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January 6, 2009

Young adults learn to ‘Nail That Job’

Derrick Miller

DUNCAN — Young adults involved in the Dream Duncan’s Destiny Youth Coalition were given some insight last week in how to land a job.

Eight youths and three adults participated in the “Nail That Job” program Tuesday in the Workforce Duncan office.

During the program, the teenagers talked about what they wanted to do for a career and were told about ways to improve their chances of getting a job.

The program was led by Dian Pennypacker, workshop specialist with Workforce Duncan.

Pennypacker said everything from the resume to the interview to work history all can play major roles in someone getting a job.

One of the biggest factors in getting a job is taking communication into consideration. She said communication is an important part of all jobs.

“If you don’t like people and you don’t like to communicate, you’re going to have a tough, tough time,” Pennypacker said.

She said employees have to deal with people on some level, even if they’re only dealing with their bosses.

Regardless of whether the job is customer service or something dealing with people far less often, communication is important, she said.

When applying for a job, a resume plays a significant role in helping people get the job.

A resume should include contact information, work history and special skills. Resumes shouldn’t be longer than a page.

One thing that can detract from the work history section of a resume is if there is a large number of jobs within a short length of time.

This can show a lack of loyalty and dedication to a job, she said.

Pennypacker said if there are many jobs listed, each with only a short amount of time, the person applying for the job should be prepared to answer questions about why he or she hasn’t stuck with any of those jobs.

The same goes for long breaks in work history. For each job listed, a description of job duties, preceded by an action verb, should be listed, Pennypacker said.

This can show the impact the prospective employee has had on those former jobs.

As far as listing skills, it can range from anything that applies to the possible job, including computer and customer service skills, to special skills, like speaking multiple languages. Another important part in seeking a job is the interview. When interviewing, the prospective employee should dress for the role and should be ready for the interview.

Pennypacker said many places are going to behavioral interviews to find people with positive attitudes.

Something else that can play a role in whether someone gets the job is his work history.

If someone gets a job but doesn’t do anything or quits shortly after starting, this can deter an employer from choosing him for a job.

Finding a job can be an important step in someone’s life, she said. But she encouraged the students to go a step beyond finding a job. She said they should look for careers.

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