CareerSource North Florida is a private non-profit organization part of a nationwide network of career centers and workforce investment boards. Last year, a new legislation was passed called the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and was established to aid job seekers with services and enable sufficient help for those who need services. CareerSource is an America's Job Center and a component of a statewide network of 24 development boards across the state. Madison is in region six and it covers Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties. Madison is chartered to provide workforce services to job seekers and employers in those counties.
They provide workshop services, career planning, assist with resumes, career exploration, job matching, advisement and other services. If someone would like one-on-one services, they can make appointments with career consultants to analyze the results of assessments and help people match a profile with jobs or careers that are available. Diane Head, the deputy director, said there are so many services they provide and do in their career center. “There is a lot we have to offer the people that they don’t know,” Head said. “We have job postings for nurses, office workers, manufacturing facilities, production workers, engineers, teachers; you name it, we’ve probably got it in our system.”
Career centers nationwide are known as America’s Job Center (AJC). AJC is for job seekers to go and find workforce services and provides access to a labor exchange system online at www.employflorida.com. Job seekers and employers are able to go to the site and look for work, potential job candidates or to post positions that are available. By using this system, individuals can take various assessments to see if their interests are met and to see if they have the skills for the career they are seeking. A job seeker can upload their resumè, which can be searched by employers, and can complete online applications. Amy Webb, a CareerSource consultant for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) training program, said she loves working at CareerSource. “I love being able to help people improve their lives,” said Webb. “My program specifically helps people go back to school and I’m helping people achieve their dreams by being able to go back to school and complete certificate programs.” The WIA program sponsors certificate programs at North Florida Community College, such as LPN, RN and Basic Law Enforcement. At RiverOak Technical College, there are construction and masonry programs provided. At Taylor Tech, welding and electrical instrumentation programs are available. The center provides a substantial amount of one-on-one assistance and employability skills.
They provide special need services for veterans and youth services as well. Youth services are focused on youth that are not in school and are ages 16 through 24. They can work with them and do a career exploration, give them some work experience and decide what kind of career they want to go into. Special services are provided for regular adults and dislocated workers and can help navigate someone through financial aid and fund training. Another CareerSource consultant, Kris Kuhl, said he is happy about one young lady who just completed Job Corps. “She was one of the FCAT casualties and had her credits but couldn’t get her diploma because of testing,” said Kuhl. “She went to Job Corps and received her diploma, Industry certification and Florida Security license.” A job fair will be held for Klausner Lumber One in August and everyday someone can come in and apply. “You don’t have to necessarily wait on the job fair to apply, but usually they can get an immediate interview, which is the advantage of the job fair,” said Head. Before any event, it is pertinent that people pre-register and if someone needs assistance, CareerSource is available to facilitate the process. For more information, you can stop by the center at 705 E. Base Street, Madison, Fl. 32340 or call (850) 973-9675. You can also visit Careersourcenorthflorida.com.