Veterans’ corner – by Steve Gagnon
Let’s talk. Maine CareerCenters have a unique “job matching” system available to anyone looking for work. This system allows you to register your profile from any internet capable computer simply by going to www.mainecareercenter.com and clicking on “Jobseekers” directly below the large Maine Job Bank logo in the upper left corner of the screen.
By registering you: a.) Identify who you are and how to contact you; b.) Provide some of your background skills, training and education; c.) Indicate your job preferences to include desired shifts, full or part-time work, willingness to travel and so on; and d.) Add Up to six job categories so the computer knows what kind of work you’re looking for.
Once you’re profile is completed, you can do an immediate scan of the system to determine if there are any jobs that match your desires. The system is designed to match you to jobs that interest you and meet your qualifications.
Basically, employers list their job openings in our database and set certain parameters for who they feel would be a qualified candidate. In-turn, you tell the computer what kind of work you’re interested in. If there are enough corresponding criteria, the computer sees this as a ‘match’ and displays the job listing as a referral. A job description is displayed to allow you to view the job and decide if you want to accept or refuse the referral.
If you accept the referral, it will tell you who the employer is and how that employer wants you to apply for that job.
One of the good things about this system is its accessibility. Under the old system you had to physically go to a CareerCenter to register your information. With the current setup you can access this information from any computer anywhere as long as you have an internet connection, like in the comfort of your home, for example. You don’t need an email address either, although it is recommended.
The other really neat thing about the Job Bank is that it’s constantly on duty and works without your direct input. As new jobs are listed with us, the computer automatically scans the entire database for a match to these new job opportunities. If a job match occurs, you are automatically notified of a possible job match either by real time email, if you provided one, or by snail mail through the post office.
I urge you to go and check it out for yourself.
Steve Gagnon has over 11 years’ of state government experience having worked with the Unemployment Office, the Reemployment Eligibility Assessment Program as well as providing services as a CareerCenter Consultant. His military background includes four years as an aircraft hydraulics mechanic and 20 years as a personnel specialist having retired from the U..S Air Force as an E-7, Master Sergeant.
