Drop-in Jobs Lab Gives Unemployed Help with Job Search

By Nadia Crow, Reporter

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Feb 6, 2012 at 6:43 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 6, 2012 at 6:55 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The jobless rate released last week shows unemployment numbers are down nationwide. While it is good news for some, those statistics don’t change the daily struggle for those still searching for work. The Cedar Rapids Public Library is hoping to offer some help to those on the hunt for their next job.

“Those of us who really want to work, we’re looking for our next success,” said Pam West, who is unemployed. West is the first client in the Cedar Rapids Public Library’s new drop-in jobs lab. “There’s a perception that people who have been unemployed for a long time don’t have the skills.”

The jobs lab takes place on Monday morning in the library’s technology classroom. “There are some jobs available. The part of it is matching up the skill set with the jobs or improving your skill set,” Reference Librarian Nancy Geiger said the lab helps people with a variety of career-related goals like translating skills from one job to the next. Geiger added that the whole process of job hunting can be overwhelming. “A lot of people it’s been so long since they’ve done the job hunting.”

The goal of the one-on-one attention is to give the jobless a better shot at landing that next job. Library staff say there’s no end date because they believe the need is that great.

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