Georgia Labor Dept. to assist laid off Hostess workers - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

The Georgia Department of Labor will be hosting workshops this week to assist Hostess Brand employees who were recently laid off because of the plant closure. 

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler is sending the Georgia Department of Labor's (GDOL's) newly-created Special Workforce Assistance Team (SWAT) to Columbus this week to provide specialized assistance to more than 400 Hostess Brands workers who lost their jobs when the Dolly Madison plant there closed in November. 

"Our goal is prepare the former Hostess employees to take full-advantage of the job opportunities offered at the upcoming Clear Channel Radio Career and Job Expo scheduled for February 14 in Columbus," said Butler. "Our team of experts from around the state will provide resume assistance and conduct various workshops, such as one we're creating on how to succeed at a job fair. The Hostess workers who participate in these training sessions will certainly be better prepared to attend this and other job fairs, and hopefully land a job with one of the many participating employers." 

The SWAT assistance for the former Hostess Brands workers will be held at Columbus Technical College at 928 Manchester Expressway on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 7-8. The sessions will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Building L600, rooms 600, 601, 602, 610, and 612. 

"I appreciate the cooperation of Columbus Technical College President Bob Jones, who is assisting us and providing the classrooms where the sessions will be conducted." 

The GDOL will provide certified resume writers to assist the Hostess workers with preparing strong, effective resumes to take to the Career and Job Expo.  Also, five workshops will be conducted throughout the two-day SWAT sessions. They will be on "Sell Yourself-Branding-Networking-Social Media," "Resume Writing," Interviewing Skills," "Job Search After 40," and "How to Succeed at a Job Fair."

To obtain additional information about the SWAT training sessions for former Hostess employees, visit the GDOL's Columbus Career Center at 700 Veterans Parkway, or call (706) 649-7423. 

This will be the first time the GDOL SWAT has conducted an event specifically for employees affected by one plant closing. The SWAT initiative debuted in October when the GDOL partnered with business leaders in Whitfield and Murray counties to address high levels of unemployment lingering from the recent recession.

For more information, call the Columbus Career Center at (706) 649-7423.

From the Georgia Department of Labor