BOUNTIFUL -- If not one of the largest, LDS Employment Services is certainly one of the widest ranging job help organizations on the planet.
According to Welfare Square Center Director Dean Walker there are more than 259 centers throughout the world, including North, South and Central America, Europe, Asia, Africa and New Zealand. Each offers programs to assist first-time job hunters, parents (including single parents) and middle-aged professionals.
Davis County residents falling into the latter category can access assistance from centers located in Centerville, 298-4700, and Layton, 593-5347.
"Our programs for professionals are located in each of our centers," said Walker. "So people can choose the center closest to home."
He reminded job seekers that the centers' services are not restricted to members of the LDS Church. Referrals do have to be made through the ecclesiastical leader in their area, usually a bishop. Centers, however, can help the person make the appropriate contact.
One experience common to all job searches, especially those conducted alone, is frustration. In a still tight job climate it can take a long time to find an open position, "many months," even under the best conditions, Walker noted. But those trying it alone are handicapped by a lack of resources, inside knowledge and support.
While LDS Employment Services has not dealt with anyone so desperate as to end it all, Walker said he can understand the level of frustration, fear and helplessness some people feel.
"I still think the best approach is helping people understand that while it is a challenge," he explained, "there is hope."
For anyone dropping by one of the service's centers for the first time, it usually doesn't take long to convey that feeling. From the moment they walk in the door, they are directed through a step-by-step process aimed at finding a new job.
"Persons sign in at the front desk," Walker stated, "where they fill out a small form, including their job history and what their career goal is."
Clients can make use of an extensive selection of resource booklets on topics such as small business development, community resources, educational opportunities, employer information, job search advice and others.
Still more books are offered providing information dealing with parents and single parents, senior citizens, area SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) chapters, college and training schools, local adult education opportunities, apprenticeship programs, technical colleges and even the Larry H. Miller Entrepreneur-ial Center.
"We also provide what we call 'basic helps,'" pointed out Walker. "They include titles like 'Four Steps to Finding Jobs,' 'Why Applications Fail to Get Jobs,' 'Networking,' 'Power Statement,' 'Interviewing Skills' and more."
All of the center's library materials are available to clients. These include catalogs of 'headhunters,' ideas for persons looking at changing careers and how to write attention-getting resumes.
But perhaps the most important service the centers provide are employment and networking workshops. The Welfare Square Center has a large meeting room for conducting these gatherings.
"Each person is given 30 seconds to introduce themselves and the kind of job they are looking for," Walker noted. "Then we have a guest speaker. In recent weeks our speakers have included Sen. Robert Bennett and Curtis Brunson of L-3 Communications."
After the speaker has concluded his comments, job seekers can huddle for some good, old-fashioned networking, discussing job openings they've heard about.
"It's kind of interesting," said Walker. "Someone hears of a new job, but finds that it's just not a good fit for them. It may, however, fit someone else. It's a case of job seekers helping job seekers."
In closing Walker stressed that LDS Employment Services is not the only game in town. There are many services, including the Utah Department of Workforce Services, that can help.
The important thing is that job hunters make use of the help that is available.
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