Turn a Holiday Temp Job into a Permanent Job

ABC’s Good Morning America’s Job Club offers some advice on what to do to turn a seasonal job into a permanent one.  Click here for more.

JobLINC Job Fair-Wed. 7/29 @ Central Library

JobLINC Career and Education Fair Held @ the Library  

JobLINC, the Memphis Public Library & Information Center’s mobile career center, is hosting a Career and Education Fair, Wednesday, July 29, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library (3030 Poplar Avenue), in meeting rooms A, B, and C.  The Career Fair is for adults 18 and over.  Admission is free and 35 organizations have confirmed attendance.

JobLINC has held career fairs for the last few years and attendance has always been brisk. The current state of the economy has the Library expecting the biggest job fair turnout ever. According to a Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s report, the unemployment rate in Shelby County rose to 9.6% in May 2009.   “The Library is a first-responder in many ways,” said Director of Libraries Keenon McCloy.  “On average we see about 8,500 people through our doors each day.  Having that level of contact, you become acquainted with what people need.” McCloy added, “Layoffs and downsizing have deeply affected some residents. In response, we’ve created programs and services customers not only want but need.”  

For more information about the JobLINC Career and Education Fair or other career seeker assistance available at the Library, call (901) 415-2700.

 About JobLINC

Recognized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a model for targeted employment outreach, the JobLINC Bus has been serving the Memphis area since 1990.  The 35-foot bus with computers and internet access provides local job listings, an employment hotline, on-site resume preparation, and career search resource material.  JobLINC visits shopping centers, social service agencies and branch libraries throughout the county. Last year JobLINC assisted more than 1,000 customers with career assistance.

Overqualified?

CNN in parnership with CareerBuilder offers these pointers for job seekers that have been labeled overqualified.  Click here for the article.

Typing Tutorial

If you are interested in boosting your knowledge of the keyboard or you want to increase your speed, TypingWeb offers tutorials and timers. The site is free and you do not need to register unless you want to keep up with your scores.

Temporary Healthcare Coverage

If you’re facing a layoff, or considering any type of work transition, be sure to check out this great blog post from GovGab about temporary healthcare coverage.  It describes the various options, from COBRA and special enrollment to private insurance.  Links are provided for more information.

Employee Training Program @ United Cerebral Palsy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4th, 2009

United Cerebral Palsy Re-Launches

Memphis Works Training Programs

Memphis, Tenn: United Cerebral Palsy of the Mid-South (UCP) is responding to the economic crisis by officially re-launching two unique training programs available to all members of our community including those with disabilities and special needs. The programs, Food Service Training Program and Certified Nursing Assistant Program will launch in May at UCP’s Memphis Works Employment Training Center and will provide training to prepare individuals for jobs in food service and nursing assistance. The curriculum for each eight-week program includes both classroom instruction and hands-on learning activities. At the end of each session, students will be offered job placement assistance and job readiness training, such as resume writing and interview skills.

According to Program Instructor, Shirley Matlock, “We have developed two outstanding programs that engage students who come from a variety of different backgrounds, skills sets and ability levels. Our graduates fulfill their goals by living their lives without limits.”

UCP will host Information Session about the programs on

Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. and

Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.

The sessions are presented at

UCP’s Memphis Works Employment Training Center,

4189 Leroy Ave., Memphis TN 38108.

Tuition funding for these new programs may be available through the Memphis Area Career Center and the State of Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation Division.

For more information please contact, Shirley Matlock at 901-761-4277 ext. 1011 or via e-mail: smatlock@ucpmemphis.org.

United Cerebral Palsy is a grassroots agency dedicated to advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with all disabilities in Shelby County and the Mid-South.  Visit the United Cerebral Palsy’s Website for more information.

Download of Book – The Difference by Jean Chatsky

The Oprah Winfrey Show is offering a free download of the book The Difference by Jean Chatsky.  The book gives advice on survival during these tough economic times.  It also gives job search strategies.

The download is available until 9:59 a.m Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Enjoy!

Summer Law Intern Program for High School Students

HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER LAW INTERN PROGRAM

Sponsored by the Memphis Bar Association Diversity Committee Program

Description: The High School Summer Law Intern Program exposes local minority high school students to legal workplaces as summer interns. Interns will get personal experience in the daily legal workplace of private law firms, corporate law divisions or governmental law offices. Each participating workplace will provide a mentor to the intern, who will assign them duties and assist them in gaining a better understanding of the practice of law.

