no inside connections whatsoever to industrial or commercial establishments. All they do is cold-call employers and say, "Hey, we have a qualified candidate, and you'll receive a tax credit if you hire him/her. Are you interested?"
Worse yet, the DWD requires "career counselors," recently re-termed to have the more misleading title of "industry specialists," to have a Master's in Social Work but has no requirements whatsoever of prior experience in industry or commerce. (One DWD "industry specialist" admitted this to me.)
The only good thing about the DWD of WI is that staff will conduct "mock interviews" with you, but again their lack of specialized experience means that the practice questions will only be generic "organizational fit" questions and nothing testing your skills and education. The tax dollars used to finance the DWD would be better spent in the hands of private firms to expand their own recruitment and training programs instead of the fluff that DWD staff are hired to do.
Clarification added 2 months ago:
And although you've read this before on your other questions, Trent, please don't forget to give one of us "expertise points" by choosing a "best answer." Too many questions around here close without any answers being designated as "best" or even as "good."
Clarification added 2 months ago:
Have you found a "good" answer yet?
Lisa A. N.
Writer - Blogger - Telephone Operator
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I have only used their job search services available to the public. I found their resume review services and job search workshops, as well as computer skills workshops, especially good.
Darrell Z. D.
Certified High Performance Résumé Writer ♦ Copywriter ♦ Sales, Advertising, SEO & Marketing Writer with ★★★★★ Reviews
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There's only good there. Unfortunately, some do not listen right away because they don't realize what a challenge they are in for. However, they soon find this job search is nothing like the pre-2008 job searches. Now mediocre resumes and cover letters are ignored because employers know they can do better by only choosing the top 5% of resume submissions (not candidates).
Job hunts many candidates have been on in the past were when talented candidates were so in demand they could easily pit two or three employers against each other and choose the highest bidder. Now for most candidates the employers hold all the cards and act that way throughout the selection process.
Sure there maybe higher caliber experts available in job coaching, placement, and resume writing etc. elsewhere but not everyone can afford to pay up for the very best. When assessing the employment agencies you have to realize they have very tight budgets to work within. The long lines are not the fault of the state agencies, but of companies who outsource American jobs and automate with technology to save money.
Fortunately, employers are compelled to provide these wonderful services to job seekers free of charge through payroll taxes. I shudder to think of where we would be without the local Department of Labor and their free training programs here in New England.
May God bountifully bless all those unsung heroes who help job hunters and the unemployed in these difficult times for they are like angels sent from above.
Attention job hunters, read my expert info articles below that are designed to accelerate your job search. Simply click on the links below... 8v)
Links:
- http://www.howtofindworknow.org/success-tip-2.html
- http://www.howtofindworknow.org/resume-advice.html
Darrell Z. D. also suggests this expert on this topic:
For my experience in Utah with DWS over the past year, it was mostly good, though limited in high quality jobs.
-Online processing and information access was good to excellent
-Efficient ways to search their job database. Even though the number of higher level jobs was still low, it was significantly better than ten years ago.
Mark S. also suggests this expert on this topic:
Alan D.
Materials Planner for External Manufacturing at Sun Products Corporation
Best Answers in: Manufacturing (1)
It has been nearly 8 years since working with my states employment agency. Looking back at my experience, I don't know that they were all that helpful in my situation. as a non entry level job seeker. They seemed to be geared toward helping those people that had no experience or knowledge in how to find a job. I was certainly not an expert but felt that little help was offered. More recently I have attended a local job club/networking group that was much more beneficial to me.
Margaret F.
Exprienced Administrative assistant
Best Answers in: Job Search (1), Staffing and Recruiting (1)
The only good part of the state employment agency is that they help you use the computers to fine tune the resume. Other then that, it is pretty bad. What the state of California needs is to improve the counseling. People can look at the job boards all they want and send in their resumes/cover letters, but still that is not enough to eliminate the competetion. There are no counselors to advise people of where to go if you are a young graduate and its your first time in the job market.
More Answers (8)
Terry C.
Construction Safety Expert
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New York-- as with all the state agencies, massively moribund, bloated with political hangers on, chronically inept & inefficient-- makes the DMV look sleek in comparison.
never cared much for em.
Bill N.
Content Creator and Technical Writer
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I had good experience with them; fortunately, haven't had to 'interface' with them lately. (And since some other respondent mentioned DMV, I'll add that my experience there was good also). I live in New Jersey.
Joy D.
Student at Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow
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The best part is that they are consistent..... they never call you back.
Joseph S.
Seeking Employment in College Admissions, Academic Advising, & Career Advising
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Any help is more help than I am receiving. I am thankful for the little bit that they do to assist me!
Sahar A.
Diversity& Inclusion|Leadership training|Social Media Marketing|Social Media Training|Public Speaker|Culture Competence
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In general they are good for the job seekers, but if you are in business and try to get business with them - they put all these networking events where you feel you are already have your contracts signed, then you try to contact them and they never answer you back- though they might be presenting workshops to job seeker that you as a business owner can provide
Wallace J.
Multimedia Producer, i3D Programmer, Acrobat 3D PDF, Android App, Virtual World & iTV Design, Kindle, Nook & Sony eBooks
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My state has an unemployment agency.
Shawn D.
Problem solver in title and mortgage industries
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On the good side they have some good job listings and everything can be done online. Bad their website for such listings is not even close to how user-friendly as it should be.
