Desi Franklin, the Executive Director for the Workforce Investment Network (WIN), is the guest speaker at the Chamber’s October Breakfast Forum. As a preview, Christina Meek posed the following questions to Franklin.

What audience is the perfect fit for this event—HR managers? Executives? Anyone looking for a job?
Yes, all of the above. I would describe the HR managers and executives as employers looking for ways to enhance their chances of locating employees with the right talent for the job, or employers needing assistance to upgrade their current employees' skills.

What are some tips that people looking for jobs should be aware of that they probably wouldn’t think of as a resource?
The Career Center, where if eligible they can access all of the following services:
• Computerized job search
• Information about high demand jobs
• Assessments to help them understand their strengths and where they may need to upgrade their skills
• Help in producing an up to date and professional resume
• Interviewing skills training
• Funding for skills training

www.WINrecruits.com is where job seekers can register, upload their resumes and indicate their skills based on many listed job skill categories. This process allows WIN to access their resumes when employers post job openings requiring their types of skills and to refer them for open positions.

What can you tell hiring managers or companies looking for quality, skilled workers—what can they do to find those people?
They can contact the Business Services department at WIN for help with job postings in the Department of Labor system, customized recruiting and screening (including resumes loaded on WINrecruits.com) of job candidates to help them find the best candidates for their job openings. WIN can also provide job profiling of positions, which allows employers to know specifically the skills a successful employee must have. All of these services help employers achieve efficiencies in hiring and retention.

What are some points you will get into at the Breakfast Forum?
WIN's partnerships with employers, education and training providers, and job seekers. WIN works to identify the hiring needs of businesses so that, in turn, WIN can help prepare workers to land and keep good jobs. This will help grow our businesses and ultimately build prosperity and strengthen our entire community.

What should people who aren’t familiar with WIN know about the organization?
WIN is part of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Our services are available to job seekers and employers in Memphis, Shelby County and Fayette County.

Any milestones you’d like to add?
In 2010, WIN provided summer jobs for 840 youth, and in 2011, for 400 youth, helping them make summer income and learn the basic job skills that are essential to their future success. In 2011, despite significant federal cutbacks, WIN received almost $1.5 million in additional funds from the Tennessee Department of Labor to assist job seekers in the greater Memphis area.
 

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To register for the breakfast forum, visit: http://events.memphischamber.com/sbaweb/events/events.asp?calewhere=cale.eventdiv%3C%3E'div003'&details=true&cale_id=1496&month=10/3/2011