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Greetings from Return to Roots!Some things will never change. According to Yahoo.com, one of those things is certain career paths. No matter where you are from, where you are right now or where you are headed, there are those jobs that will always be there—kind of like an old friend. These careers that Yahoo describes as “worthwhile and fulfilling” are:
Yahoo suggests that holding one of these positions in America today will keep you from becoming outsourced or even obsolete, especially in these tough economic times. Southwest Virginia is no different. We have all of these tried and true positions available, and more. We have those positions held by your mothers and fathers; positions that have been around for years and that will stay for generations to come. In addition to these dependable positions, we also have cutting edge positions—positions you have the education and practical experience for. These careers will help prepare Southwest Virginia for the future and expand its technological background, as well as prepare our children for whatever careers will become “indispensable” in the years to come. Return to Roots can help you find these positions; the tried and trues as well as the innovative positions you thought were only found in more urban areas. Log on to www.ReturntoRoots.org today and see the wealth of positions available in these various fields. | |
Michigan Native Reunites with Family in Southwest VirginiaA Michigan native succeeded in finding a job close to home in Southwest Virginia, thanks to the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission funded initiative Return to Roots. Return to Roots is a program managed by the regional business, economic and workforce development not-for-profit Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc. headquartered in Radford, Va. After a downsizing at General Dynamics in Marion, Allen Thiel was directed to the Return to Roots career website by the Russell County Chamber of Commerce. Through its user-friendly interface, Thiel found a link to a job opportunity with CGI and was hired as a Test Manager in late November of last year. After growing up in Warren, Mich., Thiel met a “southern belle” who wouldn’t consider moving north, so they made home in Southwest Virginia. By moving to Southwest Virginia, Thiel was able to reunite with his mother, father and brother who had moved to the area from Michigan ten years prior. When asked what the biggest deciding factor was for moving to Southwest Virginia, Thiel replied that it was “the people and the quality of life.” In terms of working with the Return to Roots website, Thiel found the job postings “very user friendly.” Compared to the Virginia Employment Commission and traditional newspaper ads, he noted that those conventional methods of job searching do not have as many high paying jobs, and that they were “not a place to inspire greatness.” Now living in Hansonville, Thiel encourages others who are considering returning to Southwest Virginia to make the move. “We’re on the forefront of the modern community,” Thiel said. For more information on the Return to Roots program, visit www.ReturntoRoots.org. Send Us Your Sucess Stories!We are continuously looking for success stories to feature on our website. We would love to hear from you if you have been interviewed or been hired by a company found through the Return to Roots program since registering with us. If you have a success story, please email Carl Mitchell, Program Manager, cmitchell@vebinc.org. Return to Roots Job OpportunitiesEach month, we will be featuring a short selection of the job postings that are available on www.returntoroots.org. If you are interested in the positions, know someone who is or are interested in other job opportunities, please be sure to visit the site. Take a glance at the list below to see this month's featured opportunities! Position: Clerical Assistant Position: Chiropractor Position: Administrative Assistant Position: Program Director Need a Job? Dress for Success!Originally I had planned on writing my next blog about cover letters to follow my recent blog “The Resume: Your First Impression”, but after attending a couple of career fairs recently, I realized there is a much more pressing matter: dressing for success. To continue reading this blog, visit http://www.returntoroots.org/blog/2009-04/dress-for-success/. Each week we feature 3 blogs on Southwest Virginia Topics. To read more blogs by student intern writers, go to |
Virginia’s Great Southwest
Are you or someone you know interested in returning to or living inVirginia’s Great Southwest? Be sure to visit www.swvaonline.org. This website provides information for locals, tourists, visitors and for newcomers relocating to Southwest Virginia. Local Events in SWVAMountainRose Vineyards Location: 10439 North Reservoir Road Wise, Virginia 24293 (276) 328-2013 Event:Winemaker's Dinner. Come Enjoy Dinner with the winemaker and taste new releases. To learn more, click here
Othello
Location: Abingdon, VA Community Business Expo 4:00-7:00pm. The Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce would like to invite your business to participate in a Community Business Expo. The expo is an outlet to display your products and/or services Contact: 276-223-3365 Horse Show Date: 5/30/2009 Location: Bland Fairgrounds, Bland, VA Description: Sponsored by the VA State Appaloosa Horse Club. Open/All Breeds.
