Finding a part-time job can be a challenge for many students, but there is a government agency in town with the sole purpose of helping people find employment.

The Iowa Workforce Development Center, 120 Kellogg Ave., works with state and federal agencies to find jobs for those looking for employment and help people get unemployment benefits, said Ernest Ingram, work force adviser.

He said about half of the center’s business involves helping people find work.

“Whenever an employer lists an opening with us, we write it up and put it on two bulletin boards,” Ingram said. “If people are qualified, we refer them directly to the job from here.”

He said workforce development operates by taking orders from employers needing workers. Employers range from private landowners in need of someone to mow lawns to high-profile professional organizations, he said.

“Some employers go through us exclusively,” Ingram said. For example, the new Barilla and VisionAire plants are using workforce development to interview and hire employees.

“There are several advantages of going through here, and [the service] is all free of charge,” he said. “[Applicants are] exposed to all the jobs we have that they are qualified for.”

The workforce development office houses several computers that list all the jobs available at workforce development centers everywhere in the state. The computers also give access to America’s Job Bank — a national clearinghouse of employers.

Ingram said the job bank also has a new service to which applicants can submit their r‚sum‚s.

“Once they have been declared a bonified employer, then [employers] can go into the service also and look at r‚sum‚s and contact people directly,” he said.

ISU Career Services officials encourage students to use the workforce development center.

“It’s one more avenue in the job search process,” said Beverly Madden, director of Career Planning and Placement. “The important thing in the job search process is you recognize all the resources available.”

Ingram said a lot of students are using that service now, especially when looking for post-graduate work. He said there also are many students who come in looking for part-time work.

Although most people who use the workforce development center are looking for full-time positions, Ingram said the center has a number of people looking for part-time work.

He said Iowa Workforce Development Center also works with the handicapped and people who have difficulties finding work through other resources.

He said the center helps by “working as an advocate for them — if they were deemed job-ready, they would have more contacts [through us].”

The center has had several different names during its existence — it was recently renamed from the Iowa Job Service Center — but has essentially been around since 1936, Ingram said.

“It’s a type of service that may go under different names, but this type of service is available in every state,” he said.

Madden said ISU supports the center because “the university is a state institution and workforce development is a state program.”

Ingram said he encourages students to try the workforce.

“It might save them a little time if we have something. It’s just another source,” he said.

“It’s not who helps you find a job, it’s if you get a job,” Ingram said.