The NC Works Career Center at Central Carolina Community College's Chatham Main Campus held a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 25.
PITTSBORO - Local job seekers got a boost when the NC Works Career Center at Central Carolina Community College's Chatham Main Campus celebrated its expanded services and certification in November by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Formerly known as the JobLink Career Center, the comprehensive employment office held a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 25 that was followed by a public tour.
The NC Works Career Center in Pittsboro is a cooperative venture. It is operated by the Triangle South Workforce Development Board, a federally-funded agency created to enhance the workforce and labor market in a four-county region. CCCC provides office space and practical assistance for the center, which offers services to job seekers and employers according to guidelines developed by the state.
Even as a few locals continued searching for jobs on 10 computers in the main room, Career Center Coordinator Ashley Voss and Director of Workforce Development and WIOA Programs Rosalind Cross led guests around the center, taking a moment to discuss a large "menu of services" posted over the reception desk.
For job seekers, the center offers career information and advice, practice job interviews, assistance with the job search and help creating effective resumes and cover letters. Employers use the center to conduct job interviews, get help organizing job fairs and receive job screening and referrals.
More services are available as well, including the NCWorks Online job matching system for job seekers and employers at ncworks.gov. All are provided free of charge.
"We're trying to make sure we have a more robust economy," said Voss, sitting in a conference room that's part of the career center. "It takes both employers and job seekers to make that happen."
NC Works Career Centers operate across the state, but not all of them are located on a college campus. CCCC Chatham Provost Mark Hall says having a center directly on campus makes it even easier for people looking for work.
Many job seekers begin their search in the center and discover they need additional training to qualify for some position. When that happens, they can simply walk downstairs to find the help they need from the college -- whether it's enrolling in a credit course or earning some kind of certification through continuing education.
Voss added that the center's location also makes it accessible for CCCC students who are still preparing for careers. Having a comprehensive career office on campus helps them shape their futures by getting important guidance even before the job search begins.
"It helps to have that strong connection between workforce development and education," Hall said. "When there's a skills gap, that kind of one-stop shopping makes it much easier for people to get the training they need and a good job for the future."
Several other officials were on hand for the occasion, including CCCC President Dr. T. Eston Marchant, President and CEO Cindy Poindexter from the Chatham Chamber of Commerce, Vice President Jamie Vaughn from the Chatham Economic Development Corp. and Regional Operations Director Michelle Muir from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
The NC Works Career Center at Central Carolina Community College's Chatham Main Campus held a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 25.