Duties: Interns may be assigned clerical duties (filing, running, photocopying, etc.) but the participating workplaces are asked to provide them with a perspective of the legal practice in Memphis by a) accompanying lawyers to court; b) assisting lawyers in case preparation; c) observing the negotiation or closing of a business transaction, etc. Group Activities: There will be group activities for all interns to learn more about the legal system and the varieties of legal practice in Memphis.

Qualifications: Interns must be minority high school students in good standing who will begin their junior or senior year of in August 2009 and must be residents of Shelby County. Applicants previously accepted into the program are not eligible. Internships are for a period of 4 weeks, June 1-June 26. Interns must be able to work a minimum of 15 hours per week. Upon successful completion of the internship, each intern will receive a $500 stipend. The particular days and times an intern works each week will be determined by the workplace and the intern.

Application Procedure: Minority students interested in the High School Summer Intern Program should complete the attached application and return it by March 11, 2009 to:

Anne Fritz, Executive Director Memphis Bar Association

80 Monroe, Suite 220 Memphis, TN 38103

Fax: 527-3582

Email: afritz@memphisbar.org

Please complete all items required by the application prior to returning it. Applications received without your and your parent’s or guardian’s signature and/or without a letter of reference will not be accepted. All information disclosed on the application will be kept confidential. Applicant interviews will be scheduled in March/April 2009. More information about the interview process will be sent to you at a later date.

If you have questions about the program or the application procedure, please contact Anne Fritz at 527-3573 or afritz@memphisbar.org.

HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM 2009 APPLICATION Completed application forms are due by March 11, 2009.

Job Loss Help

Many people are facing the possibilty of cutbacks and layoffs.  If you’ve lost your job, or fear that your company might be getting ready to make some cuts, you might want to brush up on the assistance available should you need it.  Do you know about COBRA, HIPAA or SSI?  The AARP has an overview of all that and more.

How to Find Meaningful Work

The Brazen Careerist has a few thoughts about what makes work meaningful.  These tips might help you prioritize your job search.  If you already have a job, you might enjoy this quiz–Do You Have a Good Job?  But, remember the quiz is just for fun.

The Downside of Social-Networking Sites

It seems these days that everyone has a page on MySpace, LinkedIn or FaceBook.  Be aware that not only your friends are reading your page.  Potential employers are looking at them as well.  Click on this link to read more about what you should not have on your page and how to keep it private.

Remember, what you do today can and will impact your tomorrow.

Improve Your Typing Skills

If you need to take a typing test to get that job you want, it might be time to work on your typing skills.  TypeSpeed is a free web-based application that can help you practice typing and increase your speed.  A free registration is required, but it will keep track of your progress for you.

If you have your own computer, you can download an even better program, RapidTyping, for free.

Advance Program for Non-Traditional Students at STCC

According to the Memphis Business Journal (Vol. 30, No. 11, p. 8), Southwest Tennessee Community College is starting a program to help ease the transition of non-traditional students (adults in the workforce, but going to college for the first time).  The program will address issues such as financial aid and registration.  As an added incentive for these students, Southwest will give these students a free class and $100 book stipend, whether they apply for financial aid or not.  If you are interested in this program contact Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management.

It’s All About Accomplishments…

These days, when recruiters or hiring managers look at your resume, they are probably interested in your accomplishments.  Most people list their duties or responsibilities, but forget completely about showing off the outcomes of all their hard work.  For those who are working, it is important to remember to keep a log of your professional accomplishments.  For those of you who are job hunting, it might be time to take another look at your resume to make sure that you’ve highlighted the results of your previous work.  Check out this great article from CareerLab to learn more about how to work your accomplishments into your resume.

But a tattoo is my freedom of expression!

One of the things I mention in each of my workshops on preparing for a job is the issue of tattoos.  From teenagers on up, it seems everyone has a tattoo.  I am a bit old fashioned when it comes to the job search and it seems that I am not alone.  Robert DiGiacomo writes about tattoos as well.  You can read the article here.  Tattoos are a distraction, and may not be as “cool” as you think with your employer.  To be on the safe side, cover your tattoos when applying and interviewing for jobs.  Once in the job, you can measure the attitudes of the staff regarding tattoos.

As you climb the ladder in your career, you may reflect on that impulse of placing your tattoo in a very visible place.  Think of the future when deciding where you want your tattoo.