Help for the Job Hunt at Richland County Public Library By Mary Ellen Cheatham
W
ith one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, South Carolina has seen its share of struggles. Downsizing and plant closings mean thousands of people are looking for work in a highly competitive job market. Even some people who have worked with the same employer for decades are suddenly finding that they have to start a new job search from scratch, a seemingly dismal prospect in the beginning. In fact, it often means looking into a career change.
“It’s a very bewildering feeling to look for a job and maybe you don’t know how or maybe you don’t have all the tools you need,” says Diane Luccy, who manages the Job Center at the Richland County Public Library’s main branch (1431 Assembly St.). The job center provides a variety of resources for all kinds of job seekers, whether they’re looking for entry-level work, looking
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for a job requiring advanced degrees or trying to start a business. Barely a year old, the library created the center with a $438,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which funds innovative projects aimed at creating informed and engaged communities. Two crucial elements of the center are new computers and two employees — a
The Richland County Public Library offers a wide array of job-search assistance at its main branch Job Center. Courtesy photo.
career specialist and job readiness trainer — designated to help job seekers in groups and individually. “We’re giving them a starting point,” says Luccy. “We try to meet the person where their needs are, workforce developmentrelated, and try to address those needs.” Following is a rundown of resources the center provides. The services are free. You don’t even need a library card. Résumé prep: Job seekers can prepare
and print their résumés, and even fax them to employers from the job center. Staff members can also provide advice and critique. Internet: The center provides computers and Internet access. Job seekers can search job listings and research various careers, employers and salaries. If you can’t make it to the center, the library offers a website with a variety of virtual career search options that you can access from home at www.myrcpl.com/careers. June 1-7, 2011 | free-times.com
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Start a new career or move up to a better one. Fast-paced Continuing Education programs offer Career Training. Despite the current economy, there is still a demand for skilled workers in SC. Industry experts agree that 70% of jobs projected through 2012 will require specific or occupational training, not a four-year degree.
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QuickJobs programs have been developed for fields where job growth is expected. Many programs can be completed in less than three months. Some programs have annual earning potentials over $60,000. You may be eligible for tuition assistance.
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Healthcare Cardiac Care Technician Certified Nursing Assistant Clinical Massage Therapist EKG Technician Emergency Medical Technician Health Information Technician Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Medical Transcriptionist Patient Care Technician Phlebotomist
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Start now. Don’t wait. To begin, go to mtctraining.com/quickjobs or call (803) 732-0432 for more information. Additional assistance for those receiving unemployment benefits or eligible for WIA The Midlands Workforce Development Board works in partnership with Midlands Technical College to help job seekers build the skills they need for jobs that are in demand. Call your nearest Midlands Workforce Center in Columbia, Lexington or Winnsboro and ask about the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and tuition assistance for QuickJobs training as well as other training available at MTC. In Columbia, call 737-5627. If you live closer to the Lexington One Stop, call 359-6131 or go by and ask to speak to a WIA case manager. In Winnsboro, call 635-2812 and ask about WIA.
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RCPL Job Center. Courtesy photo.
One on one: Job seekers can schedule a one-on-one meeting with a career specialist for advice. Staff members are also available to provide help with a job application or information about applying for unemployment.
