ANDERSON – The process of applying for jobs with existing or new companies locating in Anderson has been simplified by a new program started by the city.
The HireAnderson program was launched Thursday on the city’s website at the Hire Anderson icon. The city’s website is www.cityofanderson.com.
Local residents can submit an application and resume on the website that will be provided to companies looking to hire immediately or in the future and companies will have the ability to post job openings.
Within the next week a dozen billboards will be going up to make people aware of the HireAnderson campaign.
The initiative is specifically geared toward Anderson residents and focuses on connecting unemployed or under employed citizens with employers at various local manufacturing facilities and businesses. Applicants will also be connected with organizations that assist with job placement and training.
Greg Winkler, executive director of the Anderson Economic Development Department, said the idea started four months ago in discussions with John Bostic, Anderson Township trustee, and JobSource.
Bostic indicated there were a lot of Anderson Township residents who didn’t know who to submit an application or resume when searching for employment, he said.
“The residents wouldn’t make the effort to start the process,” Winkler said. “We wanted to simplify the process.”
Residents have access to the Internet at the Anderson Public Library and the Anderson Impact Center, both of which have computers available for public use.
Once the application is submitted it is received by the economic development department and forwarded to companies that wish to receive the applications.
“We’re putting together a list of companies that want to receive the applications and a list of companies that are hiring,” Winkler said. “On the website portal will be a way for people to directly apply with a specific company.”
Winkler said it gets people in the door and that JobSource will provide assistance to individuals wanting to create or update a resume.
Applicants should update their applications regularly, he said.
“This is a homegrown idea to create a one-stop shop for applying for a job,” Winkler said.
At a recent job fair offered by JobSource/WorkOne, more than 1,000 job openings were available. Employers throughout Anderson and Madison County are seeking employees, the city said in a press release.