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Uploaded: Thursday, November 13, 2008, 4:54 PM
Updated: Friday, November 14, 2008, 6:49 AM
Job crisis being felt locally
Tri-Valley One Stop Career Center offers resume critiques, computer training, counseling
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by Janet Pelletier
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
It seems like every day there's news of a company going under or announcing a string of layoffs, so it's no surprise that many unemployed workers are turning out in large numbers to the Tri-Valley One Stop Career Center.
The financial meltdown may be on a national scale, but it's certainly being felt locally, where companies such as Washington Mutual, Mervyn's and Circuit City, the mortgage and real estate industries and others are laying off their workers.
"The first DHL person came in Monday," said Pat Donovan, who is the job developer at the Tri-Valley One Stop Career Center in Pleasanton.
Shipping company DHL announced Monday it would be reducing its ground and air operations in the U.S., resulting in the loss of 9,500 jobs countrywide.
Donovan said she expects more unemployed workers will be filtering in soon after this latest announcement and word of more WaMu layoffs.
There's also Mervyn's, which has filed for bankruptcy and is closing its Bay Area stores, including stores in Dublin and Livermore. Add to that Circuit City, which announced last week it will be closing nearly 20 percent of its stores, including its large Dublin location.
At the top of that pile? The real estate and mortgage companies amidst the ever-increasing home foreclosures. Pleasanton-based E-Loan, an online mortgage lender, announced late last month that it would stop issuing new loans. Donovan estimates about 270 jobs have been lost at E-Loan.
And a bleak statistic confirms what local residents are seeing: the federal Department of Labor announced last week that the unemployment rate increased in October from 6.1 to 6.5 percent, a 14-year high.
The Tri-Valley One Stop Career Center is poised to help, though. The nonprofit center, which is funded by the federal government, offers an array of free programs and services. From as little as getting a resume critiqued to taking a typing test to perusing a bulletin board of job listings or enrolling in a computer training program to learn Excel and PowerPoint, workers can take advantage of the resources that will help them get back into the workforce.
"We take them through the very first layoff all the way through employment," Donovan said. "We also follow up with people after they've gotten a job to see how it's going. It's a real package deal."
Asked what the center's typical clientele is, Donovan said: "There's nothing typical anymore with the economy the way it is. We're seeing more people from the mortgage industry, banks, construction and real estate."
For many unemployed workers, finding a new job means acquiring a few additional skills first to pad a resume, Donovan said.
Take the mortgage industry: Donovan said she's seeing many people moving into the customer service sector after learning Excel, Power Point and Microsoft Word.
Getting help through the center begins with filling out an application.
"Every service here is free," Donovan said. "We recommend people attend our weekly orientations, which are every Tuesday. Then, you can sit down with a counselor."
Donovan said key things each person needs to consider are: looking at what you like to do, what job fields are available and what skills you have. Resumes are the way for job seekers to sell an employer on their services, Donovan said.
"Sometimes, it's just revamping it slightly," she said. "You want to make sure you get all your skills on there. Look at the job description and make sure you're addressing that."
The career center also counsels people on the job interview process.
"Some people who have lost their job after having it for many years are afraid of interviewing," she said. "Our job is to get them used to the interview process, how to answer those questions and be prepared."
Through a federal grant called the Workforce Investment Act, the career center is able to fund up to 50 percent of a worker's salary for up to three or four months for on-the-job training. The employer pays the rest.
The career center has built connections in the local business community, Donovan said, and also works with staffing agencies. Employers often hold recruitment events there. It is one of 13 comprehensive One Stop Career Centers located in the East Bay, according to Ed McMillan, who is the coordinator for the network of centers called East Bay Works.
McMillan said there's been a roughly 25 percent increase in people seeking assistance at the East Bay centers.
For more information on the Tri-Valley One Stop Career Center, located at 5020 Franklin Drive, visit www.trivalleyonestop.com or call 485-5262.
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Posted by Megan Pittsley, a resident of Livermore, on Jun 22, 2009 at 5:42 pm I stumbled upon this story right now and it is still very timely! It's scary how things have even gotten so much worse since this article was written.