Ashtanga Yoga Jeff Tiebout, yoga practioner with over 25 years experience in Iyengar, Integral, Kundalini and Ashtanga yoga, teaches the classical Ashtanga system, inclusive of vinyasa alignment and adaptation. Contact: Rio Simone Appalachian Trail: Garden Mountain, Chestnut Ridge, & Brushy Mountain
This saunter over Chestnut Ridge to Poor Valley and over Lynn Camp and Brushy Mountains offers the kind of remote, wild feeling for which the southern Appalachian Trail is known. The American chestnut that gave the ridge its name no longer survives, but there is still plenty to enjoy: the lush farmland of Burkes Garden, a spring-fed pond for cooling off, the stillness of the deep woods of Beartow... To learn more, click
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“JobQuest” Leads to Wonderful ResultsJobQuest" celebrated its fourth monthly episode on April 14, with 60 new job listings, a success story from a Christiansburg resident who found a job, and a new host for the popular show. So far "JobQuest" has alerted viewers to 230 job vacancies in the Blue Ridge region. The "JobQuest" phone lines and Internet chat room were again busy, with volunteers from the Roanoke Valley Society for Human Resource Management fielding a variety of questions. Christiansburg resident Celia Carter called in during an earlier episode when she saw information about a Virginia Tech job. Within days of applying for the job, she accepted an offer to work for the university's dining services. "I had wonderful results with 'JobQuest,'" Carter said. "And public broadcasting, they were a dream come true." Interviewing Carter was one of the first assignments for Julie Newman, "JobQuest's" new producer and host. "'JobQuest' is such an important public service, especially with so many people in our region out of work right now," she said. "I feel lucky to be part of such a meaningful program." Newman, who has a decade of broadcasting experience, is already looking for more job listings for the next "JobQuest," scheduled for Tuesday May 5 at 7 p.m. She is also lining up special guests for the May show who can provide valuable suggestions and insights to help shorten the job search. Virginia State Senator Roscoe Reynolds was a guest on the most recent "JobQuest." He talked about the challenges facing residents in the communities he serves, Virginia's 20th District, including Martinsville where unemployment was 20.2 percent for February 2009. That figure was the highest in the state for the month and nearly double Martinsville's rate from a year ago. Reynolds said the Virginia Employment Commission office in Martinsville has increased its staff so that they can help more people. Craig Herndon, creator of the Virginia Education Wizard (www.vawizard.org), was also on the program. The Wizard, a new web site from Virginia's Community Colleges, is a one-stop, online resource for people who want to change careers or who are preparing to enter the workforce. "JobQuest" continues May 5 at 7 p.m. with another live, information-packed broadcast. Source: PBS JobQuest |
Blue Ridge PBS JobQuestJoin Blue Ridge PBS in a community service partnership addressing the employment challenges facing our citizens. JobQuest—a monthly one-hour program broadcast live from the Blue Ridge PBS studio– make job seekers aware of job openings in our region. To learn more click here. The next hour-long program will be aired on Tuesday, May 5th at 7:00 PM.
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JobQuest gives you an inside look at healthcare training, jobs(Roanoke, Va.)—The May 5 episode of “JobQuest” will take viewers inside the Jefferson College of Health Sciences for a look at healthcare training and career opportunities. The show, airing live at 7 p.m., will also feature 60 new job openings from across the region and expert advice on how to land one. “JobQuest” host Julie Newman visits the Jefferson College of Health Sciences (JCHS) in Roanoke, Va., to talk with a nursing student who already has a job lined up with Carilion Clinic. Viewers will also meet the college’s Director of Admissions to learn what is driving people to healthcare professions and how to get started. “We definitely have growing demand for healthcare education. All of our programs are seeing increases in enrollment,” said Mark Lambert, JCHS Coordinator of Communications and College Relations. “You always need healthcare workers, especially with an aging population and a shortage of nurses looming on the horizon.”
“‘JobQuest’ is a valuable resource for our job seeking viewers,” said James Baum, Blue Ridge PBS President and CEO. “We continue to add education segments, job listings and special guests who share useful information for successful job hunting in this tough economy. And it’s working. Our viewers are finding work.” For the May episode, the “JobQuest” phone lines will again be open, staffed by volunteers from the Roanoke Valley Society for Human Resource Management. A certified resume writer will host discussion in the “JobQuest” Internet chat room. Hundreds of people have called in and logged on during the first four episodes. The show will also feature expert opinions on the regional employment scene, and provide valuable suggestions to help shorten the job search. The May advice segment will be on how to write a cover letter that will get noticed. Visit www.BlueRidgePBS.org for a calendar of events, resume tips, links and job listings highlighted during the show. |
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JCHS is a professional health sciences college offering degrees in a variety of healthcare programs and, Lambert said, they are expanding programs to meet growing demand.