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WORKLOCAL NEWS

Green Exchange Gets it Right

09/28/12

Green Exchange Gets it Right

John McCarron
Published: May 11, 2012

The next time someone asks what exactly LISC Chicago does, one good way to explain would be telling the story of the Green Exchange.

Oh sure, you could say LISC is an “intermediary” between funders and community developers. Or that it fosters the comprehensive recovery of challenged neighborhoods so they can reconnect to the metro region’s economic mainstream.

All true enough.

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WORKLOCAL NEWS

Fourth Worklocal.org Event Results in Large Turnout

02/17/12

Our fourth Worklocal.org Networking Event was Thursday night at Green Exchange, and we had our biggest turnout ever. Over 100 people showed up to the event, far exceeding our expectation. The event was hosted at the airy, softly-lit Greenhouse Loft and beverages and a light buffet was catered by Goose Island Brewing. Job seekers networked with employers at Rainforest Learning Center (recipient of its first micro-loan for $100,000 through LEED Council’s federally funded small business micro-loan program), GreenChoice Bank, Coyote Logistics and Greenhouse Loft before the event began, shaking hands and swapping resumes and business cards.

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JOB OPENING

Auto Dealership - Service Advisors 905 - Full-Time Position

04/10/12

Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

  • Meet and greet service customers promptly in a professional and courteous manner.
  • Inspect vehicle and refer to service history to accurately identify and verify customer’s service needs.
  • Promote the sales of appropriate services, parts, and accessories by thoroughly understanding the product and associated service requirements. 
  • Provide accurate cost and time of completion estimates for the services recommended, communicate and get proper authorization from customers.
  • Check on progress of services to vehicles throughout the day and contact customer to communicate and receive approval regarding any changes in the cost-estimate, promised time of delivery or recommended services.
  • Administer new and used vehicle warranty repairs in accordance with manufacturer warranty guidelines.
  • Confirm service appointments by telephone the day before the customer is scheduled to arrive and conduct post-repair follow up.
  • Inspect vehicles prior to each customer delivery to ensure vehicles services and/or repairs are performed correctly and communicate the results with the customer.
  • Meet requirements of the state and federal law for automobile repair and consumer protection.

You must log in or register, create an application, and create a resume to be eligible for job matching.

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RESOURCE

Possession of a Criminal Record does not Prevent Employment

05/01/13

By: Christopher Watts, MBA
Community & Career Builder

What do you remember from your last visit to McDonalds? Do you remember the food? Do you remember the service? McDonalds, a leader in the fast food industry, is known for both those things and one more thing – McDonalds hires candidates that possess a criminal record. I bet this was the furthest thing from your mind during your last visit.  Despite hiring candidates who possess a criminal record, McDonalds has a strong customer base and is an industry leader. I have never heard anyone say “McDonalds hires people that have a criminal record so I will not eat at this business.” The reason why is because their focus is on a quality product and service, not the criminal record status of its employees.

I encounter job seekers daily who tell me that they cannot obtain employment because of their criminal background. My response is always the same, “How do you know?”  For a candidate to be denied employment solely based on possession of a criminal record means that the candidate was interviewed and offered employment then the company conducted the background check and withdrew the offer. When I ask did this occur, I am usually told “no.” If a job seeker was never interviewed or offered the position, the job seeker was never a serious candidate.

Possession of a criminal record or not, job seekers must meet the stated qualifications for the position as well as effectively interview with a hiring manager who selects you over another candidate. Hiring managers hire individuals who will be most likely be successful in the position and add the most value to the team. If a hiring manager is looking for a truck driver and candidate A has a CDL, recent over-the-road experience and a criminal background for drugs prior to obtaining a CDL and whereas candidate B has a CDL but no experience, the hiring manager probably will hire candidate A.

Consumers do not make decisions about where they will eat, shop and lodge based on if a company has a reputation for hiring people who possess a criminal record. Consumers look for the company who best delivers desired goods and services, not the best company who delivers goods and services as well as does not hire people who possess a criminal record.

Job seekers who possess a criminal record should apply to any position of interest, follow the application instructions and take advantage of any opportunity to interview. Do not spend time wondering if the company hires candidates that possess a criminal record but rather spend time preparing on how to convince companies you are the best candidate to hire despite possessing a criminal record.

Companies do not publicly state a preference for candidates who possess a criminal record just as companies do not state a preference for candidates that are high school dropouts or parents behind in child support – companies publicly state the good, not the bad about its workforce. Job seekers should not let rumors or anyone persuade them to not pursue an employment opportunity because companies will not publicly state an openness or preference for candidates who possess a criminal record.

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