QUILCENE — A program sponsored by the Port Townsend Library that is designed to help job seekers find work will make its South County debut this month.
The free Transition Yourself Workshop Series, which has provided seminars since fall 2009 in Port Townsend, has scheduled workshops at the Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101.
The workshops will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 29, and Thursday, Aug. 4.
The purpose is to provide Quilcene and south Jefferson County residents an opportunity to receive free assistance with job searches and career planning.
Conducted by employment consultant Susan Wilson, the program seeks to teach people how to market themselves online as opposed to simply sending out resumes and waiting for responses.
“A lot of people spend 80 percent of their time sending out resumes when only 20 percent of all jobs are found in that way,” Wilson said.
Wilson suggested that job seekers divide their time in thirds, with equal time devoted to sending out resumes, maintaining social networking sites and networking to generate the content to be posted on those sites.
“A lot of the people I hope to reach are those who are over 40 who have job skills and an education but have trouble translating that into a real job,” Wilson said.
The workshop topics include the changing attitudes towards job searches, how to promote yourself, how to develop the best interview responses and career planning.
“I am using a coaching model, helping people to find out what they want to do,” Wilson said.
“I help them understand what is possible and available to them so they have realistic expectations.”
Wilson said she has wanted to sponsor the program in Quilcene for some time but hasn’t had the resources to do so.
When examining her budget this summer, she found there was enough grant money left to put on a seminar.
“One of the most frequent suggestions I heard in past sessions is that we should bring this to Quilcene,” she said.
“When someone is collecting unemployment, they don’t have the ability to drive around a lot, so it can be difficult for them to come to Port Townsend.”
Registration is required to attend the series and is accomplished by emailing ptplhardtimes@gmail.com or leaving a phone message at 360-344-4608.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.