Thursday, March 11, 2010

“Bellwood Public Library: Renew your job search with help from your library (Proviso Herald)” plus 2 more

“Bellwood Public Library: Renew your job search with help from your library (Proviso Herald)” plus 2 more

Bellwood Public Library: Renew your job search with help from your library (Proviso Herald)

Posted: 11 Mar 2010 03:59 AM PST





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Pet of the Week



Spring is nearly here and the change of season is often a time for new beginnings. For many of us, it's a time to renew our job search.

At the Bellwood Public Library, 600 Bohland Ave., our 2010 Job Search Series, "Refresh, Renew, Recommit" continues with five programs in March, April and May.

In March, Bellwood patrons will have two chances to learn about how to get a job with the Federal government. "Getting a job with the U.S. Census" will be the topic when Stephen Laue, of the Oak Brook office of the U.S. Census Bureau, speaks at 7 p.m. March 17 to Bellwood patrons at the library. Laue will offer some tips on what kind of employment is available and how to go about finding job listings and applying for these positions.

Many people are familiar with the role of the Census taker who visits individual homes to learn basic facts about households such as the ages and employment of residents. Not everyone is aware, however, that the Census Bureau has a variety of kinds of employment available.

Only recently I learned that temporary employment with the Census Bureau has an advantage for the seeker of long-term employment with the Federal government: Job applicants that have had any kind of employment with the Federal government, including ex-military and former census takers, are preferred applicants as new positions become available.

Also at 7 p.m. March 24, I will present "How to Get a Government Job." Topics I'll cover include how to find jobs, how to apply for them and how to create KSAs. "KSAs" is short for "Knowledge, Skills and Abilities" and it's a statement of the skills and experiences that qualify you for a position.

In April, the library will present a combination of advanced and basic job search skill topics.

At 7 p.m. April 6, Brian Basilico, a marketing consultant and owner of B2B Interactive Marketing, will discuss how job seekers can use the new "social media" tools, Facebook and LinkedIn, to publicize their resume, network with employers, recruiters and other job seekers and look at job ads. Job seekers should know that there are some jobs that are only publicized on LinkedIn.

Later in April, the library will bring back a popular program on resumes. Tutor.com is the wonderful online program that permits students in elementary, middle and high school to chat online with highly qualified tutors from 2 to 10 p.m. every day. In addition, Tutor.com offers many materials on writing resumes and conducting a job search and tutors are available to help job seekers revise and refine their resumes.

To promote their resume writing assistance, Tutor.com is sponsoring a national Webinar on resume writing conducted by Barbara Safani at 3 p.m. April 14. At the Bellwood Public Library participants will be able to view and hear Safani's presentation in the Bryant Conference Room.

Safani's presentation will address creating resumes for career changers, moms returning to the workforce and presenting volunteer experience. Following the Webinar, Barbara Seales, Workforce Educator of the University of Illinois Extension Office, will work one-on-one with program participants to revise resumes. Bring your resume and get some highly expert advice on presenting your experience in the most impressive manner.

In May, Krisi Daeda, Personal Marketing Strategist, will explain how to use networking to find openings and promote oneself in her presentation, "From Contacts to Champions: How to Use Networking to Find a Job" at 7 p.m. May 4.

The Bellwood Public Library continues to strive to provide resources for job seekers, and with the variety of job search skills offered this spring, both job seekers and those employed should find new skills and strategies they need to find new job opportunities.


Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Teens pack job fair in search of summer employment (Colorado Springs Gazette)

Posted: 11 Mar 2010 11:37 AM PST

Hundreds of teenagers lined up Thursday outside the Stargazers Theatre hunting for the season's most elusive quarry: a summer job.

"I just need a job, get my foot in the door somewhere and move up," said Eli Kelly, a senior at the Life Skills Center.

Kelly, like many of the teens at Thursday's event, the Governor's Summer Job Hunt, said he's been looking for work in vain. With local unemployment rates hovering above 8 percent, entry-level jobs that were once the mainstays of teen employment now often go to adults.

