Dislocated & Discouraged: What One WDB is Doing to Support its

Professional Unemployed Workers

2008The Year Everything Changed for Charlotte

Why divert limit resources toward professionals?

• Business Attraction

• High paying jobs supports others

• Needed help

Is the Professional Different?

• High Expectations of service

• Low expectations of government

• They know how government operates

• Highly educated and experienced

Why not just send them to a JobLink?

• Social services feeling

• Lack of peers

• Lack of services

ProNet was born…

• We needed a new brand

• Services delivered in “familiar” setting

• Relevant programs and services

• Ownership… we needed stockholders!

So what do Professionals Need?

We asked them: We created advisory groups of users, recruiters/employers and alumni (the recently employed)

• Market Intelligence

• Branding

• Accountability

• Networking

Market Intelligence

• What are the jobs or industries of the future?

• When will the economy improve?

• Taking raw economic data and turning it into market intelligence

Branding

• What “Value” you bring an employer

• Social Media

• The Resume

• The elevator speech

Accountability

The Job Team

• Weekly meetings

• Share leads

• Member accountability

Networking

• How?

• Peer to Peer

• Employers

• Community organizations

Other Services

• Interview workshops

• How to negotiate salary and benefits

• Office space – a place to go!

• Resources for ProNet Alumni

What Makes ProNet Successful?

• Business Community Involvement

• Volunteers

• Use of technology

• Passionate Staff

What’s Next?

• Growing social media and awareness

• Online training

• Innovative new programs

Contact Information

Steve PartridgeManaging Director

Charlotte Regional Economic & Workforce Recovery Initiativespartridge@charlotteusa.com