• By Todd Luck
• Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2019

DSS Employment Center Offers Services to Job Seekers

The Employment Center at the Forsyth County Department of Social Services offers a variety of services to job seekers.

The Center is located on the first floor of DSS, 741 N. Highland Avenue, and is open weekdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. It has a computer lab for online job searches and applications. Social workers are available to assist with career exploration and guidance, resume writing, preparing for a job interview, educational workshops and case management. They can also connect job seekers with resources for things like transportation and clothing for job interviews.

The Employment Center is for those who receive services from Social Services. Clients should be over 18 years-old, a US Citizen or legal resident of Forsyth County. The Center’s mission is to create pathways to opportunities that enhance employability, encourage self sufficiency and lead to employment.

Those receiving SNAP benefits may qualify for the Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training Program, which works with community partners Providence Culinary Kitchen, NCWorks, Forsyth Technical Community College, and Goodwill Industries to provide vocational training, job search and job retention services.

Employment Services Social Workers Micki Pope and Jalissa Truesdale provide a supportive and non-judgmental atmosphere for job seekers at the Center. They understand the long hours and hard work that goes into looking for employment.

“Searching for work is like a job itself,” said Truesdale. “We look at it as a full-time job that you’re not getting paid for.”

The Center also partners with employers for job fairs, and is pursuing more community partnerships to provide additional resources for its clients. It’ll also start providing services for those aging out of the local foster care system next year.

The center has already helped numerous clients in a variety of situations, even homelessness, find work. There’s a Hall of Fame in the computer lab filled with those who’ve found and maintained employment.

Pope said they help people look beyond their circumstances to find the skills that can lead to employment and self-sufficiency. She encourages job seekers not to be put off by hearing “no” from employers because, if they keep applying, they’ll eventually get that “yes.” She said there's a job out there for everyone.

“If they’re looking for a job and willing to do the work, we’ve got a spot for them here in the Employment Center,” said Pope.