Oakland County Michigan Works has opened a new service center at 7500 Highland Road in Waterford Township. The location is expected to support the needs of more than 2,600 job seekers each month and replaces a nearby office, which closed last summer. JVS Human Services in Southfield will manage the location.
“The new Waterford office enhances the capabilities of Oakland County Michigan Works to help residents find jobs and employers hire staff,” says David Coulter, Oakland County executive. “Our goal is to make sure everyone has the resources they need to find opportunity across the job spectrum.”
The center was designed to meet a variety of needs ranging from private consultations and one-on-one job search assistance to training workshops and large workforce events. It also includes space for staff and meeting rooms and includes updated technology that will allow for more efficient service.
“JVS Human Services is excited to bring our person-centered approach to employment services to the job seekers of Oakland County,” says Paul Blatt, executive vice president and COO of JVS Human Services. “The new office is designed to provide job seekers and employers with a warm and inviting space. It is powered by the latest technology features, allowing for the business community and job seekers to connect seamlessly, resulting in a win-win for everyone.”
The center will offer workshops that focus on networking, resume development, online job searches, social media, overcoming age issues, personal branding, small business startups, and more. Counselors will also arrange formal training for job seekers using federal and state funding. The office is establishing partnerships with local school districts and other groups to create career pathway programs, job readiness training opportunities, and on-the-job training programs with local employers.
“We’re excited to have JVS Human Services as a key partner delivering services at our new Waterford location,” says Jennifer Llewellyn, director of Oakland County Michigan Works. “JVS and Oakland County have enjoyed a long-standing relationship, and we’re confident that our customers, both businesses and job seekers, will benefit from the high-quality, customer-centered services and programs delivered by the fantastic team there.”
Oakland County Michigan Works also operates service centers in Novi, Oak Park, Pontiac, Southfield, and Troy. Combined, they serve more than 105,000 job seekers each year through career coaching, interviewing workshops, job search workshops, placement assistance, training courses, and job trend information. They also help more than 3,000 employers with talent recruitment, apprenticeship programs, job fairs, candidate pre-screening, hiring and training support, layoff support, and labor market data.
JVS Human Services helps job seekers, people with disabilities, and seniors. In 2019, it provided services to more than 10,000 individuals.