As many local residents could attest, and as a recent workshop confirmed, trying to find work during this down economy is in itself a job. When faced with repeated rebuffs from potential employers, today’s job applicants must possess exceptional mental fortitude to carry on. They must also endure well-intentioned advice to remain hopeful — which coming from those of us who are comfortably employed can sound condescending.
Judging from the comments made by participants of the “Getting a Job is a Job” workshop Thursday, a more practical approach to matching people with jobs should be to help develop their skills and capabilities. In much the same way that existing state and local agencies aim to give those seeking work a leg up with additional resources and guidance, the series of Workforce Development Board workshops allow participants to become aware of any potential liabilities that may prevent them from landing that initial job.
Whether it’s improving a job seeker’s communication skills or polishing up that crucial resume, the Valley’s job seekers need any advantage they can get. So it is heartening to hear that the workshop series will continue into June, with six more scheduled between now and then, a county official said.
Another recommended way to keep from despairing is for job seekers to seek out some sort of volunteer work where they can improve their administrative and communication skills. Such day-to-day interaction also has been known to help job seekers overcome any residual fears a person may have about getting back to work after having been unemployed for an extended amount of time.
Whether or not one believes the economy is slowly starting to show signs of a recovery, the Valley’s job seekers will still have to contend with an unemployment rate that suggests the region is far from better days. But turning down any resources that would allow them to improve their standing would be foolish and detrimental in many ways to themselves and the state of the economy.
So without trying to sound too condescending, we advise job seekers to take advantage of any such workshops. Especially since there is no guarantee that such programs will be always be available, what with state and federal budgets constantly in flux and many public services getting the ax.
THE ISSUE:
Workshops aim to help Valley’s unemployed.
WE SAY:
Take advantage of any and all resources.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Send us your thoughts on this topic to www.ivpressonline.com/letterstotheeditor
Judging from the comments made by participants of the “Getting a Job is a Job” workshop Thursday, a more practical approach to matching people with jobs should be to help develop their skills and capabilities. In much the same way that existing state and local agencies aim to give those seeking work a leg up with additional resources and guidance, the series of Workforce Development Board workshops allow participants to become aware of any potential liabilities that may prevent them from landing that initial job.
Whether it’s improving a job seeker’s communication skills or polishing up that crucial resume, the Valley’s job seekers need any advantage they can get. So it is heartening to hear that the workshop series will continue into June, with six more scheduled between now and then, a county official said.
Another recommended way to keep from despairing is for job seekers to seek out some sort of volunteer work where they can improve their administrative and communication skills. Such day-to-day interaction also has been known to help job seekers overcome any residual fears a person may have about getting back to work after having been unemployed for an extended amount of time.
Whether or not one believes the economy is slowly starting to show signs of a recovery, the Valley’s job seekers will still have to contend with an unemployment rate that suggests the region is far from better days. But turning down any resources that would allow them to improve their standing would be foolish and detrimental in many ways to themselves and the state of the economy.
So without trying to sound too condescending, we advise job seekers to take advantage of any such workshops. Especially since there is no guarantee that such programs will be always be available, what with state and federal budgets constantly in flux and many public services getting the ax.
THE ISSUE:
Workshops aim to help Valley’s unemployed.
WE SAY:
Take advantage of any and all resources.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Send us your thoughts on this topic to www.ivpressonline.com/letterstotheeditor
