Career and Job Training Readiness Center

On the news last night, I heard that a local restaurant had advertised they were hiring.  This new establishment was looking for about 160 workers.  Guess how many applicants had shown up by newstime?  Over 1400.  For restaurant jobs. 

Granted, I live in one of the most depressed areas of the United States (I live in SW Michigan, just across the border from Elkhart, IN which is the poster child for job loss), but I never dreamed that there would be nearly ten applicants for every position in a restaurant.  The competition for a job, any job, is fierce right now.  People are desperate, since many have been out of work for a year or more around here.  The statistics show that something like one of every six persons is unemployed right now. 

So how do employers begin to sort through ten applicants for every position?  Who gets those coveted jobs?  If you have a good idea about that, you have a much better chance of becoming a successful applicant.  Let’s take a look:

• Appropriately educated: Applicants whose basic academic skills are intact are more likely to be hired.  How’s that job application look?  Did you spell everything correctly?  Did you answer questions completely?  Did you demonstrate basic literacy?  If this is an issue, now is a great time to get the help you need to build your basic skills.  Head over to the Check-Up Center at Job Training Readiness Center and find out if you have what employers are looking for.
• Experienced: Have you done this kind of work before?  Employers would much rather hire an experienced worker who already has an idea about how to do the job because it means less training they have to do.  How can you get experience if no one will hire you?  Volunteer work is one answer.  Find a volunteer job that is related to what you would ultimately like to do and get to work while you’re waiting for that golden opportunity.  You’ll build skills and credibility, plus gain references and networks.  For the restaurant work listed above, volunteer work in  a local soup kitchen, summer camp, or other charitable organization that serves meals would be a plus, because you’d get experience working with people, navigating in a large kitchen, and handling foods in compliance with health codes.
• Interview Skills: Very few employers will hire you based solely on your application and resume.  They want a face-to-face meeting to assess a lot of intangible things.  Make sure you’re ready to present your best face at a job interview.  Interviewers will be watching your punctuality, your appearance, your demeanor, and your communication skills.  They will be assessing your initiative, your integrity, and your enthusiasm through the conversation and questions.  They will even be watching to see if you remember to say thank you afterwards!  In short, they will be looking for a professional presentation of the best ‘you’.  You need to know all of the tricks to show yourself in the best light possible.  Need some help with this?  Head on over to the Build Your Professional Image class!  You can sign up today and get loads of advice and hands-on activities to boost your professionalism so you are ready for that next interview.  The class is only $25.

There you have it-three ways you can put yourself ahead of the pack when you are applying for a job.  Especially in these tough times, you need all of the advantages you can find.  Take action right now to make yourself more attractive to potential employers.  You’ll be glad you did!