The Workforce Link Podcast

When hiring, what matters more: attitude or experience? In this episode of the Workforce Link Podcast, we explore how employers can balance technical expertise and soft skills to build stronger teams and improve long-term retention.

You don’t have to have your career figured out to move forward. In this episode of the Workforce Link Podcast, Sundi Jo explores why clarity matters more than certainty and how slowing down can help you take the next step with confidence.

The new year often brings pressure to have clear answers about work and career goals. This episode explores how to start fresh with intention, focus on clarity over urgency, and take meaningful next steps in career and workforce planning.

Learn the brain science behind accountability at work. This Workforce Link Podcast episode explains why some employees excel and how all Missouri job seekers and employers can build stronger habits.

Discover the three cognitive habits that make people more accountable and productive at work. Learn how neuroscience supports better team performance.

Explore how AI and automation are transforming jobs—and how job seekers and employers can adapt.

Stacy Dismang Wright spent 21 years in prison. Now she’s helping others recover. Hear her powerful story of redemption, purpose, and second chances.

Learn how to break into a new industry without experience using real strategies like informational interviews and intentional networking.

This podcast with Ken Coleman explores his book “Find the Work You’re Wired to Do”. Learn how to assess your strengths and find a career you’ll love.

Are you a leader who wants to combat imposter syndrome in your team? Learn 6 practical ways to create a supportive work environment and boost your team’s confidence.

Michael Casady served his country as a U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant. Back home in Missouri, he faced a different kind of challenge — losing a job he’d held for 20 years. Rather than give up, he went back to school, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and walked into the Columbia Job Center ready to start over. This is his story.

Thomas Kusick served as a Combat Engineer with the Missouri Army National Guard, deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. When he came home, he faced a new battle — finding steady work after sustaining a traumatic brain injury. With the support of the Columbia Job Center and his VA case manager, Thomas discovered his passion for carpentry and landed a full-time job. This is his story.

After leaving military service, Nathan Frock wasn’t sure what came next. With help from the Columbia Job Center and Missouri’s veteran employment services, he found a full-time career that puts his military skills to work.

Central Workforce Development Region staff connected with students and employers at the Moniteau County Career Fair at California High School, sharing youth and veteran services and supporting career exploration in Missouri.

ABEC will host an appointment-only interview event March 4 at the Lebanon Job Center for experienced welders, fabricators, grinders, and electrical assemblers.

Walk-In-Wednesdays returns to Columbia on March 18 at the Columbia Public Library. Meet 13 employers hiring in healthcare, public safety, local government, skilled trades, and more.

When hiring, what matters more: attitude or experience? In this episode of the Workforce Link Podcast, we explore how employers can balance technical expertise and soft skills to build stronger teams and improve long-term retention.

On February 20, Columbia Job Center staff visited Jamestown High School to provide virtual reality career exploration for juniors and seniors. Students used Transfr VR goggles to explore in-demand Missouri careers and learn about training pathways that support their next steps after graduation.

The Missouri Department of Corrections will host open interviews February 20, 2026 at the Missouri Job Center in Columbia, MO. Job seekers can meet directly with hiring staff and interview for Correctional Officer positions serving the Boonville facility.