For nearly 30 years, the Tri-Valley One-Stop (TVOS) Career Center has played matchmaker between local employers seeking qualified talent and job seekers looking for new opportunities. Based in Dublin, TVOS has helped hundreds of companies find and hire talent at no charge to the companies. In some cases, TVOS also helps businesses lower their training costs and reduce turnover rates.

"We are the only employment service of its kind the Tri-Valley," says Program Manager Sarah Holtzclaw. "The vast majority of our services are free to both the job seekers and the employers."

Because TVOS receives federal funding, some people have the misconception that the organization serves only low-income individuals, according to Holtzclaw. In fact, TVOS job seekers mirror the Tri-Valley community and are skilled, educated, and experienced in white-collar professions.

"We place human resource professionals, IT managers, and project management specialists as often as we do middle-skilled or low-skilled job seekers," says Holtzclaw. "Our job seekers often find jobs of ranging from $25,000 to $125,000 annually. In fact, the average hourly wage for all our job seekers who found work last year was over $25 an hour."

The organization's no-fee employer services are customized for each company. In addition to helping employers find qualified job candidates, TVOS may be able to offer reimbursement for on-the-job training costs. TVOS also offers employers assistance in growing their business.

"We get to know the employers as best we can so we can provide a solid match that will hopefully last a long time," says Holtzclaw. "We know the job seekers' strengths and work with employers to find skilled employees who will help them build their business."

TVOS can boast many success stories of helping Tri-Valley job seekers find employment with local businesses that needed talent. One such job seeker was laid off from a large corporation and suffered through a series of setbacks until she discovered the services offered by TVOS.

This woman became part of a small networking group of other IT professionals at TVOS who supported each other through their job-seeking journey. Having learned the tricks of networking and LinkedIn, says Holtzclaw, the woman found a hiring manager at a large local company. The woman asked for an informational interview. That informational interview led to another, which led to a series of job interviews. The job seeker is now a full-time employee earning a six-figure salary.

This example is only one of many, according to Holtzclaw, who notes that oftentimes job seekers have experience in an industry but not in using an employer's specific equipment or particular job techniques. In those cases, an employer who hires a TVOS client may be eligible for up to $3,600 in reimbursement for on-the-job training costs. For smaller businesses, such reimbursement can be another important benefit of working with TVOS.

Employers are invited to use the TVOS online job board to list openings for free, search the TVOS resume bank, and sign up for a bimonthly newsletter. TVOS is funded primarily through the Alameda County Workforce Development Board and the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District. It is also a member of the EastBay Works collaborative network of career centers serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

For more information about the Tri-Valley One-Stop Career Center, visit www.trivalleyonestop.org.