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A Few of my Favorite Things


Anyone remember the Oprah Winfrey talk show? If you watched this show, especially in the later years, every year near Christmas, Oprah came up with a list of her favorite things and then gave them to her audience as gifts.  Like Oprah, I have a list of favorite things, except my list is for workforce development professionals.
 
Online Infographics- Infographics are basically an online chart. It has pictures, words, and is extremely colorful. There are so many available and can be found on probably every topic imaginable. The information contained is condensed down to the key points. Looking for job seeking information about résumés, cover letters, or interviewing? Looking for statistics on industries, job seeker demographics, or leadership tips? You can search the internet for infographics on just about any topic. Great for job seekers and workforce development professionals alike.
 
Career Portfolios- Job Seeking is no longer about showing what I did, but rather how great I did it.  It is no longer acceptable to just be able to tell future employers that you have done a task or have a skill. Instead you need to be able to show how much of a rock star you really are.  This is where the career portfolio comes in. It is a great way for someone to get a competitive edge in a job interview.  A portfolio book of accomplishments can be shown to an interviewer.  It can also be taken online. There are websites where people can create an online career portfolio. Sites like PortfolioGen or Wix.com allow users to get started quickly and easily.

Networking 2.0 – What is networking 2.0? It is taking it to the next level. For example, if Networking 1.0 is meeting someone, collecting business cards, connecting on Linked In, and then calling it quits until that person is “needed” for something. The catch is that by the time you need to call upon that person, you have missed the boat. Networking 2.0 involves the next level. After you meet someone, exchange business cards, and connect on social media, do you offer that person your expertise, meet the person for coffee, or exchange ideas? To get the power from having a network, whether it be big or small, a person needs to remember that networking is a two way relationship.

Soft Skills- Getting a job and keeping a job is all about the soft skills.  Having technical knowledge on the résumé may get an interview where a job seeker can sell his skills, but if he does not have the soft skills, he will not keep the job very long. It doesn’t matter the demographic everyone needs them.  I foresee that soft skills will be playing a bigger part of workforce development practices in all programs and demographical groups.

Going Hardcore Case Management- People are unemployed for a variety of reasons. If the only reason that someone was unemployed was due to lack of job, the field of workforce development would be replaced with computers.  People have issues. They are real and they may need more than just a referral, but follow up and partnership.  Sometimes a long career action plan or a multi-layered plan is necessary to get to the root of the issue. Forget funding source. Hardcore Case Management exists in multiple programs and demographics.  Hardcore Case Management needs dedication from the case manager and an iron clad commitment from the job seeker.

Job Application Workshops/Assistance- If there were trends in workforce development, doing workshops or providing individual assistance on job applications is old school, but this is retro workforce development. If everything old is new again, then this is the bus to get on.  In many workforce development agencies, social media may be the latest craze, but how many job seekers do not fill out a job application correctly. Regardless of the vehicle, paper or computer, it is absolutely necessary for a job seeker to completely and accurately fill out a job application. The consequences can either be not getting an interview or getting fired for lying on an application. My retro advice is to have a “master” application that the job seeker completes and keeps. He can then use it to copy the information to applications to jobs he is applying for.

 

There are so many other things that I thought about that could be on this list, but are not. These are just a few. Unlike Oprah, I cannot gift you a new car, but I can offer you my list of my favorite things in workforce development for job seekers and professionals.  If I had to pick something for my number one thing, it would have to be the Great American Success Story.  Not only getting a job, but overcoming challenges and getting an amazing dream job.  I hope everyone in readers land gets to experience the Great American Success Story. Until then, enjoy some of my favorite things. Feel free to share some of your own in the comments section.  ~Karen Cirincione- kcirincione@gmail.com

 

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