State Senator Hunter Hosts Unemployment Workshop
Photo By: Lee Edwards
Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-3) assembled state employment agencies at Kennedy King College, 6301 S. Halsted, last week for a workshop designed to educate residents within her district about jobs available at the State of Illinois. The event also featured a small job fair for the unemployed and under-employed.
State agencies who participated included the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), Central Management Services (CMS), Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois State Police, and the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation.
“Moving forward, what I hope to achieve from this particular event is [that] people can walk away with a clearer understanding on how to appropriately write a resume, and how to appropriately access state services because once you learn how to access those services you’re going to learn how to access the entire state government,” said Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-3). “These are [my constituents’] tax dollars that we’re using and spending every day so why not bring the services to them so they can take advantage of it and figure out how they fit in state government.”
The workshop's timing could not have been better. According to recent IDES unemployment rate statistics, even with a steady decrease in unemployment for six months straight in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville metropolitan area, there are still 348,000 unemployed individuals after accounting for seasonal adjustments in January 2014.
To help lower those figures, CMS and other state agencies are currently accepting applications from Illinois job seekers. During the workshop, CMS representative, Barbara McDonald, a career counselor with the state of Illinois’ human enrichment program, explained how to properly apply for job opportunities with CMS as well as other agencies within the state of Illinois database.
Applicants must first take an automated 90 minute multiple choice exam on a touch screen computer. Exams are administered Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at official CMS testing centers. Upon completing the exam, individuals will receive their test results that range from: A – well-qualified; B –qualified; C-minimally qualified; and fail. Exams can be retaken after 30 days and results can be contested through written appeals. Hiring state agencies first select applicants who test in the A grade range and and continue to the next grade range in descending order. Several state agencies pull candidates from CMS applicants.
Complying with federal law, United States veterans will receive priority in job selection in IDES career databases.
Individuals with higher formal education degrees will too, receive priority consideration, however, persons with GEDs and higher are encouraged to apply.
Available positions with the state of Illinois include: social service career trainee, public aid eligibility assistant, mental health technician, rehabilitation case coordinator and rehabilitation counselor.
For more information about CMS visit http://www2.illinois.gov/cms/Pages/default.aspx.
Latest Stories
- South Suburban College Addresses Potential Faculty Strike with Commitment to Resolution and Transparency
- COOK COUNTY CLERK-ELECT ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP OF TRANSITION TEAM
- Chicago Native Receives Grammy Nomination
- Country Club Hills School District #160 Celebrates Progress with Release of Illinois Report Card
- JARRARD INC. ADDS SENIOR LEADERS IN RESPONSE TO CONTINUED STELLAR GROWTH
Latest Podcast
A.L. Smith - Harold Washington Legacy Committee
