For job seekers, recently graduated students, and/or professionals dissatisfied with their current career track, the Central Florida Jobs Initiative offers a life changing FREE seven-session-job–readiness program. You heard right, free. Well, there are a few strings attached…
The pre-qualifications are as follow:
* Eighteen years or older
* High School or G.E.D. (minimum)
* Transportation to session location
* Adequate childcare (if applicable)
* Ability to complete a criminal background
Here’s how this complementary seven-session workshop can empower and energize your employment journey: Developed by the Christian HELP Foundation, the goal is to “equip and empower job seekers to become excellent employees.” This is, in part, achieved by identifying and altering traits, behaviors, and attitudes necessary for success not only during the job search process, but also after a job offer has been accepted.
Though offered monthly, the upcoming module/session dates (with career-focus) are as follows:
* Module 1: Creating Your Job Search Plan is scheduled for July 15, 2013
* Module 2: Crafting Your Cover Letter and Resume is scheduled for July 17, 2013
* Module 3: Networking in the Digital Age is scheduled for July 22, 2013
* Module 4: Job Search Tactics is scheduled for July 24, 2013
* Module 5: Interviewing and Impressions is scheduled for July 29, 2013
* Module 6: Mock Interviews, Financial Wellness, and Legal Assistance is scheduled for July 30, 2013
* Module 7: Performance Excellence is scheduled for July 31, 2013
Class times are from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm and are held at the Willow Creek Church, 4725 East Lake Drive, Winter Springs, Florida 32708.
The selection process is as follows:
* You are required to complete an application
* Engage in a phone interview
* Be prepared for a face to face interview
One more thing, participants must attend all modules to complete the program successfully. Not only will these free workshops strengthen your career potential, participants are guaranteed an interview upon successful completion of the program! Additionally, the six-book series used throughout the sessions are another free takeaway. This series, created for the sole purpose of helping you in your career journey, was developed in partnership with local publishers and writers at Education Career Services (www.edu-cs.com) whose career material has helped thousands globally and is yours to take advantage of. This complete hard copy career empowering series is offered only to those participating in the classes.
Currently, Christian HELP is in the process of looking for instructors for these upcoming classes and would love it if you wish to teach one of our job employment program sessions. Please let Mackenna Bowles, project management intern with Christian HELP, know at mackenna@christianhelp.org that you are interested in instructing one of these classes or participating in mock interviews.
It has been an honor to align with Christian HELP to bring this opportunity to so many throughout Central Florida. If you have any questions, please reach out at the above email addresses or if you wish to contact education career services directly, email me at dhuffman@educationcareerservices.com to see how we can help you.
Together we can make the world a better place, one step at a time.
“Anyone who has served their country is a hero, and should be treated as such.”
Courtesy of APUS
As Americans, we hear that saying a lot. Our veterans have served our country and deserve to have the red carpet rolled out to them. That’s the expectation many veterans have when leaving the service; everyone and every organization will roll out the red carpet to them.
In reality, the first cultural clash is often relived immediately upon return… rolling the rug is more often the exception. Do those who fought for our freedom deserve red-carpet treatment? Of course each veteran does; no one would argue against that. But that’s why it’s called an expectation.
Bridging civilian and military reality and expectations takes more than a plane ride, a bus ticket home, and a hope that the return will have a fairytale ending. Between two world views that rarely see the same thing, finding common ground is imperative to professional success. More often than not, common ground is defined by contributions.
Contributions come in various forms and phases. Christian HELP and the Central Florida Employment Council teamed with Education Career Services to create and provide free courses open to audiences ranging from high school graduates to entry-level candidates to those who have dedicated much of their lives to ensure freedom breathes on American soil.
Keeping it real, part one
Veterans have done their duty and served our country; now comes the hard part. Most veterans who are separating from the service have not planned on how they will go about taking the next step into civilian life. The decision to leave the military varies depending on the person and the circumstance, but all of them — whether they’re married or single — share in asking themselves, “What’s next?”
As they found out in the first week of boot camp, they all come from different places across the country and from different backgrounds. They all signed on the dotted line for different reasons and brought with them a different story. That was the first week, and they were quickly forced to realize that none of it mattered and that their success in boot camp would be determined by working together.
