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'Like' Career Talk on KQV on Facebook to stay up-to-date with guest information, showtimes, and more! 'Like' The McKees Rocks Employment & Training Center on Facebook to learn about Pittsburgh-area job opportunities, career events and training classes. Follow Scott Albert on twitter @s_albert75 Thanks for your ongoing support!

You've Been Served!

Since the beginning of the year, foot-traffic at our career center has increased dramatically. In fact, we have served nearly as many job seekers so far this program year as we served all of last year...our program year just began on July 1, 2012. Who we are seeing and what they are saying is raising a lot of questions about services that are available to job seekers as they try to reenter the workforce. Many workers are seeking help for the first time because the job market has certainly changed. Here is a short sample of what our job seekers are saying: 1. A gentleman in his seventies is reentering the workforce because his retirement took an unrecoverable hit over the last four years. As a veteran, he sought help via a local veteran services agency. Despite his limited computer skills and the fact that he did not have an email address, he was told to fill out an online application on his own. He came to use for help with the application, but has yet to hear back from the veteran agency. 2. An eighteen-year-old, smart, articulate, recent graduate of an urban high school would like to be a nurse. There is a major hospital and nursing school located right in her school district's neighborhood. To get her foot in the door, she applied for an entry-level position at the hospital...as an environmental services aide. Her application has been put on hold because of lack of experience. The young lady did not even get an interview. 3. A woman in her seventies, retired from the Nat'l Guard, sought assistance at her local State employment agency. They put her on a computer to complete an enrollment despite the fact that she had never touched a mouse. Uncomfortable in the setting, she left the office the minute staff turned their attention to somebody else. 4. A client who had been previously incarcerated due to a drug offense found out that this driver's license had been suspended for five years. The suspension is related to his drug offense not a driving violation. In fact, he has never had a driving violation. The five year suspension, he assumed, ran concurrent to his five year incarceration. He contacted the State to learn how he might reinstate his driving privileges. The State informed him that his five-year suspension never began because he never filed an acknowledgement form with the DMV. As such, this gentleman who received carpentry training while serving time, has to wait five years before getting his driver's license. Needless to say, this cripples his chances of working in the construction industry. I could go on and on. I could point out the obvious, but I will let the readers draw their own conclusions. What I would like to do is hear from you all. What is going on out there? Have you sought employment assistance? If so, has it been a good or bad experience for you? Please share your stories because they will provide value to other job seekers, services providers and the like.

Which Side Are You On? Natalie Merchant

Get the Picture?

Ask the Counselor!

Career Talk with Scott Albert on KQV Radio is piloting a new segment this month. The new segment is titled, “Ask the Counselor.” We are asking our Facebook fans and followers of our blog to share questions regarding careers, job search, blog topics, previous guests, etc. If you have a question that you would like to have answered on the air, please post to the Facebook page or the blog or email scott@thealbertinstitute.com. Thanks in advance. And, thanks for listening!

New World Order?

If you listen to the show, follow the blog or have participated in any of our webinar sessions via thealbertinstitute.com, then you already know how I spend the majority of my days.  Basically, I do two things: 1. Counsel job seekers; 2. Strategize with employers.  This work has proven to me that there is a serious disconnect between job seekers and employers.

Comments from job seekers typically go something like this:

"I'm too old; nobody wants to hire me."
"I don't have the experience most employers are looking for."
"My former felony prevents me from working."
"I'm an African-American woman, and most employers do not give me a chance."

Meanwhile, the employers says:

"People do not want to work."
"Only 1/3 of the interviews I schedule actually show up for the interview."
"People I hire only work until they get their first check then I never see them again."
"I can not find motivated people; some of my employees don't even call when they take off work."
"I can train a worker to do the job if that worker is willing to show up for work."

I heard another Pittsburgh talk show host interview a representative from an energy company.  That rep said about half of every 100 interviews they schedule will show up for the interview.  Of that half, maybe 10 can pass the drug test.  A friend of mine, who happens to be a superintendent for a Pittsburgh-area school district, tells me that some of his staff will take a day off but never call in sick...teachers included!  They return to work the next day as if nothing ever happened.

