Shirley Cliff is a regional manager for the Missouri Division of Workforce Development. Her office is at the Missouri Career Center at 15301 E. 23rd St., Independence. The number is 816-325-5890.
1 What’s the main focus of the Missouri Career Center?
Promoting rewarding careers for job seekers by offering career assistance services, including access to skill-building training; connecting businesses with qualified workers and meeting their human resources needs; and, supporting a dynamic state economy.
2 What’s the most helpful service your office has that people might not know about?
Our targeted, specialized workshops are one great example. The Independence Career Center offers bi-weekly workshops discussing how to apply for jobs with the federal government. There is no charge for this workshop. This has been a popular workshop – well attended – and we have had good feedback from jobseekers. The workshop is held every other Friday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at our career center. The next workshop will be Oct. 23. If readers would like to know more about this workshop or sign up, they should call 816-325-5890. I would like your readers to know that we have a resource room with 25 computers, a fax machine and a copy machine available for their use in their job search. We are open 8 to 5 Monday through Friday.
Our career counselors and workforce specialists are our greatest resource. I would like customers to let us know what help they need when they come to the career center. We are there to help them.
3 How has the profile of the typical person seeking help from your office changed in the last year or two?
The number of customers coming into the career center has increased dramatically in the past year or two. I believe we are seeing a larger number of customers who have held the same job for the past 10 or more years – thought they would be there until they retire – and now are faced with unemployment.
4 What’s the most common mistake people make in applying for a new job?
Not reading carefully or listening to the employer’s instruction regarding what skills they are looking for in the applicant and/or following the employer’s direction in how to apply for the position. I would also like to suggest that job seekers spend some time researching and finding out which skills and occupations are currently in demand. Job seekers can find labor market information by going to www.missouricareersource.com and clicking on “Research Economic Information” on the right side of the log-in screen.
5 How important is ongoing training and education?
Ongoing education/training is extremely important, whether that means upgrading skills the customer already has or learning new skills in order to move into a different direction in their career. This is a good time to look at the many good training opportunities we have available in the greater Kansas City area and to check out possible opportunities for financial help with training. Much of this information is available in the Career Center.
