Job seekers and employers in the Aurora area now have a new resource for getting and hiring for jobs: four new job kiosks that are being placed around Aurora, with more on the way in surrounding communities.
The job kiosks are an initiative by workNet Batavia, which serves Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties and aims to be a “one-stop career resource center offering services for both job seekers and employers,” according to a news release from Kane County and workNet Batavia.
There are 15 kiosks in all that will be placed throughout Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties, but the four in Aurora are meant to be a sort of pilot program, according to Jasmine Walker, a Workforce Development Board manager with Kane County. The Workforce Development Board oversees job training and employment services in Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties.
WorkNet Batavia provides things like career coaching, job search support, training referrals and other supportive services, per the news release. It’s run by Kane County, but is one of a network of Illinois workNet centers, according to Kane County Board member and Jobs Committee co-chair Anita Lewis.
The kiosks were funded by a $167,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce secured by Kane County, according to Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity gets funding through the United States Department of Labor as part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, according to a DCEO spokesperson.
On Tuesday, workNet Batavia and local elected officials hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a kiosk at the Quad County Urban League at 1685 N. Farnsworth Ave. in Aurora.
“We know that right now is a challenging time for people in the workforce,” Walker said at Tuesday’s event. “What better way than to meet them exactly where they are to help them get the resources that they need?”
The other three Aurora kiosks are being placed at Hesed House and the Santori and West Branch Aurora Public Library locations, per the news release announcing the initiative. On Tuesday, Walker told The Beacon-News that workNet Batavia will be launching more kiosks in December and is currently in the process of looking for more locations.
The kiosks have a job seeker form that leads to a survey where individuals can describe what kind of resources or opportunities they’re looking for. It also has links to view job boards, a list of events with workNet Batavia and a survey for companies or organizations looking to hire.
There’s also a QR code that enables users to make use of the links and resources once they leave the kiosk, Walker said.
On Tuesday, Walker said the initiative “brings people out so they’re not stuck in the shadows, feeling hopeless in their job search.”
Part of what workNet Batavia does is connect individuals with resources that might help them qualify for jobs, like internet and printing services, as well as employment counseling and workshops to develop job searching skills, per its website. It can also refer individuals to courses and provide grants and scholarships to cover some training at approved locations, though there are some restrictions on eligibility for these services, according to Walker.
On Tuesday, Pierog pointed to the role these kiosks could play in helping residents find jobs and make career switches.
“All of us, collectively, have gone through all of that,” she said, pointing to her own path from working as a university professor, administrator and now as an elected official. “Everything changes in your career spectrum, and that is something that this kiosk is going to be allowing.”
And Quad County Urban League President and CEO Theodia Gillespie said at the ribbon-cutting that the benefits of the initiative will extend beyond the job seekers themselves.
“This kiosk represents more than just innovation,” she said. “It embodies a vital connection to the resources that can empower our residents … and transform not only their lives, but also their families for the future.”
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com
