By Tim Leeds
The door to the new Havre Job Service office leads past a reception desk into an open, well organized and professional-looking space used as a resource center for job applicants.
The new building, located at 160 First Ave., is far different from the crowded set of cubicles created by dividing walls in the space of the old main Job Service office.
The change is more impressive because the new office combines the services previously held in two separate offices, yet provides them with more space and easier access.
Barry Remus, an employment services specialist at the Havre office, said there aren't any new services provided, but they are much more obvious and easier to use in the new building than in the old.
There is a large open area for job applicants housing typewriters; computer terminals and a printer; a phone; resource materials; a photocopier; and fax access for use with staff approval.
A hallway leaves the applicant resource area and leads to the staff's offices. It also leads to resources for employers
These resources include two conference centers with tables and chairs, TVs and VCRss, a bulletin board and dry-erase boards. The larger of the conference centers can be split into two smaller rooms.
There is also an employer's reference room housing a computer terminal with Internet access and a variety of reference materials that can be used in the room or checked out. These books, videos, pamphlets and computer programs include material on hiring guides, employee relations, customer service, employee rights and employment laws.
There are a variety of services offered to job applicants. Remus said that the amount of aid offered by staff members used is up to the applicant.
He said the first step in helping applicants is to register them into the Job Service database. He said the form the applicant fills out gives the service information on the applicant's background and also what kind of job they are looking for.
Remus said there are many options for registration. He said the applicant can fill out the registration form at the office and go over it with an employment services specialist; take an application home to fill out and drop it off at the office; or register over the Internet at the Montana Job Source (MJS) web page.
Remus said it's usually important that an employment services specialist go over the form with an applicant so there is no mistaken or unclear information in the applicant's file.
The office will refer any positions matching the applicant's file to the applicant, either over the phone or by mail.
Remus is also the Local Veteran's Employment Representative. He said the office is required to give veterans preferential treatment and additional time and services over non-veteran applicants.
The office computers provide Internet access to applicants, allowing them to search MJS for career information in the state or nationally, or to use the Career Information System (CIS).
Tamara Johnson, School to Career program coordinator at Havre High School, said the CIS has a career aptitude test which will help the applicants find jobs suited to them. She said the system also provides access to databases listing jobs, training and education needed for them, and schools and financial aid at those schools to receive the training.
The resource room provides both information and help on writing a resume and the typewriters or word processors to write them.
The office also helps applicants to apply for help with the Welfare to Work, Work Readiness Component (WoRC) and job training programs.
The applicant resource area contains listings of jobs currently available, which can also be reached over the phone at 265- 1587. Job listings can also be found over the Internet on MJS at jsd.dli.state.mt.us.
