Denise Flores
GUEST COLUMNIST
LAREDO MORNING TIMES | LMTONLINE.COM
On the eve of its first anniversary, on Feb. 1, 2024, the Laredo College Workforce Development Center is proud to reiterate its commitment to upholding its mission of connecting students to career and
employment resources, pathway coaching and career navigation while also providing employers an all-inclusive source of training opportunities for the expansion of upskilling and reskilling in the workforce.
The Workforce Development Center has two main areas of focus—Career Services and Employer Initiatives: Career Services provides assistance to prepare students and LC alumni for the workforce, offering services in job discovery, resume assistance, interview coaching and individualized career development plans. It is a one-stop shop dedicated to connecting students to our workforce.
Employer Initiatives connects Laredo College students and alumni to employers and our supportive communities.
To help them train and support their workforce, we operate in partnership with local businesses by utilizing training grants, internships and job postings.
Laredo College students and alumni represent a pool of talented job seekers in the South Texas region. Through the Workforce Development Center, employers and students can use available resources and tools to fulfill the demands of the expanding economy.
The center is dedicated to creating professional leaders in our community by offering services such as soft skills development, workplace readiness, job opportunities, internships and much more.
We understand that navigating the job market and planning for your future career can be daunting and intimidating, and our center is confident that through strong partnerships with public and
private entities, we can continue to empower the future generation of workers in our region.
Workforce Virtual Station at LC South
As this new year begins, the center is excited to launch a Workforce Virtual Station (WVS) at its South Campus thanks to a new partnership with Workforce Solutions for South Texas.
Located throughout the South Texas region, these WVS offer customers the opportunity to be connected via video with the Workforce Solutions for South Texas Laredo center staff to receive the assistance they need in real time.
The WVS is equipped with a study carrel, personal computer, camera, microphone, printer, scanner and headphones. Additionally, the station includes auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities. With the introduction of these WVS, the community can now experience the same level of service and support as if they were physically present at Texas Workforce Solutions for
South Texas facilities. The dedicated staff will be available to assist customers, answer their queries and provide the necessary guidance to ensure a seamless experience.
The WVS is designed to bring these services closer to the community, eliminating the need for long commutes or travel expenses. By establishing these convenient locations, Laredo College and Workforce
Solutions for South Texas aim to make services more accessible to individuals across the tri-county area of Jim Hogg, Webb and Zapata.
Workforce Solutions for South Texas offers a wide range of work-related services to help people find the jobs they need. Whether you are diving into the job market, want to explore training options or have any other inquiries, the workforce virtual stations are equipped to cater to your needs.
We encourage our students, alumni and any community member looking for employment or career development opportunities to take advantage of these workforce virtual stations and experience the convenience of accessing the services without the need to travel.
The WVS is located on the first floor of the Billy Hall Jr. Student Center at the Laredo College South Campus, 5500 Zapata Highway.
For more information about the LC Workforce Development Center, visit them at the LC Ft. McIntosh Campus at the Harold R. Yeary Library in room 201. Hours of operation are Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. You can also call (956) 794-4610, email workforcedevctr@laredo.edu or visit www.laredo.edu/workforcedevelopmentcenter.
Denise Flores is the Laredo College Workforce Development Center Director.
