In addition to gaining specific skills, such as learning how to take a computer apart, or to recognize plants, install a green roof, or gather, market and sell building supplies, every job-hunter needs to know how to find and hold a job.
Certain traditional skills are still essential for even the most nontraditional new industries. A good resume, confidence in an interview and just knowing the right place to look for a job are important to starting any kind of career of right.
Sustainable South Bronx and Per Scholas include teaching those skills in their programs. Help in gaining them is also available at Workforce 1, run by the city’s Department of Small Business Services. Its recently-opened Career Center in Hunts Point, offers career advice from counselors who will help job-seekers identify a career path and acquire the skills to land a job.
Residents can attend workshops on topics ranging from computer training to how to ace an interview. Once they’ve gained that preparation, they can use the center’s database of job openings to get their career started.
The Hunts Point branch of the New York Public Library also offers free workshops on topics such as resume building, job searching and using the Microsoft Office set of computer programs.