Mat-Su Job Center offers plenty to job seekers

If you find yourself unexpectedly out of a job, the Mat-Su Job Center could be the key to getting back on your feet. The center offers several job services and programs. One of those programs gets people volunteering with nonprofit agencies for 13 weeks, with the intention of it leading to employment.

Judy Michlig, the community work experience coordinator, is trying to get more nonprofit agencies to participate. She matches the interest of job seekers with nonprofit agencies, and so far, about 33 percent of those going through the program have landed jobs.

"I spend a lot of my time trying to develop sites and match people with agencies," Michlig said. "We have had everything from an ice skating attendant at Brett Memorial Ice Arena to people working with the Alaska Family Resource Center."

Nonprofit agencies interested in working with the Workforce Development Program can contact Michlig at 352-2576.

The annual Mat-Su Job Fair is another service the center offers, and this year's fair was a rousing success, organizers said. The fair had prospective employers ranging from the military to the tourism industry. People were able to interact with prospective employers, drop off resum/s and applications and find out what they needed to work on to enter the workforce.

The center is a valuable resource for those looking for employment. There are workshops presented covering resum/ writing, interviewing, job retention skills, dealing with difficult people and more. There are also computers to use to look up job postings, as well as fax and copy machines to get your application out there.

The job center also offers customized services for people who have employment barriers, such as a disability. The Human Resource Company (HRC) has basic adult education classes, English as a second language classes and basic finance courses available.

Employers can also use the center to post jobs on the Internet, conduct interviews, screen applicants and get information on such topic as taxes, child labor and legal issues, among other things.

For more information, interested people can call the Mat-Su Job Center at 352-2500.