Illinois’ unemployment rate continues to hover in double-digits and leaders at Normal’s Heartland Community College Workforce Services want to help with a unique approach for job seekers. Like speed dating, Speed Career Coaching can give adults quick help seeking new jobs in the midst of the economic crisis and lay-offs.
Speed Career Coaching, on Thursday, October 15th from 6-8:30 pm, will offer participants five-minute sessions with experts who can review their resume and cover letters. “This is a chance to see if they need to completely revamp or simply punch up a resume to sell themselves better,” said Pam Westerdahl, Director of Employment and Workforce Development. Workforce Services Director Sara Baker says it’s also important that job seekers bring sample cover letters. “A cover letter is a chance to sell the part of your experience that really speaks to the job opening. It is also an opportunity to reflect your personality and show your passion and enthusiasm for the position. It can be a deciding factor whether an employer even looks at your resume.”
Once job seekers get some quick but specific feedback, they can hear from experts about how to best search for a job, network, and then interview. The experts from Heartland Community College and Economic Development Council Director Marty Vanags will also answer questions and offer advice, including how to take advantage of social networks during their job search.
Heartland’s first Speed Career Coaching event in April was so successful Workforce Services administrators wanted to offer it again, with additional coaches to accommodate even more participants. Speed Career Coaching is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged but walk-ins are welcome that evening in the Community Commons Building, Rooms 1406 and 1407. To register, call Outreach Assistant Tiffany Nightingale at 268-8187 or email Tiffany.Nightingale@heartland.edu.
Colleen Reynolds
Associate Director of Alumni
Relations and Community Outreach
Heartland Community College