Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Workforce Readiness program caps warehousing training

The eighth group of participants in the Society for Human Resource Management's Workforce Readiness Initiative completed a week of job preparation and warehousing skills in their efforts to find employment in today's tough job market. This group of job seekers, referred by the CNMI Department of Labor and the Workforce Investment Act Office, completed 40 hours of training during the week of Oct. 15-19, with warehousing and OSHA classroom training and on-site observation of warehousing operations, plus forklift training and testing to obtain their forklift operator certification.

The program is now soliciting openings to help their graduates-all U.S. qualified workers-find jobs. Businesses needing warehousemen, stockers, or employees for similar positions are encouraged to contact 233-7476. The program also has food service, waiter/waitress, and administrative staff available for work from earlier classes.

“The SHRM program is a positive effort to help U.S. qualified workers join the local workforce. Our efforts, so far, have been successful in providing good introductory and basic training,” said Frank Gibson, Initiative program manager for SHRM. “Our participants are ready to join a company and continuing their learning through daily warehousing work. They have all shown their sincere intention, attending each day of training, showing up on time, showing interest and participating well. They received good solid training from knowledgeable and experienced instructors from the business community. We have already arranged interviews to place several of the trainees but still need additional openings to provide opportunities for our graduates.”

The eighth Initiative program participants were Elton Aguon, Kenneth Aguon, James Camacho, Ron Maverick Carreira, Lorenzo B. Lifoifoi, Anthony Ogumoro, John Omar, Alfonso Sablan Palacios, John Edward Peter, Jonathan Rabauliman, Luis P. Sablan, and Itimal L. Taisakan.

The warehousing program included job preparation classes on job applications and resumes, job interviews, equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, job search responsibilities, and employer expectations. Skills training classes were provided on customer service, OSHA requirements, basic warehousing operations, basic warehousing maintenance, and forklift operation, culminating in hands-on forklift operation and certification.

Gibson said that the success of the program is also due to the professional skills and interest of the instructors. “I would like to thank the SHRM members, Mr. Jim Arenovski from Delta Management, Ms. Malou Ernest from Tan Holdings, and Mr. Juan I. Tenorio from the Hafadai Beach Hotel, who worked with the participants to prepare them for employment. Special thanks are owed to Mr. Joven Cruz from CTSI Logistics for the warehousing and OSHA training and the use of the CTSI warehouse area as a training venue. I would also like to thank Mr. Vicente Aldan, from Ace Hardware CNMI, Inc., for the forklift training and certification, and Mr. Max Kretzers, D&Q Company/Tan Holdings, and other staff of CTSI and D&Q who volunteered their time to assist in the warehouse tour. I appreciate the business community's willing assistance.”

The Workforce Readiness Initiative is funded by a grant awarded to the CNMI SHRM by the U.S. Department of the the Interior through the CNMI Department of Commerce in support of the CNMI Economic and Labor Enhancement Program. This initiative to benefit the community started on April 16 with a one-week warehouseman training program and just recently completed this seventh program for warehousing trainees, and will hold an additional four training programs this year.

The Workforce Readiness Initiative is for the benefit of unemployed U.S. qualified workers. Qualified individuals who are registered with WIA or the DOL Employment Services should contact those offices and let them know of their interest. Those who are not registered and are interested in joining one of the Initiative programs should immediately register with WIA and express their interest. All interested candidates should sign up with WIA to allow them to help employers with funding of Initiative graduates. Interested individuals can also contact Gibson by e-mail at hrsupportcnmi@gmail.com.

Although the Initiative does not guarantee a job for every participant, it will make every effort to get each graduate employed. Several companies have already committed to accepting Initiative graduates and the Initiative will continue to source jobs through its SHRM-member companies and other employers. Companies interested in considering Initiative graduates may also contact Gibson at hrsupportcnmi@gmail.com.

This program is supported by federal funds in the amount of $102,000 under the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, CNMI Economic and Labor Enhancement Program through a sub-grant award to the CNMI Chapter of the Society of Human Resources from the CNMI Department of Commerce. The CNMI SHRM Initiative is managed by HR Support, CNMI, a CNMI-licensed Human Resource Management consulting and training company. (SHRM)