Field Test Example for Workforce Boards: Northwood Workforce Development’s Partnership with Gobekli TalentPass
Northwood Workforce Development serves a rural region in northern Wisconsin, where job seekers often need assistance documenting and showcasing their skills to potential employers. Many of Northwood’s clients have experience in trades, agriculture, healthcare, and small business, and need help organizing their qualifications to compete for local jobs. By partnering with Gobekli for a TalentPass field test, Northwood is able to support clients in creating profiles that capture their skills, experiences, and certifications, building confidence and visibility for the local workforce.
Long-Term Vision
In the future, Northwood envisions expanding this partnership to Gobekli’s TalentSync system. With TalentSync, Northwood could implement skills-based hiring tools and a Central Talent Tree that provides clear pathways for skill development, helping clients align their experiences with in-demand local jobs and industries.
Introducing TalentPass to Job Seekers
Northwood’s career advisors introduce TalentPass to clients who have struggled to represent their skills on traditional resumes. Advisors explain how TalentPass can help clients document their work experiences, including skills they’ve gained outside of formal education or job titles, making it easier for local employers to recognize their potential.
Beth: “TalentPass lets you show everything you know, even if it wasn’t on a formal job title. Employers will see how valuable your experience really is.”
Mark: “It’s nice to finally have a place to organize all of this.”
Building Visibility: Creating Profiles for Local Job Opportunities
With TalentPass, clients at Northwood Workforce build profiles to capture their skills, credentials, and hands-on experience, which they can then present to local employers. For Mark, who has years of farming experience, this means highlighting skills in equipment maintenance and crop management that are relevant to local agribusinesses.
Sara: “These caregiving skills are exactly what employers are looking for here.”
Karen: “I’ve been doing this work for years, but now I feel confident showing it all.”
Future Vision: TalentSync for Skills-Based Hiring and Career Pathways
Northwood Workforce’s leadership team sees the value in expanding to TalentSync in the future. Sponsoring the Skills-Based Hiring Tool and Central Talent Tree would allow the board to map skills across their client base and promote skill-based hiring, making it easier to connect clients with local jobs and creating clear paths for career growth.
Mike: “With a skills-based approach, we can help employers see the potential in candidates who might not have formal credentials.”
Julie: “And a Central Talent Tree would show clients how to progress, making our region more attractive for skilled labor.”
Building a Local Skills-Driven Culture with TalentSync
With a full TalentSync suite, Northwood Workforce could track and develop local talent, creating skill-based profiles that align with regional demand. By visualizing skills and identifying training needs, the board could more easily recommend upskilling and training programs, helping job seekers plan for long-term growth in their community.
Advisor 1: “This Talent Tree is a fantastic way to show clients what’s possible with their skills.”
Advisor 2: “It’s also great for our community—more skilled workers mean more local opportunities.”
For Northwood Workforce Development, the TalentPass field test provides immediate value, allowing clients to organize and present their skills effectively. Looking forward, expanding to TalentSync would help Northwood Workforce support a skill-based culture in their region, ensuring that local job seekers can grow with their community. Gobekli’s tools offer Northwood a structured, sustainable approach to workforce development that benefits the entire community.
