Helen Ramirez / Roundup
With unemployment rates rising, students and the community can find help through the services offered at the Job Placement Center at Pierce College.
The services of the Job Placement Center are free and are not limited to only Pierce students.
Anyone with a completed resume can request a resume critique at the Job Placement Center, located in Village 8200. A copy of the student’s current resume is required and appointments, during which critiques would correct any grammatical or formatting errors to make the resume look more professional, last between 30 minutes to an hour.
Resumes can also be submitted through e-mail for critique on the Job Center Web site, which can be found through the Pierce Web site.
Students who have never written a resume and need help are also welcome to come to the Job Center or call to make an appointment.
The career aptitude test is also offered in the Job Center for anyone unsure about their career path. The test takes about an hour to complete and contains questions about hobbies, interests and talents to try to get an idea of the job that could suit that person.
An internship representative from the Los Angeles Community College District comes to the Pierce College Job Center Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon to help students get paid internships.
Richard Skidmore, director of the Job Placement Center said, “As tight as supplies are, we’re going to make do.”
The budget cuts for Pierce College have caused the Job Center to rearrange staff and remove the full-time Employment Development Department (EDD) representative from the Job Center.
According to United States Department of Labor, California’s unemployment rate has “set a new series high.”
The United States unemployment rate has increased to 10.2 percent as of October.
At 12.5 percent, California has the fourth highest unemployment rate as of October. Since last year, the unemployment rate increased by 4.5 percent.
“I’ve been through five recessions. This is the worst,” Skidmore said.
The unemployment rate is realistically more than 12.5 percent because there are many people who have not filed unemployment, according to Skidmore.
Skidmore said a decline in businesses makes it difficult for others to get jobs.
“California is known for being unfriendly with businesses,” he said.
Skidmore has taught at Pierce College since 1975 and has worked to establish relationships with several employers around the Woodland Hills area.
He wants to make businesses feel welcome, but he feels California legislators are pushing businesses away by imposing tax increases.
“These folks invest their money too, and if they can’t make do, they shut down,” Skidmore said.
Skidmore has worked to make Pierce “business friendly.”
“Employers prefer to hire Pierce College students because our job board is open on a wide web and anyone can apply,” he said.
The online Jobs Bulletin Board offers employers the opportunity to post available jobs. Students seeking jobs can look under the Job Center Web site to find the Jobs Board, but these job services are not just for students.
Riza Appling, a 24-year-old history major, came to the Job Center in hopes of find a better job. She currently works as a waitress at Ruby’s Diner.
“I’m just looking at the job postings and seeing what I can work out,” Appling said.
Sean Hillyer, a 20-year-old business major, used to work only four hours a week at Abercrombie & Fitch getting paid minimum wage. He found a better job through the Job Center and is now earning $10 an hour, with commission and bonuses.
“We don’t only service the students. We service the community,” said Aaron Chan, Job Center assistant. Chan added the Job Center will help anyone obtain a job if they fit the job requirements.
“There is no discrimination,” he said.
Chan has worked in administration services for Pierce College for about five years. Now he is working in the Job Center closer to students. He previously worked at Los Angeles Valley College, where he met several veterans.
Pointing to a display by the door filled with military pamphlets, Chan said military recruiters also post their information in the Job Center.
“The military is kind of a job too,” Chan said. “The government puts aside money for you to go to school.”
Los Angeles Valley College offers job help through its Job Training services. Valley College focuses primarily on training students to get a job, while Pierce College focuses on finding jobs for students.
The Valley College Job Training Web site does provide links to the Los Angeles Community College District paid student internships and collaborative partners, including Pierce College.
“For students who do not know about the Job Center,” Chan said, “they are missing out on an opportunity to benefit on career opportunities.”
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