Filed under: Career Services, Success Stories | Tags: barriers to employment, Employment, Greensboro Resource Center, Job Hunting Tips, Motivation, Retailing
This week at Goodwill Industries’ Central Office, people paraded in the atrium showing off work appropriate outfits and make-up. They looked sharp in new suits, ties, heels and smiled with pride. The Greensboro Resource Center, in partnership with Macy’s, hosted the first “Bringing the Best You to the Interview” event. The event featured a fashion show, with visual do’s and don’ts of dressing for an interview. In addition, representatives from Deluxe Corporation, News & Record and Citi Card were on hand to give advice about their company’s dress codes, how to apply for jobs, and what employment opportunities were available. Unity Builders were also available to provide information on affordable housing.
According to Goodwill career developer/consultant, Gale Murphy, the event was an opportunity to give insight for the job preparedness class participants, and other job seekers to see that getting a job is more than what is on paper. “We wanted attendees to see and understand that getting a job offer or it being offered to someone else can sometimes come down to who has the more professional appearance and attitude.”
With a lagging economy, Goodwill Industries continues to serve those with barriers to employment. For those participating in the job preparedness class, once they graduate they will get 10 copies of their resume and a voucher to buy interview-appropriate outfits. The fashion show portion of the event demonstrated how affordable it is to shop at Goodwill Industries. A featured newly donated blue suit would sale for $7.50 at a Goodwill Industries’ Retail store. Goodwill not only wants to help you get that job, but look good doing it!
In the past month, I’ve spent some time getting to know Goodwill Industries’ recruiter, Bonnie Dingman. See Goodwill Industries not only provides job training to help consumers secure employment, but we are also an employer. Bonnie spends her day keeping up with job openings for all 17 retail stores, three resource centers, and corporate office. She provides information about job openings internally and externally to get the word out. From there, she reviews all the resumes and applications submitted. (I thanked her my first day for pulling my resume out of the stack!) From there, she has the task of pre-screening applicants to narrow down the list. Whew!
So, I’ve spent time with Bonnie this past month because Goodwill has participated in recent job fairs. Bonnie needed promotional signage to have on-site at the fairs and to distribute to interested applicants. I made sure information was current, made the signs and wished her luck. Until last Friday.
With a large number of job openings Bonnie decided to host job fairs at our Rockingham County Resource Center on September 24, and a second fair at the Randolph County Resource Center on September 27. With a camera in tow, I took US 29 North to Reidsville to take photos during the job fair. As applicants came in alone or with a friend who was also applying, they sat down at tables and started filling-out our application. From there, they met with a Goodwill staff person to answer questions for the pre-screening process. Should they move forward, there will be more interviews, and for many, the hope that they will be the person chosen for the position. I snapped photos for this blog, talked to my coworkers and secretly wished everyone who applied best of luck.
While I was job searching I kept a file of every application and resume I submitted. My biggest thrill was deleting the document file from my computer when I got hired full-time. I’m no longer buying stamps and resume paper in bulk. I don’t have to keep my interview suits perfectly pressed at all times, which is great since I’m not a suit person. Job searching can be mentally, physically and emotionally draining. For those job hunting, I can only recommend that you be patient with yourself and others. Understand that things can’t happen overnight and potential employers are often inundated with multiple applications for every job posted, so things take time. When you do get an interview, be prepared, be professional and be on time!
I had a few days after my lay-off last April and I was asked to babysit my five year-old nephew, Jack. We went on a bike ride around his neighborhood and reached a hill. With his little legs pedaling as hard as possible, he told me, “Aunt DeNana, you just got persevere.” When we got to his house, I asked Jack if he even knew what “persevere” meant. He said, “It means you just have to keep trying and trying.” Jack’s words struck a chord that still resonates with me. For all you job seekers, never give up hope. Patience and perseverance will pay-off, but you have to keep pedaling!
Filed under: Career Services | Tags: Community Resource Center, Job Hunting Tips
Goodwill Industries is partnering with Rockingham Community College, JobLink and Triad Careers to host a Job Fair today. There will be various community employers represented as well as some professionals who are willing to help with any job hunting questions you may have.
Let’s face it, it’s tough out there. And it’s important to do what you can to put yourself ahead of the pack. In order to help get your job search off on the right foot, let’s take a look at some important job search tips:
Have a Resume! Have a Resume! Have a Resume!
The #1 thing you can do to assure job search success is to have a good quality resume. To get a resume ask our staff for assistance or sign up for the HRD class. Assistance is free!
Set an Employment Goal
Know what you can do and look for that type of job. People without clear employment goals will take longer to get a job and achieve success. Even if your goal is big, we can assist in developing a plan to achieve your hopes and dreams. You can do it!
Be Organized
Gather all of your information concerning your work history, education, proof of eligibility to work in the US, and other information you must have to effectively find work. Ask our staff to assist you in developing a Career Portfolio, or take the HRD Class and develop one in class. Also, always have an interview suit available in your closet to interview at a moment’s notice.
Stick to a Schedule
This is part of being organized. Know what you are going to do each day. Look in the newspapers on Sunday and Wednesday, go to Employment Security on Tuesday and Wednesdays, and wrap up the week on Thursdays with follow up for jobs in which you have applied. Run errands on Fridays. Predictability will reduce stress. Boy, wouldn’t that be nice!
Use All Available Resources to Find a Job
Look on the Internet, look in newspapers, contact Employment Security Commission, search our job listings, and most importantly-NETWORK with people to find work.
Educate Yourself
Learn how to job search and interview. Don’t know how to use a computer, sign up for a free computer class. Need a GED, sign up now for classes. Learning is a lifelong experience!
Sell Yourself
When you get into the interview, listen carefully to the questions the interviewer is asking you. Take the opportunity to sale yourself with each answer you give. When asked about your strengths, give specific examples. When asked about weaknesses, discuss how you are turning any weaknesses around to your advantage on the job.
Be Persistent
Job searching is a full time job! You will be lucky if you find something quickly. Most people are not lucky. On the upside, your persistence in searching for work will one day pay off so keep your chin up!
If you find yourself stuck after reading these important tips then don’t hesitate to contact any of our Community Resource Centers and ask for help. You can find a complete list of our locations here.
Article submitted by Susan Steinberger. Susan is the Community Resource Coordinator at the Goodwill Community Resource Center in Reidsville, North Carolina.
Filed under: Career Services | Tags: Community Resource Center, Job Hunting Tips
In recent months, Goodwill Industries has seen an increase in the number of people who are seeking employment. Sometimes simply beginning your job hunt may seem like a daunting task. Job seekers need specific skills and items to look for work, no matter what type of job they are looking for.
The “Job Seeker Checklist” includes:
- A good résumé
- Computer skills to search for job opening and to complete online applications
- An active email account
- Excellent interviewing skills
- Internet access and fax machine access
- A clear employment goal
What you might not realize is that Goodwill can help you with all of these things. By visiting one of Goodwill’s Community Resource Centers you will not only have access to all of the above items but you will also have a network of professionals who are willing to assist you with all of your employment needs.
Goodwill has Community Resource Centers in Greensboro, Asheboro and Reidsville that are open to the public. So whether you are just beginning your job hunt or have been struggling to figure out where to start for awhile, I encourage you to visit www.TriadGoodwill.org and locate the Community Resource Center closest to you.
Article submitted by Susan Steinberger. Susan is the Community Resource Coordinator at the Goodwill Community Resource Center in Reidsville, North Carolina.
