He has been interested in big machinery most of his life and plans to make a career driving them. Holly Geaman introduces us to Elida High School senior Tanner Layman, December's OhioMeansJobs Student Employee of the Month. Tanner Layman's love of big machinery came at a young age, helping his father with his construction business. As a senior at Elida and attending the construction equipment technology program at Apollo Career Center, Layman is working at RD Jones, excavating at their Shawnee Yard. "For 2 weeks I'm out at Apollo. I do my core classes in the morning and then I go to my lab in the afternoon. Once those two weeks are up, I go to work for RD Jones, and I work there for 2 weeks, and it's just kind of a rotation that goes back and forth until I graduate," said Tanner Layman, a senior at Elida High School and Apollo Career Center.

Our OhioMeansJobs Student Employee of the Month is a 2024 Allen East graduate who is getting his start in the skilled trades at Spallinger Millwright. Landen Poling graduated from Allen East this spring and started working at Spallinger Millwright Services in July. Through his FFA chapter and classes at school, he was introduced to welding and knew immediately that was the kind of work he wanted to do. At Spallinger, he is contracted out to large local manufacturing companies to do installation and fabrication work for their equipment.

Our OhioMeansJobs Student Employee of the Month is Joe Mosley, a 2024 Bath graduate who is on his way to a successful career at GROB! Shortly after graduating from Bath High School, Joe Mosley began as an apprentice at GROB Systems Inc. He has an interest in engineering, and the program helps him learn about a variety of jobs and skills through hands-on practical applications.

Our OhioMeansJobs Student Employee of the Month is recent Delphos Jefferson graduate Payton Plescher, who wants to make a difference in the lives of seniors. Delphos Jefferson graduate Payton Plescher is passionate about two things: music and caring for others. She took every music opportunity her school offered and is now a member of the St. Marys Area Community Band. She has been working at All American Home Care for the past four months and plans to study respiratory therapy and then continue working in hospice.

High school seniors got the opportunity to network with local businesses at OhioMeansJobs Allen County's third annual Spring Career Fair. Over 120 Allen County employers were on hand this afternoon at the UNOH Event Center looking to connect with job-seeking individuals in the area.

If you are making a resolution to get a new job in the new year, you are not alone. A recent study found that 25% of Americans want to completely change careers in 2023.   Experts say your first step is brushing up your resume, making sure that the information is all current.  Then maybe get good head shot of yourself to send out with your resume.  But when you are looking at your resume, don’t forget to list all your skills.  Because you don’t know what will attract the attention of a future employer.

OhioMeansJobs Allen County presented 10 Allen County high school seniors with a scholarships.