At the start of my job hunt I didn’t take advantage of the services at my local office of the State Employment Service. I assumed their services were geared only to entry level or blue-collar workers. But after several less than stellar interviews, I called the office of Job and Family Services in my county to see if they offered any coaching or classes on interview skills. I took a class on general interviewing tips, then the Interview Practicum. The class covered the usual topics with some interesting information on high-pressure interview situations. The practicum was just what I was looking for. Since I was the only person to show up, I had a one on one coaching session on how to answer tough interview questions. A mock interview was videotaped so we could play it back and discuss each answer. The instructor had real world business and management experience, and had some great insights on ways to improve my interview performance.
Along with assistance in interviewing, most state job centers will also have career and skills assessments, resume writing workshops and basic computer classes.
Several states offer more innovative approaches. For example, California’s Employment Development Department sponsors a program for professionals who are seeking employment called Experience Unlimited. The program offers workshops on job search strategies, resume writing and interviewing, and also provides a place where job seekers can meet regularly with other professionals to share job leads, provide support, and update their job search skills.
Worksource Oregon has iMatch Skills, which allows job seekers to create an online skills profile for matching with jobs in the state’s online job bank.
The New York State Department of Labor has labor market analysts in 10 locations across the state. These analysts provide data about wages, economic trends, and labor availability in their region to employers. They also provide occupational and career information to job seekers.
The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation has a Mobile One-Stop Career Center that is sent to trade shows, job fairs and other public events. It is a self-contained vehicle staffed with career counselors and equipped with computers with Internet access. The Mobile Center offers a full array of employment services, including skills training and online job searching.
Maine Career Centers host Seasoned Workforce Forums for workers over 50 to network and connect with employers.
If you haven’t checked out the state employment services offered in your area, it is certainly worth a try, even if you are a seeking a professional or management position. Each state has a different name for its job service program, most seemingly chosen to avoid the dreaded word “unemployment”. Ohio’s program is through the Office of Job and Family Services. Other programs include the Maryland Workforce Exchange, Utah Department of Workforce Services, WorkForce West Virginia, and Job Service North Dakota.
About the Author: Trudy LaDouceur have been a product development and marketing professional for over 10 years and is currently seeking new job opportunities. She is also owner of a small but growing business and a marketing and product development consultant.
At the start of my job hunt I didn’t take advantage of the services at my local office of the State Employment Service. I assumed their services were geared only to entry level or blue-collar workers. But after several less than stellar interviews, I called the office of Job and Family Services in my county to see if they offered any coaching or classes on interview skills. I took a class on general interviewing tips, then the Interview Practicum. The class covered the usual topics with some interesting information on high-pressure interview situations. The practicum was just what I was looking for. Since I was the only person to show up, I had a one on one coaching session on how to answer tough interview questions. A mock interview was videotaped so we could play it back and discuss each answer. The instructor had real world business and management experience, and had some great insights on ways to improve my interview performance.
About the Author: Trudy LaDouceur have been a product development and marketing professional for over 10 years and is currently seeking new job opportunities. She is also owner of a small but growing business and a marketing and product development consultant.
