Employment
Updated On: 3/7/2011 3:35:40 PM
Finding the right job is still as challenging as ever. Though hard hit by the recent recession, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area has jobs available if you know where to look and how to prepare for the interview.
EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
Job-hunting resources at the national level feature extensive search capabilities as well as resume tips, forum support and professional networking options on such websites as
http://www.monster.com,
http://www.craigslist.org and
http://www.careerbuilder.com.
The state Agency for Workforce Innovation tracks and reports the state's labor market statistics and administers the Unemployment Compensation program at
http://www.floridajobs.org or call (850) 488-7228. The best resource to review and apply for state jobs by region is People First at
http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/logon.htm or call (877) 562-7287.
For such general employment information as employers, and career, resume and cover letters throughout the state, go to http://www.employ florida.com.
The Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development and Retention offers job openings by school district and information about job fairs, recognition programs, professional development and performance standards at
http://www.teachinflorida.com or call (850) 245-0435. Go to or contact these local agencies to review and/or apply for classified and unclassified openings:
Clearwater Employment Services
Municipal Services Building, First Floor
100 S. Myrtle Ave.
Clearwater, FL 33756 (727) 562-4870/4888
http://www.clearwater-fl.com/employment St. Petersburg Employment Office
Municipal Services Center, Fourth Floor
One Fourth St. North
St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 893-7311/7033
http://www.stpete.org/jobs Tampa Employment Services
Second Floor City Hall
306 E. Jackson St.
Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 274-8115/8911
http://www.tampagov.net/dept_employment_services Job Seeker Tips
• Always have an up-to-date resume, especially resumes that target specific job industries and highlight skills needed for those job descriptions.
• Maintain reference lists with a variety of people and former business associates.
• Appreciate the importance of your cover letter since it introduces your desire to work and highlights your applicable job skills.
• Be prepared to interview at any time, even as you're turning in your application.
• Follow up interviews with calls and thank-you letters. They keep your name fresh in the interviewer's mind and give you a feel for your hire status.
EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
This effective search method offers jobs from high-level administrative to warehouse work. Many employers use these agencies as their human resources department, allowing the agency to advertise, interview, test and manage payroll. The "temp-to-perm" arrangement allows the employer and prospective employee to preview each other before committing to permanent employment. Check out this guide's yellow pages for local agency listings.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
Historically, a recession prompts self employment, and the Tampa Bay Area offers plenty of opportunity to own and operate your own business. For convenient and centralized information about small business resource material, free business counseling and workshops, call or go to these state and county agencies:
The Small Business Information
Center of Hillsborough County
7402 N. 56th St., Suite 425
Tampa, FL 33617 (813) 914-4028
http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/sbic Pinellas County Economic Development
13805 58th St. North, Suites 1-200
Clearwater, FL 33760 (888) 759-5627
http://www.pced.org/entrepreneurs/business_information_center.asp Florida Small Business Development Center
11000 University Parkway, Building 38
Pensacola, FL 32514 (866) 737-7232
(850) 473-7800
http://www.floridasbdc.com read more...