Being able to depend on their fellow comrades was instilled in them from day one. No matter the situation, there was always someone around that could relate or help them work through a problem. That’s the beauty of being in the military: they’re part of a family that extends across the world. And although their veteran status will always signify this, their physical separation from it is a new challenge.
The courses offered through Christian HELP and the Central Florida Jobs Initiative takes challenge and resolution to a level threaded by realism, empathy, compassion, and progression. Leveraged between expectation and reality, the veteran (as well as all students) is supported by six single-topic books to ensure a maximum learning and “becoming” experience is achieved by all.
Keeping it real, part two
It is not uncommon for a newly separated veteran to expect, “Hey, I just served my country. I deserve the best it can give back to me.” While this thought process is not illogical to someone who has made that sacrifice, it is unreasonable to think that society will cater to it — unfortunately. The quicker the veteran realizes that society doesn’t think it owes them anything, the quicker they can move on and not depend on it.
Yes, it can be a bitter truth, but it’s a truth requiring acceptance. This is the reality of what it is to be a recently separated veteran. They may have traveled across the world, gained priceless experiences, and adopted a surplus of skills to add to their arsenal, but it doesn’t matter in their transition unless they accept that they’re not entitled to a career and will have to work harder than the civilian to attain it.
Transitional reality: Truth can be painful, even rewarding, while ignorance of truth leads to anomie.
Putting on that uniform, whether the military personnel knew it or not, gave them a sense of comfort and security. They belonged to something. They were respected. They knew that no matter what, they would be sheltered, fed, and paid. One of the hardest, if not the hardest, phase they will go through in their transition is embracing a civilian world that may not be as endearing to what they’ve done, as they may have expected.
The military gave them a structure and forced them to abide by it. They did so and received the benefits of it in return. In “the civilian world” it is up to them to create a structure that works best for their needs and to establish themselves in a market where their skills will allow them to receive those same benefits in return. With the right research, resources, and effort, this will all be made possible to them… a strategy embraced and encouraged through Christian HELP… a strategy threaded by empowerment.
As a whole and consistent with economic reality, transitioning military personnel are hit hard when it comes to finding an appropriate job. Determined by the Veterans Career Confidence Index, 78% of veterans are not confident about finding a job that meets their abilities, meaning less than 22% actually do feel secure. Held by the keyword “confidence,” when asked, the most important skills veterans felt they gained in the military were intangible skills: self-discipline, attention to detail, teamwork, decision making, problem solving, respect, calm under stress, multi-tasking, and willingness to help others.
Four-fifths of employers agree that their company will hire the best talent regardless of veteran status. Many employers refer to several intangible skills veterans bring to the work place, such as, self-discipline, teamwork, attention to detail, and more. The key to transitioning success is clear: effective translation of tangible military skills to business-use gives veterans a leg up. Here resides strategic maneuvering and the essence of an American culture driven to do the “right thing.”
Keeping it real, conclusion
When it comes to doing the right thing for those loyal to our safety, security, and freedom, action begins on the micro-level… at the you and me level. Wishing never to shy away from responsibility while de-clashing expectations and reality, Education Career Services’ newest hire, John, is a recent veteran who also happens to be an outstanding writer. John’s influence and perspective will prove to be beneficial during Central Florida Jobs Initiative efforts as well as for those unable to attend classes but desire the collective books, including the most recent Veteran Transition is the Mission book(s) offered through Education Career Services.
“Anyone who has served their country is a hero, and should be treated as such” can no longer be a social-numbing rationalizing mantra designed to justify misplaced stereotypes. From this point forward, the journey from the military world onto the civilian world must be paved with compassion; compassion defining America and all the people proud to be an American.
Christian HELP deployed a six-session workshop designed to connect the unemployed, underemployed, and military personnel to companies seeking quality candidates ready for hire. The complete and intense workshop goes beyond the surface of simply finding a job. As opposed to template classroom sessions and courseware, each participant takes an active role onto a journey so succinctly stated by a recent graduate as: “The most effective career tool I’ve ever been involved with.”
Without hesitation or debate, veterans are saddled by challenges, mostly phantom ones created by civilian unfamiliarity; herein resides the crack gapping veteran expectations and civilian reality… a gap needing eviction.
