Workshop aims to help job-seekers sharpen resumes

BARSTOW • Job-seekers looking to get an edge on their competition can attend workshops at Barstow Community College geared towards improving resumes and even sprucing up personal appearance.

BCC will host free resume writing workshops Friday and Saturday where attendees can get advice from employers directly involved with hiring as well as from the county and state employment departments.

While Friday’s session has already reached its 60-person capacity, there are still 17 openings for Saturday’s session, said organizer Mark Sielski, of the Barstow Chamber of Commerce and Northrop Grumman, as of Wednesday morning.

The first part of the session will focus on crafting resumes targeted at specific positions, according to Melissa Meadows of BCC’s Career Transfer Center.

“A lot of people come in and have a basic resume — with all of the information on it,” Meadows said. But more isn’t necessarily better from an employer’s perspective. “They have to dig through the information,” she said.

Tailored resumes can only come after closely examining the job’s description, Meadows adds. Several employment department officials and human resource workers will guide job seekers through reading job descriptions with a critical eye. It may be more important to include personal information on a resume for a mom-and-pop employer, said Sielski, while larger companies will be looking for those who match specific skill set requirements.

The second half of the workshop will focus on personal presentation. Attendees are urged not only to bring copies of their resumes but also to dress the part — business casual — while attending the sessions. Each person will receive a coupon for a free haircut or styling by BCC’s cosmetology department.

Aside from physical appearance, the workshops will emphasize making yourself memorable so your resume floats to the top of the stack, said Sielski.

“People have to learn how to sell themselves in 30 seconds or less in a job fair,”  Sielski said, which requires being knowledgeable and doing research on specific companies. “They need to do their homework prior to going to the job fair or interview.”

While beefing up on resumes and personal presentation can give job hunters an advantage, Meadows said given the climate of the current job market people should still explore a variety of potential employers.

“They need to be open to everything. They can’t just set their sights on one company,” she said. “If they don’t open themselves up to different types of jobs and companies, they’re going to get stuck.” The workshops are being held in preparation for the March 17 job fair at BCC.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4122 or elee@desertdispatch.com

Resume writing workshop
When: Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (room B-1), and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (room B-6).
Where: Barstow Community College, 2700 Barstow Road.
Cost: Free.
Contact: Registration is required, space only available for Saturday session. Call the Career and Transfer Center at (760) 252-2411, ext. 7321.