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Business & Tech

Career Central Mobile Brings Job Information To Land O' Lakes

Mobile One Stop Job Center helps get unemployed hooked up.

Mike Benson is in the driver's seat at least part of time as he moves the Career Central Mobile One Stop Job Information Center from home base to locations in Pasco and Hernando counties.

Benson carries a unique job title of Mobile One Stop Job Information Specialist, a blend of over-the-road driver experience, with computer and satellite communications savvy topped off by a people-friendly helpful presence.

The Mobile One Stop Center arrives onsite with 12 work stations that are immediately available, providing satellite linked computer connections to the EmployFlorida network of job databases and services. Benson said that with the exception of "return-to-base-deadlines" there are no time limits for use of the equipment and services. He's there to answer questions and to keep the links working for job seekers.

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Pasco and Hernando counties have been served by a mobile job information center for more than 10 years; the first version was a box truck outfitted with the tools of the trade. Today's mobile center is a customized recreational vehicle with features designed to be of service quickly and efficiently once onsite.

Dave Hamilton was the first mobile unit operator. He now handles the schedule and fills in once in a while on the road.

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“Our Mobile One Stop Center can also be used by employers for training, or if they are doing a major hiring and expect a lot of applicants,” Hamilton said. “The first day for exclusive uses of our Mobile Center is free, but (it's) $500 a day there after.”

Case in point one of the local colleges needed resources for quick training of a large number of employees.  The Mobile One Stop Center was scheduled, arrived on site and groups of 12 people completed the online tutorials and went back to work. Any other means of accomplishing training for that many people would have meant time off the job for travel to and from the site,  rental and set up of resources,  according to Benson.

The Mobile One Stop Center sees between 700 and 900 people per month.

There have been quite a few success stories along the way.

“The best part of this job is hearing back after they're employed,” said Benson. “I make suggestions on resumes and job searches all the time. One person who was pretty regular at one of our stops for nearly a year, he called me late one evening to let me know that his resume changes worked. He apologized for the evening contact, but said he is  busy all day now...working.  Those are the kinds of calls that we want!”

The One Stop Mobile Center will be at the Land O' Lakes Library June 24 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Residents are invited to meet them there and energize their career searches. There is no charge for job search assistance.

Businesses with specialized needs for job training or recruitment should visit the www.careercentral.jobs website to complete a questionnaire. For information can also be obtained by emailing Hamilton at dhamilton@CareerCentral.jobs.

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