The new
interactive Web site is designed for job seekers, regardless
of religious denomination, to locate employment,
increase or improve skills through education
and start or refine a small
business. All the services are free.
“One of the first
things we find with many people who come into our employment
centers is that they’ve lost hope,” says Rick Ebert,
director of employment resource services for the Church.
“They’re desperate. We try to give a person a sense of hope
that there are possibilities for them; there are resources
that can be made available to them.”
Currently, there
are approximately 250,000 job listings, and 9,000 employers
are signed on to the site, looking for the right candidates
to fill openings.
Ebert says he
sees this as a significant tool to assist local Church
leaders in their responsibility to help members who are
struggling to find employment or seeking to improve their
careers. While the site has been launched in English, it
will be available this year in Spanish and Portuguese, with
plans to expand to other languages in the future.
When a person
logs on the site, they will be invited to create a profile
that includes their employment history, qualifications,
education and skills. Rich Vunder, manager of Church
employment resource services in northern Utah, says the
exciting thing about the site is the control prospective
employees have over their information. “It is a
self-directed Web site. The better their profile
is, the better their opportunities to connect with
employers.”
LDSjobs.org is
also a tremendous resource for employers.
Employers can post job openings, review potential
candidates, make contacts and even hire new employees based
on Web site profiles. As an employer, Ebert explains, “I can
literally go to the Web site, send an electronic message to
the individual saying, ‘I have an interest in meeting with
you.’ ” The Web site is the catalyst for bringing the
prospective employer and employee together.
In New York, Joe
Doria, manager of Church employment resource services, says
he and his associates use the Web site in their work with
many of the Fortune 1,000 companies.
The site’s resources help potential employers meet staffing
needs at senior executive levels.
LDSjobs.org can
also be a resource for students and young adults looking for
summer jobs. Julie Poole, manager of Church employment
resource services in Dallas, Texas, says the Web site helps
young people not only find a part-time job but plan
a career. “It’s an incredible resource that supports
Latter-day Saints and those of other faiths.”
The site includes
information about schools, financial aid and programs that
are available at technical and vocational schools as well
public schools and private schools. In addition to specific
job resources, ldsjobs.org also has a database of community
resources to help those with disabilities, single parents
and those who have health issues.
No comments:
Post a Comment