"It's tougher than I've ever seen it," said Martin Schneider, director of the Community Prep School.
Employers were hiring at the event — everyone from Wendy's and Denny's to the U.S. Census Bureau and The Broadmoor. There were 32 employers at the job fair in person and another 25 collecting resumes for future interviews, said Michelle Graham, director of business and community initiatives at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, which hosted the event. That's similar to past years, she said.

And, for their part, teenagers understand they need to step it up if they want to get a job this year.

"They realize they have to make a good impression," Graham said. "If you look around the room now, there's a lot more kids dressed up."

Linda Moffitt, the transition coach at the Bijou School, said her students are taking their job search seriously and trying to present themselves well.

"It's very competitive," she said. "We told them to take the piercings out."

Kiera Proctor attended the job fair with her friend Ashley Sublett. The Wasson High School seniors say they'd like to find work at a salon or restaurant, but they know beggars can't be choosers.

"A job is a job right now," Proctor said. "Nowhere's hiring."

That's not entirely true, Graham said. Some companies still prefer teen employees.

"There are employers who like that enthusiasm youth have," she said.

Graham said a successful job hunt may require more leg work than it has in the past.

"Employers in this economy are not posting for jobs openly," she said. "They're looking for people to show initiative and come in."
—
Call the writer at 636-0275

 

HELP FOR TEENS
The Pikes Peak Workforce Center's Youth Work Zone offers workshops on interviewing, job readiness and other subjects to prepare teens and young adults to find a job and to succeed once they do. Find a schedule and more information at www.ppwfc.org or by calling 667-3860.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Libraries boost job search help (The San Luis Obispo Tribune)

Posted: 10 Mar 2010 10:46 PM PST

Todd Browder of Atascadero, a longtime construction worker, was stationed at a computer on a recent afternoon as he looked into other careers. Openings for construction work are few these days, he said.

He was using a computer program the Paso Robles Library Foundation recently bought for about $1,600 to help local job seekers with resumes, job matching and preparing for occupation exams.

Meanwhile, other libraries across the county are providing aid as well. The Atascadero-Martin Polin Regional Library is hosting a free presentation this month on job search strategies. In San Luis Obispo, the City-County Library received so many recent inquiries from job seekers that it's now in the middle of a three-part workshop for similar training at 995 Palm St.

"There has been a higher demand on how to find job search sites," San Luis Obispo library manager Kristine Tardiff said.

There's also usually some one-on-one assistance available on Tuesdays at the San Luis Obispo branch reference desk from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. And, a roughly $1,000 grant station subscription was donated to the library for those looking to change careers and start nonprofit organizations.

Other libraries in the county system also host events when they can, Tardiff added; such events are posted under the events link at www.slolibrary.org.

Those interested in the workshops or computer programs must first sign up for a library card. Then, the resources are free. The Paso Robles city library is independent of the county system of libraries.

Other county libraries have books on job placement subjects and can order books from other locations that might have more options.

Get help finding work

Several local venues help job seekers. Below are a few examples. SLO 211, the local aid referral line, can also link people to job resources. Dial 2-1-1.

Business & Career One-Stop Center, San Luis Obispo, 4111 Broad St., Suite A-4, 788-2631, www.slo-onestop.net

Business & Career One-Stop Center, Paso Robles, 2800 Buena Vista Drive, Building 4000, 237-3014, www.careeronestop.org

The Prado Day Center has job resources for the homeless including job counseling and computer access, 43 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, 786-0617, www.pradodaycenter.org

Library resources:

Paso Robles City Library, 1000 Spring St., 237-3870. Look for the Job and Career Accelerator database link at www.prcity.com/library

San Luis Obispo City-County Library, "Job Hunting, Resume Writing & Interviewing Skills in Today's Economy" series; 9 to 11 a.m. March 20 on resumes and cover letters, and 9 to 11 a.m. April 17 on interviewing. Limited to 15 people per session; register for one or all. Call 781-5989. 995 Palm St.

Atascadero Library, Job specialist discussion from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 18 at the Atascadero-Martin Polin Regional Library's community room. Reservations are required. Call 461-6162. 6850 Morro Road

Tribune photographer David Middlecamp contributed to this report.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.
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