May 12. 2004
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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!