New Phila. Career Link Center Offers New, One-Stop Approach For Job Seekers
By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia social service agency that runs "Pennsylvania Career Link" centers in the city today opened its first "integrated" center, offering all its services in one location.
Mark Edwards, CEO of Philadelphia Works, says the streamlined approach now being offered at their Suburban Station location provides one-stop shopping for those looking to begin a career.
"As soon as they step into the lobby they're going to see a monitor that has hot jobs on it," he explained today. "Those hot jobs will have a number associated with it. They can go into any one of our computer labs, punch that number in, and the actual job posting will come up and they can apply for the job."
Sheriea Owen, 28, says she had just begun the process but wound up with much more.
"I was sitting there typing my résumé, and someone else was watching how fast I was typing and they said, 'How do you feel about working at Peco?' "
She nailed down an interview.
For employers, it's an opportunity to get direct access to people looking for work. They can even hire right on the spot.
This is the first of four such integrated centers that will open across the city this year.
Under the previous system, Career Link centers were open to everyone but the Employment, Advancement, and Retention Network (EARN) centers served only those who received Temporary Assistance for Needy Familes benefits. The new system streamlines the process.
