NM CareerMatch

New Mexico Career Match [1] is a federally-funded, talent attraction program to facilitate connections between employers needing to fill job positions and skilled graduates of New Mexico universities and colleges looking for jobs.

How NM CareerMatch works

• A Career Services Management (CSM) program from Symplicity, which is currently used by more than 1000 institutions, provides a comprehensive web-based solution for linking graduates looking for new career opportunities and employers needing to fill job positions.
• Staff at Career Development offices for participating universities/colleges are trained how to use the NM CareerMatch web-based program.
• Schools review alumni registration notices and verify that registrants are graduates.
• Once graduates are verified by their schools, they are able to use the NM CareerMatch website to post résumés, search for jobs and build custom résumés for specific positions.
• Job seekers can use the online enhanced résumé and cover letter builder and check online employer profiles.
• Using NM CareerMatch, participating New Mexico employers can post position announcements and information about their businesses, as well as review job seeker résumés using robust keyword search and profile filter options

Program Origin

Launched in September 2009 for graduates of the University of New Mexico (UNM) and Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), NM CareerMatch is now serving Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) graduates who have earned either a degree or certificate.

There are plans to open the program to graduates of more New Mexico schools. Schools targeted for Phase 2 include New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, University of New Mexico-Los Alamos and University of New Mexico-Valencia.

Jobs from employers, such as KPMG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, are already posted on the newly launched NM CareerMatch website, and employers in New Mexico are currently enrolled to post job openings, free of charge, on the site.

Program Funding and Partners

• $400,000 in funding for NM CareerMatch is being provided through a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED). The WIRED grant serves the eight counties of Bernalillo, Los Alamos, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance and Valencia.

• New Mexico WIRED is a partnership of the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, local businesses, economic development organizations and educational institutions helping to ensure that New Mexicans have access to educational opportunities, cutting-edge workforce training and high quality employment opportunities.

• $50,000 in funding is being provided by a donation from French Funeral and Cremation Services in recognition of the company’s 100-year anniversary.

• UNM’s Office of Career Services. UNM is serving as host of the nmcareermatch.com website and platform.

• CNM’s Job Connection Center. CNM, along with UNM, comprise the NM CareerMatch Phase 1 schools.

• SFCC’s Career Services program. SFCC is the first Phase 2 school to offer NM CareerMatch to its graduates who receive either a degree or certificate.

• Albuquerque Economic Development (AED) is providing management and operational support and oversight for NM CareerMatch.

• Program Manager of NM CareerMatch is Mikelynn Romero, who is a former career counselor and university administrator with experience in career development, alumni programming and program management.

Program Goals

• Provide a convenient and efficient way for New Mexico college/university graduates to find good career opportunities within the State of New Mexico.
• Provide a cost-effective method for New Mexico employers to communicate job openings and search for skilled employees to fill positions.
• Encourage New Mexico college/university graduates who have moved out of state to return for high quality job positions in New Mexico.
• Retain talented New Mexico college/university graduates in the state.
• Create stronger links between New Mexico colleges/universities, graduates and businesses to encourage economic development and a better quality of life within the state.
• Help to create awareness among companies and business executives around the world about the skilled workforce and available business opportunities and resources in New Mexico.
• Create a system to bridge New Mexico universities/colleges and their alumni directly to the state’s top companies.

References

External links

• University of New Mexico
• Albuquerque Journal
• NM Business Weekly