BEST PRACTICE

Personnel Management Involvement In Job Search

James L. Gibbs

Ben Hill/Irwin County CRS

124 S. Grant Street, Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750

Phone: 229-426-5355

Fax: 229-426-5338

The Community Resource Specialist for Ben Hill and Irwin Counties has taken on the responsibility of securing assistance from intercity personnel managers in Job Search Training one day per week in his respective counties. Personnel managers from several facets of employment were met with and asked if they would be interested in visiting the DFCS office during CRS Job Search Training on a designated day to discuss their individual company’s hiring policies. They were also asked to discuss what they, as interviewers and employers, looked for specifically when screening potential employee applications as well as what they key in on during the interview process.

This practice is being accepted well by employers in the community. The CRS further discussed the recent changes in TANF policy and the push to get people employed and off TANF. Several employers in this community expressed concern about job applicants coming to interviews ill-prepared in both attitude and dress. This will be a great opportunity for TANF applicants as well as WEX participants to get to know the individuals who are responsible for the hiring processes in their community and facilitate additional networking contacts. Currently, a different personnel manager is scheduled each month at this DFCS. Positive outcome will determine an increase in the frequency of this activity.

The CRS would like other communities to become involved in assisting their local DFCS in reducing the number of TANF applicants and participants by implementing this strategy.