Sierra College Offers State Job Preparation Course
A one-night community education course at Sierra College is equipping job seekers with essential tools to successfully navigate the competitive landscape of state employment. Titled “How to Get a Job with the State,” this course is made available to local residents through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the Community Education program at Sierra College.
This course is featured in the online catalog, Kaleidoscope, where individuals can explore various career-oriented classes aimed at fostering diverse skill sets, including artistic and linguistic proficiencies.
The timing of this workshop is particularly salient, as career specialists highlight that recent college graduates are confronting a volatile job market. According to the career portal Handshake, job advertisements have decreased by 15%, while applications surged by 30%.
Instructed by Michelle Allen, the course has evolved to reflect changes in technology and market conditions over the years. Allen guides students through the intricacies of the online state careers portal, CalCareers, sharing relevant anecdotes from her extensive career with various agencies in the State of California.
For Steven Brown, a sales veteran with over three decades of experience, this workshop represented an opportunity to embrace new challenges.
“Entering my early 50s, I needed to revamp my resume, master interview techniques, and adapt to platforms like Zoom and Teams,” Brown remarked.
Allen, who initiated her professional journey within the California Department of Education, asserts that the appetite for state employment remains robust, albeit with potential application delays.
“There’s an ongoing necessity for state positions, currently amounting to nearly 3,000 vacancies statewide,” she noted, highlighting that the majority are concentrated in the Sacramento area and its suburban locales, such as El Dorado, San Joaquin, and Yolo Counties.
To aid her students, Allen provides meticulously crafted worksheets featuring step-by-step instructions on where to locate examinations, insights about specific job roles, and strategies for optimizing application submissions based on her seasoned perspectives.
Allen emphasizes that her mission transcends merely instructing on application processes.
“It often moves me to tears, as it holds profound significance for the students,” she expressed. “Few experiences rival the joy of assisting someone in securing a stable, lucrative position.”
However, she also imparts a sobering reality check to her class.
“Right from the outset, I convey that many may not secure state employment—not due to a lack of capability or qualifications, but because persistence falters when responses are sparse,” Allen stated.
Her counsel?
“You need a measure of determination. I genuinely believe that everyone in this class possesses the potential to succeed in state employment,” Allen affirmed. “Once on board, individuals can ascend to their ideal roles and achieve their desired salaries.”
Allen reiterated the crucial notion that it’s less about immediate job placement and more about gaining entry into the state workforce, as myriad opportunities await.
Source link: Cbsnews.com.
