Scott Maynard, director of economic development for St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, and Val Matta, managing director of Jacksonville-based CareerShift, a division of Student Playbook, gave a presentation in April at the 59th Annual Cooperative Education and Internship Association Conference in Alexandria, Virginia.
The theme was “Celebrate, Advocate and Inspire.” The association is a worldwide organization focused on work-integrated learning.
Matta and Maynard presented their topic, “Teaching Pro-active Job Search Skills in Today’s Market,” which focused on identifying opportunities and effective strategies to secure employment.
“It is interesting to note that many employment opportunities are never posted to job boards or recruiting sites,” said Maynard. “The best way to identify the hidden opportunities is through effective networking and research. Understanding key techniques can enhance your chances of securing an interview and being offered a position.”
Maynard and his team at St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce concentrate on workforce development as a top priority. The organization continues to coordinate with its membership and local education institutions at all levels to provide a sustainable talent pipeline to meet the burgeoning county’s needs.
According to Maynard, an untapped market may be the large number of new residents who are currently working remotely throughout the region.
“We must encourage the talent that is relocating to this area to seek out employment with local business and industry,” he said. “We are also collaborating with area entrepreneurs to grow and expand their businesses in St. Johns County. This may accommodate employment for the influx of professionals who are moving here from across the U.S. While our population has increased more than 45 percent in the last decade, we have opportunities for employment at all levels. St. Johns County currently has an unemployment rate of 2.3 percent, but there are still many open positions throughout the county.”
