newjerseynewsroom.com

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development Wednesday launched a job-search engine on the website -- Jobs4Jersey.com -- to help New Jersey’s unemployed find work..

The free search engine -- OnRamp -- allows job-seekers to go online to quickly upload a resume or create a customized resume, even for industries where resumes are traditionally not used. Visitors to Jobs4Jersey.com can use OnRamp to have their skills showcased to possibly thousands of employers and access job opportunities listed on 2,400 websites with one search.

Through OnRamp, job-seekers may:

• Receive e-mail alerts on job matches, and customize how those alerts are received when employers post new jobs matching a job-seeker’s skills and experience

• Move their search beyond job titles by having the search engine list skills and knowledge outside a work history, such as experiences from volunteer work

• Learn how to improve the chances of being noticed by employers by following on-screen guidelines on improving a resume and a job search

OnRamp tool is an interactive system that permits job-seekers to regularly update their resume and job searches. The system allows an individual to create a profile for employers to review, and it allows them to create multiple job searches – customizing each one by geography, salary, industry or keywords that will attract prospective employers.

Using 400 New Jersey Transit buses to carry its message, the Labor Department simultaneously implemented an outreach initiative designed to invite more New Jerseyans to load resumes through Jobs4Jersey.com. The advertising effort will last 12 weeks, covering major cities in the north and central portions of the state.

The Labor Department intends to enhance the Jobs4Jersey.com system in the coming weeks to allow New Jersey employers to have a search-engine in which to upload their talent needs. New Jersey has 34 One-Stop Career Centers throughout the state to assist people looking for work with a wide variety of services ranging from training to public assistance.

“As we work to improve our state’s economy and create jobs for New Jersey families, the Christie administration will use every tool possible to meet our top priority of putting people back to work,” Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno said. “Coupled with our pro-growth agenda to spur private sector job creation in New Jersey, this new tool will help connect New Jerseyans with job opportunities that are available now and in the future.”

“This service is open to everyone,” Labor Commissioner Hal Wirths said. “People don’t have to wait to receive a pink slip to use it. We believe this will further our efforts to link job-seekers to the employers that are searching the state for new talent.”

To date, approximately 30,000 people have registered on the job-search engine to search for employment and nearly 24,000 of them have loaded a resume. Through an anonymous customer survey conducted through the system, nearly 200 users said they received an interview for system generated jobs; approximately 100 respondents said they have been offered jobs through OnRamp.