WorkOne is pushing to increase public awareness of its services to Hoosiers who have lost jobs by suffering through a layoff. WorkOne staff members have witnessed first-hand that losing employment through layoff is often traumatic for Northern Indiana residents.

Staff members of WorkOne’s Rapid Response Team seek to help Hoosiers begin surmounting such trauma by listening to men and women who’ve just been laid-off. Team members then explain WorkOne’s robust services to help individuals return to employment as quickly as possible at the highest possible wage. Most important to remember, as a publicly funded agency, WorkOne’s extensive services are free of charge to laid-off individuals who reside in Region 2. WorkOne’s services include the following:

• One-to-one assessments to help individuals boost their personal marketability to Northern Indiana employers.
• Qualified access to open positions listed only with WorkOne.
• Knowledgeable assessments of a person’s technical abilities and soft skills, including how well their skills mesh with abilities employers need to be efficient in their operations.
• Access to information gathered by WorkOne’s Business Services Division regarding what types of technical and soft-skills are important to employers throughout Region 2.
• Instructor-led as well as online training in numerous areas important to employers, including: using computers, using the Internet, working as part of a team, communicating well in a workplace, understanding how a person’s attitudes affect job performance, how to become work-ready and how to boost your job-hunting skills, such as writing a targeted resume, networking and interviewing well.
• Access to training and testing to earn employer-demanded certifications from the Microsoft IT Academy, including certifications in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other technologies.
• Access to short-term training in credentials that employers are seeking, such as in advanced manufacturing.
• Targeted programs for veterans, including those transitioning to the civilian workforce as well as men and women who left military service years ago yet seek help and guidance in securing employment.
• A facilitator-led weekly networking group for professionals, such as engineers, accountants, managers, business executives, teachers, information technology experts, public relations officials, human resources specialists and others. The vibrant discussions in HOPE (“Helping Out-of-Work Professionals Excel”), as well as practical and reasoned guidance by WorkOne’s facilitator: Mark Dollinger, spur placements of professionals into new careers.

Hoosiers interested in learning more about WorkOne’s services should contact Barbara White, administrative coordinator, WorkOne Region 2, on the phone: (574) 237-9675 ext. 2541, or via email to [email protected].