Volume 6, No.3
Fall 2000

Feature Articles:
The Workforce Info Center (WIC): New Employer and Jobseeker Resource

WIC / Skills Match Link

America's Jobline

Contingent Workers and the New Economy

Archives

America's Jobline the Telephone Job Search Assistant
Now those unable to use standard computers may access America's Job Bank

This article appears courtesy of the National Federation of the Blind (http://www.nfb.org/jlmain.htm) and the ALMIS (America’s Labor Market Information System) Training Institute (http://www.lmi-net.org)

Q: What Is “America’s Jobline7”?

A: Jobline7 is a voice version of America’s Job Bank (AJB). This service was developed by the National Federation of the Blind with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Job seekers in Illinois can use the service by calling a toll-free number and following the prompts. All that is needed is a touch-tone telephone.
In Illinois, call (877) 310-3545.
For help direct your questions to Jobline7 coordinator:
Larry Love
E-mail: llove@ides.state.il.us
Phone: (217) 524-2976
Fax: (217) 524-6065.

Q: How Does “America’s Jobline7” Work?

A: For the user (normally someone who is looking for employment), America’s Jobline7...

• is instantly available on the telephone 24 hours a day to provide all job announcements in a high-quality synthetic speech format instead of printed text;
• provides all callers with the ability to search America’s Job Bank or a comparable statewide job order database;
• allows job seekers to create and store on the system personal job search profiles for use in quickly locating vacancies for which they are qualified; and
• allows users the option to retrieve only the new and relevant job listings posted since the last call or retrieve previously stored announcements.
  With “America’s Jobline7,” the user enters a search profile into the system using the standard touch-tone telephone keypad to respond to menu choices. As with the job announcement information, the menu choices are presented in a voice-output format.

Q: Whom Does “America’s Jobline7 ” Help?

A: The following two groups are helped most:

• persons who do not have or cannot use standard computers, who now have a convenient and easy-to-use access alternative to job information
• persons who cannot see or cannot read standard video display terminals, who now have audible access.

National surveys have estimated the unemployment rate for persons with disabilities to be as high as 70 percent. Access to job information by computer is now becoming commonplace in schools connected to the Internet, Job Service offices, professional and vocational preparation and training programs, and the growing number of one-stop employment and training service centers. However, persons who have difficulty with computer access--whether from disability or other causes--are in danger of being left behind. Accordingly, persons who are blind, individuals with significant visual impairments or dyslexia, and those unable to travel to job service centers will certainly benefit greatly from “America’s Jobline7.” This service can give them an effective means of obtaining 24-hour-a-day access to the same job listings that can be seen on computer screens.

SERVICES INCLUDED

Jobline7 has been designed to be implemented as a partnership effort. The principal partners are the United States Department of Labor, the National Federation of the Blind, and Illinopis Department of Employment Security

Dial-in access. Jobline7 is available toll-free to callers in Illinois. The service is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Opening announcement. The opening announcement includes initial instructions for getting started and accessing the “help” feature. The text of the opening announcement was developed by the NFB and IDES and includes the following acknowledgement: “Jobline7 is provided as a public service and is made possible with the assistance of the National Federation of the Blind and the United States Department of Labor.”

Data base access. The system provides interactive telephone access to the job-order data base provided by the state and to a national job-order data base provided by America’s Job Bank. The information is updated every twenty-four hours.

Universal access. The system receives input data in the form of electronic text and converts the text into full-word, high-quality, synthesized speech output. The conversion includes the presentation and updating of a menu structure which is suitable for a speech rather than a visual format.

Personalized job search capacity. The system allows each job seeker to conduct a personalized job search, using geographical area and individually specified job preference/qualifications as search criteria. Upon entering the system, each customer is given the opportunity to enter a previously stored personal profile number or to establish or edit a profile. Profile numbers are stored on the system and remain active unless unused for a 30-day period. A new profile under a new personally-selected number may be established by any customer at any time in accessing the system. Job seekers are also be given the option of changing or refining the search criteria at any time in using the system.

Customer-responsive navigation. The system allows each user to enter the search criteria in a personal profile by using the twelve standard buttons on the telephone touch-tone key pad. The geographical area may be specified as nationwide or by the postal zip code entered and the mileage range selected. Job category selections are presented at a pace that is slow enough to allow time for thought. Features such as “go-to-next” or “back-up-to-previous” listing are included to permit more rapid movement through the job categories and job listings. Confirmation messages are spoken when the user selects a major job category or subcategory. The responsive-movement features include a “how-to-apply” choice which can be selected or not during each job announcement. Users may exit the list, change a profile, or go to “help” at any time.

Jobs-presented memory. The system helps the user by separating new job listings from old job listings. Old job listings are those for which the user previously obtained the application information. New job listings include all of the currently active job announcements with the user’s particular job-search profile. With this feature the customer need not worry about losing track of an open opportunity.

Personalized voice and speaking-rate adjustments. The system includes options for each customer to choose one of nine different voices used for the spoken-word presentation and an adjustable speaking rate feature for speeding up or slowing down the presentation. The voice selection and speaking rate chosen are stored as part of each user’s personal profile and reactivated for the user each time upon entering the system.

Spelling text. Since job search information may often contain acronyms, proper names, or numbers, a spell-mode option has been included. This feature may be activated at any time while listening to a job announcement or the application information. While using the spell mode, the customer can move through the text word by word and number-string by number-string by either advancing or backing up to obtain the precise information. Upon exiting the spell mode, the user can resume searching for jobs at the point the spell mode was entered.

Online help. The system presents context-sensitive help information which can be obtained by the user at any time during a job search or when entering a personal profile.

Personnel training. IDES staff receive training, including instruction in acquainting job-seeking customers with the system’s features, potential, and use.

Technical assistance. The Jobline7 lead agency (JLA), designated in each state to implement the service, and each of the Jobline7 partner agencies (JPA), i.e. other participating agencies at the state or local level, are responsible for all promotion, publicity, and advertising of Jobline7 within the state. The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) provides written documentation to assist in presenting the customer operational features and explaining their use. This assistance includes the text of a ready-reference guide and an introductory brochure. Alterations in the text may be made by the JLA or the JPA provided that the content which explains the system’s operational features is approved by the NFB in advance of publication. All publications, releases, or other announcements concerning the system must include the prescribed opening announcement statement used to identify both the National Federation of the Blind and the United States Department of Labor as participants in making the Jobline7 service possible.

Keeping track of America’s Jobline7 users. The NFB provides reports to the Jobline7 lead agency on a monthly basis containing the following information:

• the number of calls taken per day,
• the average duration of each call, and
• a list of active profile numbers.

Illinois access. Statewide toll-free Jobline7 service is accessible in Illinois through the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Just dial (877)310-3545. According to Illinois Coordinator, Larry Love, 1,590 blind, visually impaired or dyslexic jobseekers and those unable to travel to their local Illinois Employment and Training Center (IETC) have used the 24-hour toll-free number to date.

See the NFB website, http://www.nfb.org/jlmain.htm, for complete instructions on using Jobline.