On the flip side, employers are sticking it to the worker.  Make no mistake about it...workers are being mistreated.  We have people in our career center who refuse to apply for jobs because they are earning more money on unemployment.  My first reaction to this is to be upset with the job seekers.  However, we are talking about people who have 20+ years into their most recent job.  One lady was earning close to $25 per hour, and she is now receiving offers at $8 or $9 per hour.  How can anyone expect her to take that step backwards.  A friend of mine who is a marketing specialist cannot secure employment.  Despite the fact that she is brilliant, speaks multiple languages and has years of experience with a prominent Pittsburgh company, the offers she receives are lousy.  Recently, she was offered a position as a marketing director at one of Pittsburgh's largest and most respected non-profit organizations.  Starting salary was $23,000 per year!  With a child already in college and one getting ready to go, my friend's choice was to stay on unemployment.

So what is to be done?  Honestly, is there a solution in sight?  Mitt Romney, in last week's acceptance address at the RNC, told a proud story about the worker earning $22 per hour in a previous job who now has to work two $10 per hour jobs to make ends meet.  Former President Bill Clinton, at this week's DNC, said American workers need to prepare for the new economy.  Is this the New World order we all read about in the 1990's?  It's obvious that both job seekers are employers need to give and take a little.  I have some additional thoughts on the matter, but I would like to start the discussion be hearing from others.  What do you all think?

Drilling Deeper - Who Is Hiring?

Service companies are booming as a result of natural gas exploration.  Here are a few examples...

Universal Well Services
CDL Class A  - Seeking CDL drivers to service oil & gas wells throughout Western Pennsylvania.  Main office location is in Meadville, PA.  Twelve hour shifts.  On call possibilities.  Must be willing to perform physical well duties in addition to driving.  Drives in all weather conditions.  Great pay and benefits.  This is an excellent opportunity for a driver seeking work in the Marcellus Shale industry.
Mail resumes and cover letters to: HR Manager, 13549 S. Mosiertown Road, Meadville, PA 16335

Weatherford International
Several positions including CDL Driver/Heavy Equipment Operators, Mechanics, Well Test Operators, Material Handlers, Sales Representatives and more.  Locations include Williamsport, Leetsdale, Towanda, Canonsburg, Buckhannon (WV), and Punxsutawney.  Visit www.weatherford.jobs for more info, a complete job vacancies list and application procedures.

Frac Tech
Drivers & Well Site Workers – Frac Tech has immediate openings for CDL Licensed Drivers and Heavy Equipment Operators.  Company is located in Brownsville, PA but work is scattered throughout the Western & Northern Pennsylvania regions.  Frac Tech is a leader in the Oil & Gas Industry.  Excellent compensation, benefits, etc.  Applications available for print online at www.fractech.net/careers. 

Somerset Regional Water Resources
Somerset Regional Water Resources is to provide environmentally friendly water-related services to natural gas companies including delivery, removal, and cleaning of wastewaters.  Seeking truck drivers and environmental technicians for two locations: Somerset, PA and Tunkhannock, PA.  Must have CDL Class A for Drivers.  Must hold Hazmat/Hazwop certification for technicians.  Learn more at www.srwr-pa.com. 

Weavertown Environmental Group
CDL Drivers Tanker/Hazmat Preferred.  Seeking Class A or B w/ Tri-Axle experience.  Seeking Class A or B for Field Service, Tanker/Vacuum Truck operation.  Duties to include various driving & field work, driving & operating company vehicles.  Vac trucks on jobs, take people/equipment to job sites, transfer drums, deliver waste to & from landfills.  Additionally, drivers support the Technicians in the field with various jobs.
ALL CANDIDATES CAN EMAIL RESUMES TO HRSTAFF@WEAVERTOWN.COM

Waste Management
Seeking drivers and drivers’ helpers.  All drivers must hold a CDL license.  Helpers do not need to have a CDL.  Positions available throughout SWPA & SEOH.  Search for location and apply online at www.wm.com/careers.
Oil Services Field Technician – See www.wm.com/careers for full description.

Marcellus Shale: Production Phase Employment

Natural Gas Production
Petroleum Engineers, Heavy Equipment Maintenance Tech, Pumper, Production Foremen, Roustabout, Operator, Compressor Operator, Production Engineer, Equipment Calibration, Communications Tech, Supt, etc.
Reclamation
CDL Drivers, Site Management, Environmental Specialist, Landscapers, Civil Engineer, etc.
Overall
Inspectors, Water Treatment, Water Monitoring, Lobbying, Community Affairs, PR, Calibration officials, Corrosion Techs, Environmental Engineers, Health & Safety, Purchasing, IT, Office Management, Accounting, Clerks, Data Entry, Admin Support, etc.