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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 12, 2004)
May 12. 2004 5 l?f }Jnrtlanh (©beerbe L'r Page AS WomenBuild Ignites Careers I Work at Home Schemes . 1 Don’t get caught in the trap Local female students sample on-the-job experi ence in the con struction trades during a training orientation session \ with Charlene Getchell (left), a I union-trained journey level carpenter. | photo by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver Young women consider jobs in construction Young women from the Portland area are considering jobs and get ting some first-hand experience in the construction trades thanks to Portland YouthBuilders and its WomenBuild Initiative. The program is an effort to ex pand core construction training to women by significantly increasing the participation of females in a historically male-dominated profes sion. YouthBuilders Construction Trainer Charlene Getchell recently led female students in a week-long orientation prior to the start of regu lar classes. Getchell is a union- trained journey level carpenter with 10 years of construction experience in Chicago and Portland. “I’m looking forward to intro ducing women into the trade, giv ing women a chance to experience construction without having to jump head first into industrial con struction work,” Getchell said. The students were first given a history lesson on women in con struction, discussed the benefits and challenges facing women in the trades, and then got on-the-job training in the use of construction tools and materials. According to Jill Walters, the program's executive director, the WomenBuild Initiative will draw on the support of advocates in the construction industry. For enrollment information and to learn more about the program, call Sara Kirschenbaum at 503-286- 9350, extension 219. T e le c o m m u tin g has b e com e a rising trend for w ork ing m om s and dads, high- earning executives, and entry level adm inistrators. The ad vantage for many is not fight ing gridlock to get your job done. And the work environ m ent, your home office, is a c o m fo rtab le, business suit- optional environm ent. But when it comes to home- based jobs, let the jo b seeker beware. “There are very few legiti mate work-at-hom e opportu nities available," says Beverley Williams, presidentand founder of the American Association of Home-Based Businesses. W ork-at-home scams, how ever, are plentiful. The Better Business Bureau received nearly 28O,(XM) inquir ies related to work-at-hom e scam s. A . As the job market worsens, the more ads appear for work-at- home scams. In fact, the origin for these scams date back to the Great Depression. “They never go away,” says Holly Cherico, vice president of communications for the Better Business Bureaus. "They tend to surge in numbers and intensity in uncertain times.” W ork-at-home scams target the unskilled, homebound or fi nancially needy with promises of easy money. The most common victims are students, stay-at-hom e moms, the disabled, the elderly and those who have been laid off, Cherico said. A desire to “get rich quick” can make you especially vulner able to work-at-home scams. “Instant money with little time or skill involved is just not a reality,” Williams said. A little common sense and the help o f two powerful consumer watchdogs can help you steer clear of work-at-home scams. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN APPRENTICESHIP Are you interested in a FUTURE in the Building Trades? Succeeding in a Diverse Workplace U.A. Local 290 will be accepting applications for Plumber and Steamfitter Apprentices (MA #1070 & MA#1071) Good mindset can help build successful career This is a notice to establish a pool of eligibles. No matter what your color, cul ture, sex, age or special circum stance, today’s workplace de mands that you meet the chal lenge of succeeding in a diverse workplace. Some people approach a job with a negative mindset, perhaps based on individual or cultural influences. This mindset is not conducive to either the growth or well being of their career. S ta te m e n ts such as "A ll they’re getting out of me is my eight hours; then I’m outta here” indicate a lack of business savvy and project the image of a person who doesn’t really want a suc cessful career. According to the career coun- seling group Multicultural Advan tage, when you get into a specific industry and then a particular com pany, you’ll want to pay attention to the unique culture you find there and adjust your business mindset to incorporate its standards and expectations. Developing a business mindset may mean tempering your indi viduality with the corporate cul ture. Career experts say this can be done without giving up your values, pride and dignity. Statistics show that being as sertive and taking responsibility for advancing your career will take you much farther than waiting for someone to lead you up the cor porate ladder. More than 70 percent of people get jo b s through netw orking. Don’t limit your access to a select lew. Instead, accept that network ing is an essential component of the business mindset. Always introduce yourself in new situations. Looking the part is as important as performing well. Dressing appropriately for your business helps you feel like a career-minded professional and will help you assimilate with your coworkers. Seek out mentors. Allow some one to experience the joy of help ing guide your career. Be willing to accept whomever the universe provides to you as a mentor. Seek out a mentor o f power. Unemployment Figures Discourage Unemployment numbers re leased Friday continue a disturb ing trend within the African- American community - people are becoming so discouraged with the job market that they have stopped looking for work all to gether. National figures show 14 1,(MX) African Americans quit looking for work in April because they believed there were no jobs avail able and 259,000 African Ameri cans were forced to take part- time work in April because they couldn’t find full time jobs. T he em p lo y m en t o u tlo o k , along with an African-American unemployment rate that is 15 per cent higher than when President Bush took office three years ago, is a campaign issue in the upcom ing presidential election. Democratic National Commit tee Chairman Terry McAuliffe said Friday that Americans are in the w orst econom ic recovery since the Great Depression. “The few jobs that are avail able pay much less and offer fewer benefits. Add this to the middle class tax squeeze that many Afri- area Q im s id e e l e c t r ic a l . Area I Inside Electrical JATC: Applications being accepted for electrical apprentices May 3 - 6 ; May IO - 12 and May 17-18 from IO:(X)am MONDAY, June 14 through FRIDAY, June 25, 2004, 9:00am - 4pm weekdays WHERE: Apply in person: U.A. Local 290 Training Center, 20220 SW Teton Avenue, Tualatin, Oregon 97062; 691-1997. Contact. Robert Kimes AGE: Must be at least 18 years old (proof required - non- returnable copy of birth certificate, or current driver’s license) REQUIREMENTS: High school graduate with C average or better OR GED with a minimum score of 255 if test was taken before 1/1/02 or a score of 2550 if the test was taken after 1/1/02; AND C or better in one year high school algebra. Official transcripts are required and must be mailed d ire c tly from the institution to Local 290 Training Center by July 12, 2004. N0TICE of non - discriminatory policy as to students The United Association Local 290 Apprenticeship and Journeymen Training Trust Fund admits students of any gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to apprentices at the school It does not discnminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its apprenticeship policies, admission policies and other Trust-administered programs can-American families are going through, and you have the worst e c o n o m ic c o n d itio n s since Herbert Hoover. In acampaign rally Friday, Bush emphasized that overall unem ploym ent dropped last month from 5.7 percent to 5.6 percent. John Endicott, Business Manager GET THE EDUCATION, THE TRAINING, T U I- 1 1 BU JA TC WHEN: I H R V U Job Corps was designed for yon - America’s youtb Take advantage o f tbe many career choices available at Job Corps campuses. I . Achieve Mere! J° b C °r Ps 's a f ree education and career tra in in g program th a t helps young adults, betw een th e ages 16 and 24, g e t a b e tte r job, make m ore m oney and take c o n tro l o f th e ir life. Learn Career Skills. Find Direction. Finish School. Get the Job. The program offers career tra in in g in many occupations, including: • Welding • Health Services • Retail Sales until 4:(X)pm ONLY. Apply in person at 19142 S Molalla Ave., Ste B Oregon or toll Culinary Arts Office Technologies Computer Services •Electrical • Carpentry CALL 503-326-6800 free 1-877-JOBCORPS fo r y o u r n e a re s t r e c r u itm e n t o ffic e . City, OR. For further information you may call 503-722-7261 or go to our website at www.arealjatc.org for? 8 JOB CORPS THE CHOICES YOU MAKE... MAKE YOU!