Westchester and Putnam County residents have the opportunity to receive some of the best career development resources thanks to a partnership with Indeed.
The Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network (WPCCN) partnered with the global job search website that serves millions in an effort to bring more development to the fingertips of local job seekers. It is the first of its kind in the country, setting an example for many more programs to come.
The private-government partnership was born out of a connection between Kimberly Morella, a staff member at WPCCN, and her college friend Matt Berndt, head of Indeed’s Job Search Academy. Morella recognized partnership potential back in 2022 and stayed diligent in making sure it came to fruition.
“A light bulb went on for me,” says Berndt. “[Morella] said, ‘Can we send people to this?’ and I said, ‘Sure, but we could also create your own personal front door through a co-branded landing page.’”
Since June 2023, the Job Search Academy has allowed Westchester and Putnam County residents an opportunity to access more workshops and webinars that are specifically focused on topics for job seekers with barriers. It also increases options for job seekers by leveraging the strengths of both partners.
“We have the ability to do things at scale. We don’t have the ability to be there one on one for job seekers; that’s not who we are,” Berndt notes. “That’s what first responders do. I have yet to see a workforce board that is overstaffed or overfunded. I don’t believe they exist. We can provide resources that allow [workforce boards] to provide that frontline service that much more effectively, and then fill in the gaps.”
Webinars in the program have included topics like “Getting a Fair Chance: Strategies for Job Seekers With a Criminal Record,” “Breaking Down Barriers: Expert Advice for Job Seekers with Disabilities,” and more. Additionally, there are five sessions that help job seekers, which include job search, resume writing, interview prep, offer evaluation, and career direction. These online workshops offer a chance for job seekers to learn how to search for a job, prepare an impactful resume, prepare for a job interview, and evaluate opportunities.
Overall, the initiative is designed to empower individuals with the tools and confidence needed to navigate the job market effectively and secure meaningful employment opportunities. Job Search Academy’s free, virtual workshops and webinars are available to job seekers on the WPCCN website.
And there are other ways the partnership has flourished, too. WPCCN collaborated with Indeed at the fall New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals conference in Rochester to share the model with other folks who might also be interested in working with Indeed.
Thanks to the success of the WPCCN and Indeed partnership, others have come on board, including Rockland, Tompkins, and Dutchess counties. And it’s growing.
“There are a number who are in the process of an agreement,” says Berndt. That includes expanding to the university side by working with schools to provide the same access.
Sherry Bruck, a brand strategist and creative director at White Plains-based Harquin Creative Group who also works for WPCCN, has seen its success along the way, and is proud that WPCCN’s staff member helped the idea come to fruition and that the counties could set a precedent for this kind of work.
“They’re going to get the most up-to-date advice from Indeed on how to make sure their resume breaks through,” Bruck notes. “That’s really important because with so many employers on their site, they’re going to be tapped into what they are really looking for.”
Next Steps
For now, Job Search Academy continues to expand its live programming to help job seekers who are dealing with additional barriers. Future webinars include an “Ask a Career Strategist” session on March 3 at 9 p.m. and “Make the Most of Your Current Job” on March 12 at 1 p.m.
“I really love the fact our job seekers are just going to get more and more education on real-time trends and what to do with them,” says Bruck.
Check out the Job Search Academy for yourself.
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