Michigan Works! West Central Workforce Connection - Vol. 5, Ed. 3

Nominate Your Favorite Young Professional By April 4!

Do you know someone age 30 or younger who is excelling in their career? If so, we want to meet them!

Our annual "20 Under 30" publication highlights the best and brightest young professionals in our region. To nominate your favorite young professional click here.

Once all nominations are entered, the public will vote on their favorites. The top 20 vote-getters will be highlighted in this year's magazine. To view last year's publication, please click here.

Spring Application Period Opens April 14

The Going PRO Talent Fund is a competitive grant that helps employers train, develop, and retain employees. Twice a year, employers can apply for up to $2,000 in training funding assistance per employee, and up to $3,500 per USDOL registered apprentice.

For more information about the spring Going PRO Talent Fund application period and to create a training plan, contact our Business Services team by clicking here. To see a list of this past fall's award winners, click here.

COMING IN JUNE: Hiring Parties!

SAVE THE DATE: We Have 6 Large Outdoor Job Fairs Scheduled.

What goes great with searching for a new job or a career-change opportunity? ... Hot dogs, of course!

Michigan Works! West Central's successful Hiring Parties are coming back this June! We're working hard to recruit dozens of employers for each event, so stay tuned for more info.

In the meantime, be sure to save the dates for the Hiring Parties nearest you! Click here for more info about upcoming job fairs. If you're an employer wanting to hire at one of these events, contact our Business Services team by clicking here.

2025 HIRING PARTY SCHEDULE

June 10 - Big Rapids
June 12 - Newaygo
June 16 - Ludington
June 18 - Hart
June 23 - Baldwin
June 25 - Reed City

Are You Interested In An Apprenticeship?

Come Talk To Us About Our New Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Michigan Works! West Central has developed an in-house pre-apprenticeship program to connect participants with local USDOL registered apprenticeship opportunities available at partnering employers in the region.

Those enrolled in the new Apprenticeship Career Readiness Certificate program will select a training cluster and undergo 80 hours of skills training, career exploration, interview prep and more. The goal is to best prepare participants to find new employment and gain the skills needed to be an excellent candidate for local apprenticeship programs. Those who complete the program will walk away with a working portfolio and a certificate highlighting their work in the program.

For more information about our new pre-apprenticeship program, talk to one of our Talent Specialists. Find our service center nearest you by clicking here.

Showcasing Success!

Highlighting Success Stories From Region 4A

Partnership With Lions Club Helps With Auto Repairs

Meet Patricia. The brakes on her car were out and her car was unsafe to drive. She had no way of getting to work or transporting her kids to school. She was reliant on others for rides. It was making her life very difficult.

Thanks to a partnership with the Big Rapids Lions Club, Michigan Works! West Central was able to help get her car fixed and back on the road!

"I felt relieved. I felt like my car was actually going to get fixed to where I can use it again. I can get back and forth to work now, I can go and get my kids when I need to. It just makes everything so much easier, and I don't have to keep depending on other people."

To hear Patricia's full success story, click here. To view other success stories from our region, click here.

JOB SEARCH TIP OF THE MONTH

'Have An ATS-Friendly Resume'

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software that scans your resume for certain keywords and based on the amount of matches, decides if your resume should pass on to the recruiter or not.

Be sure to read the job description to identify some key words to include in your resume. For example, if the job description says they are looking for a “Creative Marketing Director," you should use that as your job title with exactly the same phrasing. Not “Marketing Director” or “Marketing Team Lead.”

If you need help updating your resume and identifying those key words the ATS searches for, visit one of our six service centers to talk to your Talent Specialist. We know a few things about drafting a great resume and highlighting your skills! Find the service center nearest you at MWWC.org/contact-us.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Michigan Works! West Central Hosts

Virtual Training For Board Members

In an effort to help our Workforce Development and Local-Elected Official board members better understand all of the programs and services we provide, Michigan Works! West Central hosted its first-ever Board Academy event in early-February.

The virtual meeting highlighted our Young Adult programming, including our WIOA Youth and Jobs for Michigan's Graduates programs. Staff members discussed our engagement level with local schools, highlighted several youth success stories and more! Our board members thanked staff for the training and provided positive feedback.

If you'd like to learn more about our youth programming, please click here.

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Michigan Works! West Central is funded by State and Federal funds and governed by local Workforce Development Boards and Local Elected Officials. More details available on the Legal Disclaimer page at MWWC.org/legal-disclaimer. Michigan Works! West Central is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Michigan Relay Service: 711 | Supported by the State of Michigan.