Additional 10-Week Temporary Employment Positions Announced Bringing Total to 110
Workforce Solutions East Texas • September 24, 2020
10-Week Positions Paid Up to $15/hr.
Workforce Solutions East Texas (WSET) announces an additional 70 temporary positions to hire under the National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) bringing the total to 110. DWGs are discretionary grants awarded by the Secretary of Labor under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The grants provide resources to eligible applicants to respond to large, unexpected layoff events causing significant job losses. This funding is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to expand capacity to serve dislocated workers, including military service members, and meet the increased demand for WIOA employment and training services. The overall purpose of the grant is to reemploy laid-off workers and enhance their employability and earnings.
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Approximately 40 employment positions were previously open, but recently, The Secretary of Labor announced that 70 positions would be newly available in East Texas. The positions available are 10-week temporary employment opportunities to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts when an area is impacted by a disaster. The following positions are available to apply for in East Texas:
- Contact Tracers - $15/hr. in Tyler
- WSET, in conjunction with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), will hire, train, and supervise a team working remotely to support DSHS and local health departments to perform COVID-19 contact tracing activities statewide.
- Requirements: Previous medical experience, drug, and background check. Bilingual a plus.
- Process Assistant - $11/hr. in Tyler
- Responsible for providing support for all areas of the manufacturing process related to kits to be used for COVID-19 testing. Duties include accurately labeling tubes that define viral transport medium, filling tubes with appropriate amounts, packaging and preparing shipments daily, and moving and transporting supplies as needed.
- Screener Concierge - $12.31/hr. in Longview, Tyler, Jacksonville, Athens, Overton, and Lindale
- Positions available at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler responsible for acknowledging the arrival and departure of patients, visitors, customers, employees, and faculty. Will be responsible for conducting appropriate access determination (temperature check, access questions, etc.). Will ensure campus health restrictions are observed, providing a safe environment for faculty, patients, and visitors.
- Requirements: Nicotine and drug test, background check.
- Public Sanitation - $10 - $11.25/hr. in Longview, Kilgore, Tyler, and Palestine
- Cleaning and wiping windows, doors, walls, closets, and fixtures in classrooms, public areas, and hallways. Will be responsible for cleaning toilets and mirrors, counters, emptying trash, mopping floors, vacuuming carpets, and performing other duties as assigned.
Interested applicants may contact WSET staff member, Dana Welch, (903) 500-7154 for assistance, or apply here. Applicants need to enter COVID-19 and the position of interest in block G of the application. Anyone seeking employment opportunities should contact their local Workforce Solutions East Texas center
for assistance.
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is currently accepting applications for the Upskill Texas grant program. This technical training initiative provides crucial funding for Texas businesses looking to enhance their workforce's skills and remain competitive in today's rapidly evolving economy. Upskill Texas offers financial support to employers that are: Expanding their operations Retooling their processes Introducing new services or product lines Experiencing organizational structure changes that could avert layoffs Through Upskill Texas, employers may be reimbursed up to $3,000 per trainee for 100% technical training. The majority of the trainees must have been employed by the business for at least six months. To be eligible, businesses must have 100 or more employees located in Texas and provide a 50% employer match, which can include trainee wages and benefits. Private employers may appoint a designee for the grant, including community or technical colleges, third-party trainers, or workforce development boards. Projects can range from $150,000 to $500,000. Follow the link below to learn more.
Workforce Solutions East Texas is strengthening its role as a workforce development leader in the Palestine area by bringing some of the region’s top employers directly to the community. Through a growing series of hiring events hosted at the Palestine office, local job seekers are gaining direct access to employers, career opportunities, and a dedicated team ready to help them take their next step. The events have already generated strong results. On August 14, Wayne Sanderson Farms brought 51 job seekers to the Palestine office for a hiring event. The response was so strong that the company was able to fill its entire first shift through the event, demonstrating the impact that direct connections between employers and job seekers can have. The momentum continued on September 4, when East Texas Beef Processors welcomed 50 job seekers to its hiring event at the Palestine office. The strong turnout provided the company with an opportunity to connect with local talent while giving residents a chance to learn more about available careers and employment opportunities. These events are doing more than filling positions. They are helping Workforce Solutions East Texas build stronger relationships with employers throughout the region while establishing the Palestine office as a convenient, trusted resource for businesses and job seekers alike. By creating opportunities for employers to recruit locally, Workforce Solutions East Texas is helping strengthen the connection between the region’s workforce and the businesses that drive its economy. Residents looking for their next career opportunity are encouraged to stop by the Palestine Workforce Solutions East Texas office, meet with employers, explore available positions, and connect with the staff who are ready to provide guidance and support throughout their job search. As the Palestine office continues expanding its employer partnerships and hiring event offerings, Workforce Solutions East Texas is demonstrating what workforce development looks like in action: bringing employers and job seekers together, responding to the needs of the local economy, and creating pathways to opportunity right here in the community.
After 30 years with the same employer, Ms. Paul never imagined she would have to start over. Her career with a staffing company had been built over three decades of experience in customer service and payroll. Then, without warning, she was laid off. “It was nerve-wracking. I’m a single mom of two. How are we going to survive?” After such a long career with one employer, Ms. Paul wasn't sure where to begin. The job market had changed, and she worried about finding a position that valued her experience while meeting her salary needs. That's when she discovered Workforce Solutions East Texas and the RESEA program. Ms. Paul initially knew very little about RESEA. Through the program, she discovered the resources available through WorkInTexas.com, including the Virtual Recruiter, Resume Builder, job search tools, career exploration resources, and WIOA opportunities. But the greatest impact came from the personalized support of her Career Navigator, Cheryl Jackson. Cheryl helped Ms. Paul update her resume, explore new career possibilities, prepare for interviews, and regain confidence in a job market she hadn't navigated in 30 years. “Cheryl gave me the confidence to job search and interview. Thirty years ago was so different from now, so her guidance was very helpful.” Through career exploration and mock interviews, Ms. Paul discovered opportunities she had never considered and gained the confidence to present her skills to employers. “She gave me the confidence and support I needed.” Today, Ms. Paul is working in payroll and invoicing for a staffing company and will soon take on additional responsibilities in fleet management. What began as an unexpected and frightening transition became a new chapter filled with possibility. RESEA didn't just connect Ms. Paul with resource, it helped her recognize that after 30 years of experience, she wasn't starting over. She was moving forward with confidence. Her advice to others facing an unexpected job loss is simple: “Use all of your resources. You never know where a job will come from, so use everything.”
