Feature photo by Yousuf El-Jayyousi
[dropcap style=”simple” size=”4″]M[/dropcap]aking a resume, obtaining letters of recommendation and interviewing for a job can all be daunting. But for the Career Awareness Related Experience (CARE) Program, these topics are significant enough to create classes that teach students the importance of preparing well for the future.
These free classes are offered to students enrolled in 6th to 12th grade and will take place at the Armory Sports Center.  The courses are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning in October and continuing until early December.
“The [students] will go over the given material and be given samples and examples.  They will be given opportunities to build their own resume and cover letters in the class,” CARE Program administrative assistant Tonya Turner said.  “These are free, drop in employment class. These classes will help prepare the youth to apply for a job, so these are the things that will prepare them for things like a job interview.”
In addition to the tips and samples that will be shown at the classes, Turner said real life examples such as a mock interview will give students an idea of what to expect when applying for jobs.
“A lot of kids that young, like in 6th grade, might not have a work fair, so we teach them things such as how volunteering can help you get a job.  We teach them, and give them information about using those volunteer experiences to put on your resume,” Turner said.  “Maybe you are babysitting, or mowing your neighbor’s yard or helping out at church.  These are the types of things we’ll be able to go over and figure out how to utilize those experiences that you can put on a resume.”
For junior Natalie Mobley, although she has already had some experience working, being educated on these topics still appears to be important.
[quote]“[These classes] are a really a great opportunity for students who don’t have these resources outside of school or an adult who can aid the process,” Mobley said.  “College and career choices can be super stressful when you don’t know how to navigate your way through, and these classes could take some of that weight away.”[/quote] Job coaches and officers of service learning students will be teaching the classes, Turner said.  These individuals already have some type of work experience and will be able to use their own experience to share with others.
Like Mobley, sophomore Karla Lopez has some background information on the job application process, specifically how to do an interview, because of her AVID class; however, because Lopez has not yet worked, many of the other topics are new to her.
“[With some of the topics] I’m not sure what to do because I have never really looked for a job before,” Lopez said.  “But I believe these classes will help me so that way I have a better chance in getting a job.”
Ultimately, these sessions will help students get an idea of what to expect when job searching and gaining a position.
“I think that these classes can help because they prepare students when it comes to searching for jobs, what to say at a job interview and what not to say,” Lopez said.  “Taking these classes will help figure out what job best fits the career someone would like to do.”
Are you planning on attending the classes? Let us know in the comments below.