Megan Pittsley
Free2 Succeed Job Center Manager
Livermore Public Library
1188 S. Livermore Avenue
Livermore CA 94550
Phone: 925-373-5500 x5595
Fax: (925) 373-5503
Web: Web Link
Blog: Web Link
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Posted by Wow, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 22, 2009 at 9:13 pm Megan said, "It's scary how things have even gotten so much worse since this article was written."
Yeah, everyone, just think how many more people are unemployed now from the school district alone since the Union didn't ask for a salary freeze. They could've single handedly saved how many jobs?
Wow.
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Posted by Spare me, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 22, 2009 at 9:55 pm Wow, look how many jobs were saved in Danville with the passing of measure C and the teachers offered no concessions. Your lack of understanding teachers contracts is getting old. My favorite twist is how you are making it the teachers fault now. Thats a good one.
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Posted by Yeah!, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 22, 2009 at 11:36 pm Yeah! Spare me, too.
Why should we put the blame where it belongs? That's what scape-goats are for!! Forget solving the problem...let's create a bigger one!
Why don't we find out from Alameda County exactly who the Nazi's were that voted No on G and run 'em outta town! That'll fix things!!
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Posted by Yo spare me too, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 23, 2009 at 12:35 pm They are leaving. They're not exactly feeling welcome. And more educated people are moving in.
Alameda County has no idea who voted which way; It is a private ballot.
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Posted by ceaser, a resident of the Castlewood Heights neighborhood, on Jun 23, 2009 at 6:50 pm Spare me
Spare me
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Posted by Yeah!, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 23, 2009 at 7:13 pm Yo spare me too,
"They are leaving. They're not exactly feeling welcome. And more educated people are moving in."
By your description it appears you are moving out! Hooray!
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Posted by Yo Yeah, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 23, 2009 at 8:46 pm No, staying here. Seems like you have a problem with Pleasanton scholars. What's wrong, didn't do your homework? Didn't get good grades? Maybe you would be happier with a less educated population.
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Posted by Disagree with Yo, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 23, 2009 at 11:29 pm Yo, seems like you've been fairly busy posting around these threads picking on the good citizens of P-town just because they have a different opinion than you...what's the matter...no job? Is it tough being bitter and looking around at all of us more highly educated citizens in town, knowing what you'll never be? Funny how you pick on others for what you don't have yourself. Education envy? I know, I would too, but fortuneately I went through graduate school and completed a Masters degree so I can't identify with your plight. I'd like to encourage you to not give up on your sorry self! It's never too late to go back and finish your GED! I think PUSD has a program for adults to complete it! You should check into it.
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Posted by Yo Disagree, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 24, 2009 at 1:30 pm I'm LOL! Masters degree in Rush Limbaugh listening doesn't count. I'm talking about real education. Rush Limbaugh. What is GED? I had to look that up. Is that what you are trying to get? You have to show up for a test.
Too bad if the kinds of people who are moving in to Pleasanton aren't to your liking. They do tend to care about education (real education, not Rush Limbaugh). You'll probably feel a lot better if you found a different place to live. What about Waco Texas?
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Posted by resident, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 7:37 am I live on a small street in Pleasanton. There are seven homes that house one retired couple and six working families. The other day it occurred to me that all six of the males of working age (range early 40’s to mid 50’s) have lost their jobs at some point in the last 1.5 years. Most (not all) have found something at a greatly reduced wage, and there is an uneasy air of tension that surrounds any conversation about work or plans for retirement.
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Posted by Lee, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 9:15 am Our family went through a 2 year cycle of unemployment a while back. It was hard, but we learned some valuable lessons. First, don't be late in filing for unemployment, and don't let pride stop you from taking a job that pays less than you are used to--bringing in any money is better than none! Have a family meeting and reduce spending on all levels possible. Do your own home and yard maintenance. Sell anything you don't need to keep. Small amounts add up! Take advantage of free or low cost entertainment. Exercise and maintain a positive attitude, things will get better!
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