Job hunting requires some skills, and when that is matched with intelligent use of resources, the chance of landing employment is very good.
In the Lewiston-Auburn area, excellent resources abound for the job seeker. It takes some effort, but success is attainable.
The nation’s unemployment numbers and the moderate recession recovery rate have been the subjects of news coverage for many months. Employment opportunities in Maine present the same challenges as found in other parts of the country.
Mary Kozicki LaFontaine, manager of Lewiston’s CareerCenter which is located at 5 Mollison Way, Lewiston, said, “Attitude is the key. People who remain optimistic and know their skills stand the best chance of finding the kind of job they want.”
More and more people are dropping out of the job search, she said.
One effect of that is an increase in job postings, so the person who approaches the search with a plan is on the right path.
“We are seeing some signs of recovery, but it has been slow,” LaFonatine said. “There are fewer jobs and a lot of competition for them.”
The CareerCenter’s services are varied and there’s help for everyone. They provide a variety of employment and training services at no charge for Maine workers and businesses.
Their services including schedules for numerous helpful workshops and training opportunities are detailed online at www.mainecareercenter.com. The Lewiston phone number is 753-9000.
In addition to the Lewiston office, there are locations in Wilton and Rumford.
Maine CareerCenters are run under the Maine Department of Labor.
The help wanted pages of a newspaper have almost always been the first place a job seeker looks. That’s still very much the case, and an additional print resource for job seekers is Employment Times, a bi-weekly publication that has grown in importance as an employment tool over the past ten years.
Employment Times production manager Tim Sardano said Employment Times distributes 32,000 copies per issue from Orono, Maine, to Nashua, New Hampshire. It’s available at 1,200 locations for 14 days per issue on newsstands.
Employment Times LLC also publishes MyJobWave.com, which is an online resource for area job seekers.
“Job seekers are using more than one option,” Sardano said. He said it’s important to know how to make good use of both print listings and online listings. One problem that job hunters find with computer searches is the tremendous number of listings that turn up. To find the right match, it’s necessary to target the search.
Sardano said job postings have been getting better in recent months.
Myjobwave.com includes an online resume database, so employers can look up prospects just as job hunters can search for potential employers.
Employment Times can be reached by calling 786-4200.
Established in 1976, Bonney Staffing Center is Maine’s and New Hampshire’s largest, independently-owned and operated staffing company. Its Lewiston location is at 95 Park Street, and there are seven other offices positioned from Bangor to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Kelly Jaeger, Lewiston branch manager, said, “From 2008 through 2009, we were filling a lot of temporary employee positions for employers who were not sure where their companies were going at the time. Now, in the first half of 2010 we are seeing a lot of those temporary hires becoming permanent employees.”
Jaeger said that indicates companies are “more solid and comfortable” about their vision of the future, and “that’s a very good sign.”
She emphasized that companies make use of staffing firms because they receive a very large number of applications for job openings. She said the staffing firm can assist as a screening service for the employers.
Bonney staffing specialists and recruiters seek out talent for temporary, temp-to-hire or permanent job opportunities with prestigious companies throughout the region. The Lewiston phone number is 783-7000 or 888-433-0692.
Other job resources in the L-A area include Manpower, which has eight Maine locations including Auburn (95 Main Street, Auburn, 784-9353), Kelly Services, 232 Center St., Auburn, 784-0400, and Adecco at 17 Westminster St., Lewiston, 782-2882.
These and other resources are ready and able to help area job seekers find employment. Many services are free and the advice at any of them is extremely valuable.
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