The Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) will hold a Rapid Response session on Thursday, July 11, and an Employer and Training provider Job Fair on Monday, July 15th. These sessions are for dislocated workers from IBM and other workers who have been laid off from Vermont businesses and who need assistance with their job search activities. Both events will be held at the conference facilities at The Sheraton on Williston Road in South Burlington.
The Rapid Response session on July 11th will focus on understanding the services available to dislocated workers through the Vermont Department of Labor, and will include workshops on resume writing, interviewing skills, and financial restructuring following a layoff. The sessions will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m., and be repeated from 10:30 a.m. to noon. VDOL will have staff from the Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance, and Labor Market Information Divisions presenting and available to meet with participants one-on-one.
Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan has estimated that at least 300 workers were laid off recently at IBM’s Essex Junction facility.
The Employer and Training Provider Job Fair will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 15. It will allow job seekers to visit booths set up by Vermont Employers, training providers, financial advisers, and health care program representatives. Job seekers are encouraged to wear “business casual or business professional” attire, and bring multiple copies of their resume which they can utilize when meeting with Vermont businesses and training providers that will be in attendance.
“The Rapid Response on July 11th will help dislocated workers understand what services are available to help them during a layoff, and get them ready for their job search activities,” Noonan said in a news release. “The Job Fair on July 15th is a ‘meet and greet’ opportunity that may open doors to interviews and job-placement connections that might otherwise be difficult to make. VDOL has invited businesses that are looking to hire; and training providers who can help address worker’s skill gaps. There will be health insurance reps to discuss coverage options; and financial advisers who can discuss how to restructure during a layoff. We want to bring together job seekers and the resources they will need to re-enter the workforce.”
