PLEASE NOTE: We’re sorry, but our Fall 2011 series of employment workshops is full. We are no longer accepting signups.

Starting Monday, October 3, 2011
Based on the success of last year’s series of employment workshops, Beebe Library has scheduled another 7-week series of workshops for job seekers running on Mondays from Oct. 3 – Nov. 28. The workshops will be run by Gary Gekow, a Senior Employment Specialist with 21 years of recruiting experience in the Boston staffing industry. Gekow works closely with client companies in many industries as well as with job seekers in various specialties. He has presented his successful employment workshops at dozens of libraries throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“With so many individuals being impacted by today’s economy,” says Gekow, “the need to help educate those looking for work is critical.”

The workshops will be held in the Beebe Library Lecture Hall on Monday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. beginning on October 3 and ending on November 28. There will be no sessions on the Mondays of Columbus Day or Halloween. People are welcome to attend any or all workshops. There is no requirement to attend all six. Advance registration is required, as seating at each workshop is limited. Sign up online using our web form for registration, by email at email@wakefieldlibrary.org or by phone at 781-246-6334, x6567. The last series filled up quickly, so early registration is recommended.

The workshops will cover a range of areas designed to help job seekers. The complete schedule is as follows:

• Monday, October 3 – Resume Writing Review. Attendees will participate in a round table discussion of resume writing in general, including how to address key word search techniques. Chronological and functional resume samples will also be analyzed. Participates are encouraged to bring their existing resumes for confidential one-on-one critique.
• Monday, October 17 – Cover and Thank You Letter Review. A group discussion and analysis of various letter-writing samples. A review of acceptable formats will be included.
• Monday, October 24 – Interview Workshop. An interactive and informal question and answer session where participants will role-play typical interview questions and how best to answer them. The seminar will also include ways to avoid job candidates’ most common interview mistakes.
• Monday, November 7 – Online Job Search and Resume Submittal Workshop. An analysis and discussion of numerous search strategies, including job alerts, job boards, job aggregators and company employment pages. The session will include a discussion of how to best utilize these web sites for submitting one’s resume.
• Monday, November 14 – Changing Careers: Reinventing Yourself in Today’s Job Market. Transitioning into a new profession can be a challenging and daunting undertaking. This session will explore various strategies to help make the transition from one industry to another a smooth one. This is a group discussion where everyone’s experiences and opinions are welcomed.
• Monday, November 21 – Salary and Benefits Negotiating. For many, discussing compensation with employers is a risky and uncomfortable endeavor, yet it is imperative that people have the necessary tools to advocate for themselves. Is the salary commensurate with your market value? Can allowances be made with respect to additional vacation time and increased stock options? Strategies will be discussed to help bolster confidence and gain knowledge as it relates to business negotiations.
• Monday, November 28 – Managing Stress during the Job Search. Coping strategies for the stress of job searching in difficult economic times.

The employment workshops are generously funded by the Friends of the Library.

Beebe Library also maintains an extensive Career and College collection with resources for job seekers including guides to writing resumes and cover letters and other aspects of the job search.

For further information, phone 781-246-6334, x6567.

Categories: Miscellaneous
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