Are you Job Ready?

Finding the right job can be challenging and stressful. No doubt you’ve already spent hours sifting through thousands of job postings online trying to find that one perfect job. Then, eureka! You’ve spotted a job that perfectly describes you. In a burst of energy, you focus all of your attention on customizing your resume, making sure that every detail is perfect. Finally, you submit and wait by the phone. Silence. Have you done the best you could to get noticed? Is there something more you could have done?

Job readiness training is critical in today's rapidly changing workplace as the needs of employers continue to evolve. Workforce centers throughout Colorado provide workshops and career planning services to help you become job ready. When a customer enters a workforce center, they not only need specific job skills, but also job readiness skills such as how to manage their career, conduct themselves with managers, develop new skills, and identify additional job readiness opportunities as their careers develop.

Being job ready means that you have the skills to:

- Identify the tools you will need to make your job search successful

- Determine the job skills and interests you possess

- Research potential occupations and businesses

- Use traditional job search methods

- Use non-traditional job search methods

- Fill out the job application correctly

- Participate in an interview

Assessing your job search skills is an essential first step to an effective job search. It may also be a good indicator that you could benefit from taking advantage of the services provided by the Jefferson County Workforce Center. We can help you develop your job search skills through assessments and workshops designed to increase your level of job readiness.

Ask yourself the following questions to determine your current level of job search skills:

1. Do you know what skills you have to offer an employer?

2. Can you match your skills to the requirements of a job you seek?

3. Can you identify five (5) personal qualities or traits that will help you in the type of work you seek?

4. Do you know what the responsibilities and tasks are for the job you seek?

5. Are you aware of and understand the job requirements for your job focus as they relate to your disability?

6. Is your resume relevant to the type of job you seek?

7. Does your resume sell your skills and present outcomes that show good working performance in your past positions?

8. Have you contacted people to ask permission to use their name(s) as a reference?

9. If you are receiving disability benefits (cash benefits or medical insurance), do you know how working will impact your benefits?

Workplace Considerations

1. Does your skill level fit with the salary you want to make?

2. Do you know the top three or four qualities of a good employee?

3. Do you know the meaning of "good business work ethic" and why it is important?

4. Is the job(s) you are interested in available in your local labor market? Can you name local employers that commonly hire for the position you are interested in?

Job Interview Considerations

1. Do you have a 30-second summary?

2. Can you explain your work history, including gaps in employment?

3. Can you describe how you used your skills in past experiences (paid and unpaid)?

4. Can you describe how you solved problems or made decisions in previous jobs?

5. Can you explain your personal qualities that will help you succeed in the job you seek?

6. Do you know what questions are illegal and how to handle them if they come up in an interview?

7. Do you know the types of questions and topics to stay away from in an interview?

8. Do you know if and when to disclose your disability?

9. Do you know what accommodations you may need and how to ask for them?

10. Do you have solution(s) to your accommodation needs and can you explain them?

11. Do you know how to close an interview?

Technical Considerations

1. Are you able to use a computer keyboard?

2. Can you run basic software applications (word processing, spreadsheets, etc) including specific applications for a particular job you seek?

3. Can you save and manage files on a computer?

4. Do you know how to access the Internet and send and receive email messages?

5. Are your computer skills appropriate for the position you seek?

So, how did you do? Depending on how many questions you were able to answer ‘yes’ to above, you most likely have some areas to improve upon in your job search. Take advantage of the numerous services provided by Jefferson County Workforce Center to confidently answer ‘yes’ to the questions above and make your job search a success. Whether you prefer learning on your own through our video professors or computer assessment and tutorial systems, attending a job search workshop, meeting one-on-one with an employment specialist, or a combination of the above, Jefferson County Workforce Center can help you increase your skills to get the job you really want.

Need more information? Click here to see a list of our locations.

Want to talk to a Jefferson County Workforce Center staff member? Call 303.271.4623, or click here to send an email.

Want to learn more about our free workshops? Click here to vist our workshops page.

Looking for our job seeker events? Click here to vist our events page.