Education Career Services is proud to partner with Christian HELP and the Central Florida Jobs Initiative. For those interested in career management courseware, full length books, or employment-targeted booklets, go to www.edu-cs.com for a complete listing of available military and non-military support.
Danny Hufman, MA, CEIP, CPRW, CPCC
Author, Publisher, Nationally Recognized Speaker
Follow Me on Twitter #dannyatecs
Education Career Services for civilian and transitioning military career: www.edu-cs.com
Are you unemployed, underemployed, and/or recently graduated, this FREE six-session program has the potential to lift you well above other candidates. For those serious about career progression and career satisfaction, make the call today at 407.796.3650 or visit www.cfji.org for details.
January 15th concluded the Central Florida Jobs Initiative launch, finding an overwhelming response from all participants. Following up from a previous shout out, Christian HELP, Central Florida Employment Council (CFEC), and Education Career Services partnered with one goal in mind: YOUR CAREER SUCCESS.
Here’s what fellow participants had to say about the empowering sessions:
* I am ready like I have never been ready before
* The books were good, organized, and kept me interested
* All of the instructors cared about our success, that meant a lot
* I’ve never been so engaged, the value of the sessions went far beyond expectations
* Role-playing activities will help me understand how to deal with workplace confrontation better
* Being a single mom without any college, I couldn’t help but feel for Megan. The way you made us see ourselves in the challenges others faced was so valuable. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
The six-session jobs initiative workshop classes are once again scheduled to begin next week. If you are serious about career development, gaining the right job, or learning time-tested and proven employment strategies, contact Christian HELP at 407.796.3650 for details. Interactive classes meet twice a week for three weeks.
Qualifying to be part of this complementary jobs initiative series, is as follows:
* Must clear a criminal background
* Must have reliable transportation
* If applicable, must have reliable childcare
* Must be eligible to work in the United States
* Must have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED
Placing you on top with a competitive advantage, I am scheduled to present and guide session #6 on February 13th. Nothing would be better than to have you join me as we explore what it takes to perform well on the job, gain fellow worker and supervisor respect, and set the foundation to gain promotions and job security.
Each of the six workshops is committed to a specific career lifecycle element. Throughout each workshop, you will be introduced to a wide range of career strategies and applications proven to enrich your personal and professional development.
Highlights of the six complementary classes are as follows:
Creating Your Job Search Plan: Addresses effective job search and career management strategies as well as common techniques to overcome the psychological effects when faced with unemployment. Crafting Your Cover Letter and Resume: No doubt the key to finding a job is a well-written, value-filled resume and cover letter. Our second of six workshops cover the basic and advanced methods behind writing an effective resume and cover letter, and also provides examples and tips along to the way to YOUR career success.
Networking in the Digital Age: According to a recent study conducted by Harvard University sociologist Mark Granovetter, 74.5% of all jobs come through networking. No doubt networking is a key in success but how does one network effectively? Series three is an ideal guide to get you on the right networking path, and keep you there!
Job Search Tactics: This fourth of six workshops takes you through each step of a digital job search. Everything from selecting an online job search site, creating an online profile, to uploading a resume is covered. Furthermore, alternative methods such as social networking, job fairs, and walk-in’s are detailed.
Interviewing and Impressions: The fifth workshop breaks the interview process into a series of steps. We start with preparation for the big day, move onto the interview, and then cover the follow up. Let this interview workshop be your guide to acing every aspect of the interview by realizing the many values and contributions you offer an employer.
Performance Excellence: The final workshop walks you throughout your 90-day review period and beyond. Be prepared to learn the meaning and process of on-boarding, develop conflict resolution skills, and examine the best practices to give and receive feedback. Furthermore, you’ll be introduced to concepts such as how to handle confidential information and contractual agreements.
Are you ready to be a superstar on the job?
To learn more, go to www.cfji.org for a complete Central Florida Jobs Initiative overview.
Education Career Services is proud to partner with Christian HELP and play an instrumental role in developing and publishing cutting-edge career management material for the Central Florida Jobs Initiative as well as thousands of job seekers across the United States. For those interested in career management courseware, full length books, or employment-targeted booklets, visit “Danny at ECS” on Amazon or go to www.edu-cs.com for a complete listing of available support. You may also contact me directly: dhuffman@educationcareerservices.com.
2nd Chance University 