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Making Your Military Duty Work for You. A Career and Resource Fair for Veterans.

In honor of Veterans Day, Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance will host a career and resource fair for veterans on November 9, 2009 at its Conference Center.  The event will take place on Monday, November 9 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance, 9215 North Florida Avenue. 

Veterans will meet employers and learn how best to use the experience and benefits they have gained to achieve their new career goals.  Information sessions will include:    

• Learn how to navigate the federal job search process
• Discover how to apply veterans’ benefits to advance your career goals
• Obtain information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and how to access education and training opportunities

Visit http://www.workforcetampa.com/veterans-career-and-resource-fair/ to register or call us at 813-930-7400.

 

Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance Estimating Conference Brings Area Businesses Together to Share Information and Access Resources

Industry leaders from Tampa Bay businesses convened at Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance’s annual estimating conference, themed Innovation + Resource Management = Business Advantage, to identify their workforce and training priorities in a turbulent economy, gain information on the current and future economic environment, and learn of resources available through Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance (TBWA) to help them maintain a competitive edge.

TBWA, as a recipient of Recovery Act funds, is uniquely positioned to help Tampa area businesses grow and be competitive.  Representatives from a variety of industries shared information that will assist TBWA in planning the most effective ways to meet their workforce needs.

It is vital that Tampa area businesses are matched with the resources they need while  the economy takes the necessary duration to recover.  According to Dr. Sean Snaith, a national expert in economic analysis and speaker at Thursday’s event, the recession may be over, but it will be some time before the labor market heals, particularly in Florida.  Dr. Snaith is the director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida’s College of Business Administration.  He provided event participants insight on both Tampa Bay’s current economic position and its future.  Echoing what other economists across the state and nation have said, Dr. Snaith predicts employment will not return to peak level until the end of 2013, and that the health care industry is most recession-resistant, based on an aging population and other market demands for its occupations.      

Health care, combined with life sciences and bioscience, was one of the industries seated in focus groups at the event and asked to respond to a series of questions concerning the state of its industry and business today, as well as its outlook for the future.

Other industries grouped included construction/manufacturing/realtors/utilities; information technology/systems administrators; hospitality/retail /tourism; professional services; emerging business/entrepreneurs/small businesses; and education/training.

Most industries indicated a business decline, though the Health Care sector claimed stable growth.  Asked to identify key drivers for potential growth, all industries pointed toward a need for training, especially in areas of customer service and other soft skills that are critical to business, yet not included in formal training curricula.  For example, among the qualities that most participants reported to be valuable in job candidates were  interpersonal skills, adaptability and communication, and industry knowledge.

Many participants indicated short term hiring plans - 47 percent within the next three months.  Forty percent said they planned to be hiring within the next 12 months.

When polled about the current skill levels of their employees, 35 percent of businesses indicated a need for improvement.  Specifically, 40 percent identified skills upgrade as the type of training from which their employees might benefit.  Customized training was identified as a need by 37 percent of the businesses, and 23 percent indicated industry-specific training for their employees would be beneficial.     

Additional course offerings and online training options were among the ideas presented by the education and training group to address increased training demand for industries such as health care and information technology.

Education providers were also asked to discuss their response to the emergence of “green” economy jobs and the need for appropriate training curricula for suitable occupations.  The group raised concern that identification of green occupations and industries have yet to fully be understood and development of curriculum will most likely follow as these definitions become clearer.

Information gathered from the discussions will be used to ensure TBWA training services are relevant and applicable to workforce needs in the Tampa Bay area.  Industry input is vital to TBWA as it continues to foster optimal economic development in the region through strengthening the workforce and helping businesses stay competitive in a challenging marketplace.  

EXPO PUTS JOB CANDIDATES ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS

We’re proud to have recently helped more than 140 people connect to valuable training resources at our Information and Resource Expo.  Training resources available through Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance help retain and create jobs, boost the region’s economic recovery and assist those most impacted by the recession. 

Panel presentations featured informative discussions with local employers—and career managers from Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance were also available to answer questions.  More than 20 training providers were on-hand to provide information on accessing the numerous training opportunities around the region. Local success stories also took center stage at Accelerate Your Own Economic Recovery:  An Information and Resource Expo.  Tampa-area job candidates who sought skills training that helped them land career opportunities shared their stories and experience with expo participants.

Candidates interested in learning whether training may help them in their careers are encouraged to visit Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance and speak with career managers for guidance and assistance.

Disability Awareness Expo To Be Held Saturday, July 25

A reminder, our annual Disability Awareness Expo is scheduled for Saturday, July 25th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at MOSI. Please share this flyer with others, and mark your calendar to attend. What can you expect at the Expo?

-Approximately 50 exhibitors of services and technology benefiting persons with disabilities

-Mini-demonstrations on Braille, American Sign Language, adaptive art techniques, and more

-Guest speaker, Reno Williams is 11 years old and will be in 7th grade this fall.  Reno's goal is to educate others, in understandable language, about how to treat individuals who have autism spectrum disorders

-Entertainment including mixed ability dance, a signed dance performance, a Florida Young Soloist finalist keyboard player, jazz singer and more

-Presentation of the three Hillsborough County Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities awards for advocacy.

