If It Prints, I'll Let You Know

We did a feature on embarking on a career as a virtual assistant, working from home. However, we have to remember that each person is unique in his or her preferences and being self-employed and working from home may not be everyone’s cup of tea. So, here are a few tips as well for those who would rather rejoin the workforce and find new gainful employment.

We found a few good tips from a feature by Doris Eder at NewsTimes.com. The article shared the existence of the federally-funded agency called The Workplace, which provides job-seekers with programs and services in the Southwestern Connecticut area. Within The Workplace is a project called CT Works, which is operated by Career Resources Inc, along with the Department of Labor of the State of Connecticut. Among the assistance provided by CTWorks are free computer instruction in MS Word, Windows, Excel and Power Point; filing online job applications; creating resumes; writing cover letters; and handling interviews.

Anyone who needs help beyond what has already been mentioned can meet with case managers or counselors. Job seekers can check out listings on bulletin boards, job books, and major job Web sites.

The article also mentions that it may be beneficial for applicants to customize resumes and interview strategies depending on the company and the job that one is applying for, which means that research will be an important part of the job hunting process. Something as mundane as choosing the right paper and printer for a resume can actually go a long way if this line of thinking is pursued.

An interesting program that was shared in the feature was the Career Coach. It is a bus that serves as a satellite of CT Works, equipped with 10 computers, a printer and satellite Internet access. Career Coach reportedly visits as many as 22 locations a month, parking outside town halls and libraries and providing assistance to jobseekers.