With extended federal jobless benefits ending, Carson City workforce employee counselors say hundreds of new jobseekers have begun to hit the streets, resumes in hand, looking for work.
The search won't be easy given Carson City's already high jobless rate. In November, the jobless rate for the capital city was 9.1 percent. With more people looking for work than actual positions available, the hiring paradigm among small business and large employers has changed, which means jobseekers will have to be more engaged in the hiring process, said Lynn Ellis, WorkForce case manager for Carson City Health and Human Services.
"What has changed is employers have choices. Hundreds of choices to fill a few positions," said Ellis. "Secondly, job applicants should realize hiring procedures have changed, with software programs also looking through resumes, tossing out those that don't have key words and information."
Taking the necessary steps now could mean gainful employment in the future, she said, but the first thing jobseekers need to understand is that paying attention to details has never been more important.
The WorkForce program offered by Carson City Health and Human Services offers a weekly strategy class, Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m., designed to help jobseekers brush up on their resumes, interviewing skills and job search followups. No appointment is necessary for the classes, which are held at the Carson City Human Services Office, 900 East Long Street.
Ellis said the classes, and what can be gleaned from them, will be helpful and provide solid skills ahead of the first job fair of the year on Friday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. The fair is sponsored by Carson City Health and Human Services, JOIN, Inc. and the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.
In 2013, three job fairs, plus the WorkForce weekly job strategy classes helped job seekers land at least 207 jobs. For the first job fair, the goal is to have 45 employers sign up.
JOIN, Inc., is also offering help for job seekers. On Friday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m. it will host an orientation for those who are looking for work, and especially those who have exhausted their extended jobless benefits. JOIN, Inc. will then host four free employment preparation workshops, Tuesday, Jan. 28 through Friday, Jan. 31. The workshops are also designed to prepare jobseekers for the Feb. 21 job fair.
Each workshop runs from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The first workshop is on life skills/job search and networking; Wednesday's workshop is how to perfect your 60-Second Me; Thursday is building an effective resume; and Friday will focus on interviewing skills. Stop by the Carson City JOIN office at 1925 N. Carson Street or (775) 283-0125 ext. 18, to sign up for these workshops.