Please contact Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance or more information!

TBWA Names Business Excellence Award Winners

Congratulations to all recent recipients of Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance’s Fourth Annual Business Excellence Awards!

Our TBWA Business Excellence Awards celebrate Tampa Bay companies that excel at promoting workplace excellence and professional development.  They’re awarded to businesses that demonstrate leadership and innovation in hiring, training, promoting diversity, providing advancement opportunities and using technology in recruiting and retaining top talent. 

Emerging Business – Digital Hands

Digital Hands, the recipient of this award for the second consecutive year, attracts and keeps talented employees with its fun, family-centered culture.  Whether they are taking a break to play on the company’s Nintendo Wii or being served a homemade breakfast by the senior staff, Digital Hands employees are always encouraged to have fun at work.

Expanding Business – Southern Manufacturing Technologies

Southern Manufacturing Technologies, Inc., relies on a highly skilled workforce, they know the importance of hiring and retaining committed workers.  SMT President Roy Sweatman personally greets each employee every morning in order to show them that they are all valued. 

Growth Business – USAA

USAA knows that its reputation for superior customer service was built on the hard work of its employees.  For that reason, USAA strives to create an environment where workers are happy, healthy and motivated. 

Economic Development Impact Award – Tampa Ship

Tampa Ship has had tremendous impact on Tampa’s workforce and economy.  Within its first month of operation, Tampa Ship hired 500 high-paying positions and plans to hire 500 more.

Pictured from left: Roy Sweatman, president of Southern Manufacturing Technologies, Inc.; Stephanie Edwards, Workforce Development manager at Tampa Ship; Charlotte Baker, CEO of Digital Hands; and Robert Hoyland, vice president and general manager for the Southeast Regional Office of USAA.

Register Now for the Professional Career Resources Expo

Looking for a job today has taken on a whole new meaning. Your job-search tool box must be fully equipped with modern tools. Is your tool box up to date?  Consider adding—

-modern web tools for effective networking and gathering market intelligence;

-skills inventory to take you from employment to entrepreneurship; or

-personal marketing plan to get you going, on track and noticed. 

Put your career on the right path.  Attend the Professional Career Resource Expo and gain insight into new approaches to jump ahead of your competition.

Workshops are presented by expert HR professionals and career coaches.

The Professional Career Resource Expo is for degreed professionals with at least two years experience in their field. Recent college graduates welcome.

Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance Professional Career Resource Expo

Tuesday, March 17, 2009
8:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.
University of South Florida, Marshall Center
4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL

Visit and Bookmark Our Hot Jobs Page!

If you’re not familiar with the recently launched new Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance Web site, we encourage you to visit today at www.WorkForceTampa.com. In addition to offering up-to-date Labor Marketing information to help job seekers, we also provide on-going information regarding the hottest of the Tampa Bay area’s Hot Jobs.

Each week we post a listing of outstanding available job opportunities right here in Tampa Bay. You can view the most recent list of Hot Jobs by clicking here. Once on the Hot Jobs page, just click on the job that most interests you, and the job for which you’re most qualified.

When responding to a particular Hot Job, just reference the job order number and one of our representatives will contact you within 48 business hours.

And don’t forget to mark your calendar—you’ll want to attend the TAMPA BAY WORKFORCE ALLIANCE PROFESSIONAL CAREER RESOURCE EXPO on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 (8:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.) at the  University of South Florida, Marshall Center. For more Career Expo information, please contact StrongN@workforcetampa.com.

ADD TO YOUR JOB-SEARCH TOOL BOX. ATTEND THE PROFESSIONAL CAREER RESOURCE EXPO.

To say our world over the past few years has changed in profound ways would be an understatement. With the emergence of Web 2.0 and new media came a new economy; then suddenly came a failing economy. So, looking for a job these days has taken on a whole new meaning, requiring a whole new vision for pursuing your career.

Basically, what worked yesterday won’t work today.

That’s why we re-formatted our TBWA Professional Career Resource Expo that takes place Tuesday, March 17, 2009 (8 a.m. — 1 p.m.) at the University of South Florida, Marshall Center.

At Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance, we believe your job-search tool box has to include extensive knowledge of modern communication tools – mainly those web resources that provide effective networking and market intelligence gathering skills ... as well as ideas for taking you from employment to entrepreneurship, if that’s your goal ... and for gaining insight into new approaches for jumping ahead of your job-seeking competition.

Workshops at the TBWA Professional Career Resource Expo are presented by expert HR professionals and career coaches. This Professional Career Resource Expo is for degreed professionals with at least two years experience in their field. Recent college graduates welcome.

For more information, please contact Natalie Strong at StrongN@workforcetampa.com, or visit www.workforcetampa.com.