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WorkForce Center offers free resources for jobseekers
Senior Reporter After 15 years with Lakeland Mold in Brainerd, Jeff Miles found himself in the strange position of looking for a job.
Before his job as a manufacturing engineer and finish specialist was eliminated, it had been 20 years since Miles looked for work. As a member of the Minnesota National Guard Red Bull Division, Miles served in Iraq and has nearly 23 years of military experience.
Miles lives near Fort Ripley and with his family he's been looking at jobs within an hour's commute time. At Lakeland Mold he was part of a job management team that looked for ways to tackle tough jobs with greater efficiency and build a needed tool in less time.
When he was first laid off in January, Miles expected several early interviews would lead to job offers. The companies said they were hiring and he was qualified. Then came the calls that they decided not to fill the position at this time, citing the recession. Miles said manufacturing has taken a real hit in the past six months with 30 to 80 people being laid off at a time.
"I haven't really gotten discouraged with it because I know there are a lot more people out there looking just as hard as I am," Miles said. "I would say the biggest thing is to keep a positive attitude. You have to stay busy, if you become a couch potato your self-worth is going to go down. You have to stay motivated, stay busy."
When he went to the dislocated worker orientation at the WorkForce Center in Brainerd, Miles was surprised at how much was available and at the extensive resource room open to the public. Miles praised the efforts of his job counselor.
"I didn't realize in going through that they not only offer long-term training, but they offer the short-term training to make you more valuable," he said.
The WorkForce Center includes a job bank, resume writing help and assistance preparing for job interviews, and job search classes. Informal networking groups meet at 9 a.m. Mondays and 5 p.m. Tuesdays offering support from peers and tips on job openings or innovative ways to job hunt.
The WorkForce Center is working with Central Lakes College for training opportunities, including short sessions that help job hunters brush up on skills to make them more marketable. And there is help to pay for the training for those who qualify for funding, which includes federal stimulus dollars. For more information, go online to mnwfc.org/brainerd/ or call 828-2450.
Miles said without an upbeat look, searching for a job without luck starts to wear on people. Family support, just in understanding and through encouraging words that a job is around the corner is huge, Miles said.
Miles is considering retraining in information technology and computer science, but he keeps thinking a job offer must be coming soon.
His advice for other jobseekers?
"Stay busy. Do something," he said, even if it's cutting wood or working around the house. Miles said if people remain positive something good is bound to happen. "So far it's taken a lot more time than I thought it would. But I'm not giving up."
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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