Hitting the Pavement: The Job Leads List

At MPRI, our goal as workforce developers is to make sure that we equip our returning citizens to be better prepared for the job market.  We do this through workshops, job club, and one-on-one meetings used to improve résumés and cover letters.  In June, we will be organizing a conference entitled, "Marketing Yourself to Move Up the Ladder."  This workshop is designed to help our clients, who have proven themselves to be dedicated and enterprising workers, make their mark in the professional world.

For our clients, I have attached a PDF file version of our invitation.  Space is limited (we are down to three spots).  Please call Alysa at 734.327.9717 if you are interested in attending.

Marketing Yourself to Move Up the Ladder

For our job leads, please be sure to check our job leads page that is put together every Monday by Emily Smith.

Job Club Tonight: Behind the Scenes

Job club is a wonderful opportunity to network, engage in relevant job development strategies, and to receive free consultations for interviews.  Rebecca, Emily, and I enjoy preparing presentations utilizing some of the most up to date resources available on job placement and job preparation.  Often, this involves a lot of research.  This may, for instance, involve checking out resources online, in books, or through communication with one of our many community partners.

Through surveys and client feedback, we try to tailor our information for those individuals who have a felony criminal background.  We have often noted that information regarding employment for individuals with felony records is scarce, so we continuously strive to think outside of the box when it comes finding great sources of information.

In addition, we love having guest presentations that really encourage our job club participants to think about how they can market themselves in an often turbulent economic climate.  All three of us enjoy the hard work that it takes to make Job Club a valuable contribution to our workforce development strategy.

If you are a community member, and you would like to learn more about job club and how you can help us make our communities safer by creating better acclimated citizens, please contact the workforce development team at 734.327.9717.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Spring is finally here!  We've had some great farming weather, which means that the Livingstone's Community farm is ready to be worked.  The farm is a great way to give back to our community and to meet new people.  Need more convincing?  You should check out this article!

To sign up please contact Amanda Harvanek at 734.327.9717.

Hitting the Pavement: The Job Leads List

A new month means a new chance for great job opportunities.  Emily's job leads are posted on the job leads page.    Please be sure to check and see if any of the opportunities match your qualifications.  Soon, we will share some news about a conference entitled, "Marketing Yourself to Move Up the Ladder."  Stay tuned for more news. 

Employment Book Review

Last Friday I talked about the Knock 'em Dead series.  You can check out that post here.  The Knock 'em Dead series also has a book about Cover Letters.  I highly recommend this book for making sure that your cover letter is up to date, interesting, and appropriate for the job you are applying for.

There are chapters about how to write a cover letter along with a lot of examples to give you ideas.  I have included a link to amazon in case you would like to take a peak inside and look at some customer reviews. Remember, the library has copies if you are interested in checking it out.

Job Club: In the Interview (HR Presentation)

Have you ever been in an interview and felt tongue tied when you were asked about your felony?  If so, you should come to our job club presentation tonight presented by Rebecca Rowland.  She has made a comprehensive packet to give out and the workforce development team will be present to answer any questions you may have!

Job Club starts at 5pm and is held at Catholic Social Services.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

How To Learn New Skills

 source

In my last post on Monday, click here to read it, I talked about broadening your skills to make yourself more marketable to as many industries as possible.  Today, I found this article online.  The article highlights how you can use any opportunity to learn new things, but you have to be the force behind making it happen.

This all helps to get back to the idea that even if you are currently employed part-time or on the Transitional floor, you can never stop your job hunt or stop learning new skills from your employment.  For instance, you may not like your current job as a cashier of a fast food chain, but could you see yourself as the manager of one?  Are you using the skills that you are learning on the Transitional floor to see what other type of industry jobs are opening up around you?

The job hunt, just like learning a new skill, should a be continual process of searching, expanding, reevaluating, marketing, managing, and networking in order to move forward.  As Jodi Glickman states in her article, "no one cares more about managing your career than you do."

If you would like more information about managing your career you should attend Job Club on May 5th.  I will be giving a presentation entitled, Marketing Yourself to Move Up the Ladder. 

Still need help?  You should contact the Workforce Development team at MPRI, 734.327.9717 x685.  In housing?  Please contact Rebecca Rowland, our Income Stability Liaison, 734.327.9717 x695.