Jeffrey Mosher talks with Edythe Copeland, CEO of CAMW! Capital Area Michigan Works about virtual and remote services that CAMW! offers. 

QUESTION: How is CAMW! helping job seekers and employers right now?

ANSWER: To ensure the safety of our staff and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Capital Area Michigan Works! is only providing essential services until further notice, and shifting to fully virtual and remote services during this time. We know during this unprecedented time, there are many people who simply aren’t in a position to suspend their job search, and many more being affected by the economic ramifications of novel  coronavirus. And thus, we are adapting our services to meet the times, and frankly, launch some new innovations we’ve been considering. We also know that some of our employers are hiring now more than ever, so we are continuing to serve them through our Business Services Team. 

QUESTION: How can job seekers and employers access CAMW!’s virtual and remote services?

ANSWER: We’re offering services both online and over the phone.

 ● For assistance with employment related services or to schedule a phone appointment with the Lansing American Job Center team, please leave a message at 517-492-5536, to connect with the Charlotte American Job Center, please call 517-816-6980, and to connect with the St. Johns American Job Center, please call 989-224-2000.

 ● To connect via email with our employment related services or to schedule a phone appointment, please email LansingGreeter@camw.net. 

● For employer-related assistance, please call 517-492-5500 and select the “Employer” option to leave a message for a return call from our Business Services Team. 

● Individual program contacts can be found at camw.org, under the “About Us” then “Contact” tabs. 

● For information on unemployment and to file a claim, please visit https://www.michigan.gov/UIA, 

or call 1-866-500-0017. 

QUESTION: How is CAMW! specifically helping employers during this time?

ANSWER: Our Business Services Team is busy at work to support local employers. Most of their efforts recently have included helping the companies that are hiring with their recruiting strategies. Specifically, some are exploring new and innovative ways to edit their job postings and messages. Most are reexamining their internal processes in order to digitize steps that can be done remotely. Employers who are hiring are reassessing their hiring process and some are even trying to create entirely new systems. Our team is assisting in the ways that we can in order to make sure that our local businesses are getting the support they need. We’re exploring virtual job fair platforms that would allow us to expand the way we’re able to serve our employers virtually. Our team also worked with LEAP to help review applications for the recently awarded Michigan Small Business Relief Program grants allocated to the Lansing region by Governor Whitmer through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

QUESTION: What other resources are available from CAMW! at this time? 

ANSWER: We have many tools and resources available digitally to help with job search from home, and as we adapt to this new environment, many people are turning to online resources like LinkedIn and Pure Michigan Talent Connect at https://www.mitalent.org/. If you haven’t used Pure Michigan Talent Connect before, we have resources available under the “events” section of our website with information about creating an account and conducting a search. We also have a Job Seeker Resource page on camw.org under “events” that provides resources like the job search packet, resume and letter writing and various interview techniques. We recognize digital access is not a guarantee in today’s world, and the inability to visit an American Job Center may create significant hardships for some. Both Comcast and Spectrum have launched programs to offer free home-based internet services for the time being. Regarding our in-person events, some of our events, like CAMW! Connections, have moved completely online and our team is working to find digital solutions for our other recurring in person events and workshops. We will also be launching our popular Job Finders Group in a digital environment in the coming weeks. As we have more updates on those groups and other resources, we’ll be posting them on our website and social media accounts.