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Re-entering The Workforce
The only constant in the world is change! The same is true for the job
market. Every day people decide to re-enter the job market and if
you’re one of them, you need to be prepared. People who have been out
of paid employment for some time should follow some of the same
guidelines as First Time Job Seekers. Here are some simple rules to
follow.
Find out who you are and what skills you can offer
Many housewives (and stay-at-home Dads for that matter) say, "I don't have any work skills.
I've only been a stay-at-home Mom." What they fail to see is that they have acquired many skills
including nurse, psychologist, cook, housekeeper, teacher and accountant to name just a few!
Ask yourself what you like to do and what jobs might fit your skills, hobbies and interests.
In addition, schedule an appointment to discuss your employment goals and needs with a Case
Manager at JOBsolutions (formerly Wyandot County Job & Training Center).
This person can assess your needs and possibly schedule skills assessment tests to determine
your employable skills.
Get ready to advertise yourself on paper
As other job seekers learned, once you determine your skills it is time to advertise your abilities
to employers. One of the most efficient ways to accomplish this task is to create a resume that
can be distributed to employers. You may have never used a resume before, but more employers
today are requesting resumes from job seekers. A resume is a brief type-written page highlighting
your education, work skills, work experience (including volunteer work and homemaker responsibilities)
, and accomplishments. For your convenience, a
resume writing tool is available on
this Web site. The resume writer will guide you through the entire process of creating a resume, even if you have
never written a resume before in your life.
Prepare for the interview
You have been invited into the interviewer's office for an interview. Don't panic! It's
natural to be a little nervous but you will be more at ease if you prepare ahead of time.
Try to anticipate the types of questions the interviewer may ask and have answers prepared.
Most likely the interviewer will want to know why you want to reenter the employment market,
what you have been doing up till now, and what skills you have to offer.
The interviewer knows that you may not have all the skills necessary to handle the job.
However, it's important to let the interviewer know that you are eager and willing to learn.
Those traits mean a lot during an interview. In fact, many interviewers state they desire
candidates who show a good attitude and work ethic rather than actual work skills. You see,
employers can teach work skills but not a good attitude and work ethics.
Carefully listen to all of the interviewers questions and answer them honestly and directly
without rambling and you will do fine during the interview.
Send an After Interview Letter
Always send the interviewer an After Interview Letter. This item is often overlooked by many
job seekers and could give you an advantage if you send one. For your convenience, an After
Interview Letter outline and sample are available on this site.
Many former homemakers who are re-entering the job market are considered to be Dislocated
Workers and are eligible for a variety of services through the Workforce Investment Act.
You may either apply on-line at this web site or contact us to schedule an appointment to
discuss how we might be able to help you. There are three levels of services that are potentially
available to you at no cost:
Core Services:
All persons re-entering the job market have access to our core services which include information
and assistance in obtaining such things as:
- Job Search assistance
- Access to the Computer Lab to search jobs on-line
- Access to the Resource Room and employment resource materials
- Access to Job Search video tapes and training materials
- Job referrals
- Listings of job openings
- Resume assistance
Intensive Services:
If the core services do not produce results, you may be eligible for intensive services for one-on-one assistance, group career workshops, and other assistance such as:
- Assessments of your skills and abilities
- Counseling services
- Career planning
- One-on-One job counseling
Training Services:
Training services may be available to help you get a good job. Our Case Managers can assist you in obtaining available training services including:
- Occupational Skills Training
- Vocational Training
- College Training
- Skills Upgrades
- GED Preparation
- English as a Second Language
- Math and Reading Training
Here are some helpful links to other web sites for persons re-entering the job market:
Tips and ideas for persons reentering the job market.
http://www.fiftysomethingjobs.com/reenter.html
Advise for women seeking to reenter the workforce.
http://www.msmoney.com
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