Classes: The library offers a variety of classes that address skills like typing and finding a job online at six of the library’s
locations. Staff members can even help job seekers set up email accounts if they don’t have one, since most employers today only take applications on the web. “People who haven’t had to look for a job in 10, 15 or 20 years — they’ve never had to deal with applying for jobs online,” says Jennifer Wishart, the center’s job readiness trainer. “They’ve applied by sending their résumé in or by submitting a paper applica-
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tion, so this is a whole new thing for them.” Other classes teach the basics of social networking and how it can help people make connections with colleagues and seek referrals. Social networking through websites such as LinkedIn and Facebook is one of the most popular and effective tools in a job search. “This is a great way to make connections in various companies and get your foot in the door with companies that you would like to work for,” Wishart says. “It’s also a good way to maintain contacts with former coworkers and employers.” If two equally qualified applicants apply for a job, Wishart says, the one who knows
interviewing techniques, going beyond old standby questions such as “Where do you see yourself in five years?” and asking prospective employees about how they handled experiences in previous jobs. “They would be something like, ‘Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an upset customer or co-worker,’ or ‘Tell me about a time when you had to show initiative and take the lead,’ or ‘Tell me about a time when you had to work with a team on a project,” says Wishart. “They’re all questions that would ask you to tell a story.” The job center also has special software designed to help people with interview prep, such as “Perfect Interview.” The program
“This is a great way to make connections in various companies and get your foot in the door with companies that you would like to work for.” — Diane Luccy, Richland County Public Library’s Job Center an employee at the company the applicants are applying to is more likely to have their résumé looked at seriously. “Having that referral really helps,” she says. Interviewing: The center offers weekly sessions from 10 a.m. until noon at the main library on Wednesdays for practice interviews, where job seekers can get feedback on their answers. “We talk about how to prepare for an interview, how to do background research, different websites to visit to find information about the company, appropriate interview dress, and then all the different ways you should behave in the interview — body language, nonverbal communication, and really answering the different types of questions,” says Wishart. Many employers are using “behavioral”
throws out questions to users in simulated interviews, and gives examples of the best answers. Users can select what type of interviews they want to try, such as entry-level or management, and how long the interviews will last. A webcam also captures video of the users’ replies during the mock interviews. The library staff estimates that about 500 people use the center each month. Not only are they finding out how to look for a job, they’re also finding that the process is not as daunting as it was in the beginning, says Luccy, the center’s director. “The thing we’ve heard over and over again are the number of people who comment, ‘You helped restore my self-confidence,’ or ‘You gave me hope,’” she says. For more information about the Richland County Public Library’s Job Center and its services, call 929-3401 or visit the website at www.myrcpl.com/rcpl/job-center-rcpl.
June 1-7, 2011 | free-times.com
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Fast-Track Careers: Healthcare By Allison Caldwell
L
ooking for a job? You’re not alone. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, some 13.7 million Americans are unemployed. Here in the Palmetto State, the job market is even more sluggish than the national average, but it is slowly starting to improve: The state’s unemployment rate dropped to 9.8 percent in April, down from a recession-high of 11.8 percent in 2009, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce reports.
There are numerous fields that offer better-than-minimum-wage jobs and can be entered relatively quickly, among them cosmetology, information technology, and skilled labor jobs such as electricians, plumbers or heating and air technicians. The medical field is also full of opportunities for trained workers, and the Columbia area is full of programs that can help you take advantage of those opportunities. From the QuickJobs program at Midlands Technical College (MTC) to certification courses from vocational colleges like Centura, Fortis and Remington, local residents can become job-ready in programs ranging from five
weeks to 15 months. If you’re among those seeking gainful employment in the Midlands, consider these fast-track health care careers. For a full description of the job outlook and qualifications needed for these careers, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website at bls.gov.
Cardiac Care Technician Typically employed in large hospitals or at companies specializing in cardiac monitoring, Cardiac Care Technicians view electrocardiogram (EKG) readings by monitoring test results via computer screen or on
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paper. They are responsible for reading and interpreting EKGs and notifying appropriate personnel should a problem arise. Cardiovascular technologists typically need an associate degree for entry-level employment. Most employers also require a professional credential. Faster-than-average job growth, with the field expected to expand 24 percent through 2018. Midlands Technical College QuickJobs (six weeks)
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
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ing bathing, dressing, feeding, checking vital signs and performing CPR and first aid when necessary. After passing a national certification exam, CNAs can apply for jobs in hospitals, nursing homes, home health care/ staffing businesses or with individual families for private care. Employment outlook is excellent; median hourly wages are $11.46. MTC QuickJobs (five weeks)
Clinical Massage Therapist Massage therapy jobs are often categorized by location or setting and type of massage administered. Spa-type jobs are typically found in resorts, salons, vacation destinations, day spas and hotels. Thera-
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Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Often the first medical responders in an accident or medical emergency, EMTs provide emergency care to patients in need. In addition to medical duties, they may also be required to drive ambulances or other patient transport vehicles. Job growth is average; median wages are $14.10 per hour. MTC QuickJobs (20 weeks)
Medical Assistant Medical assistant jobs are also expected to grow 34 percent from 2008 to 2018. Most medical assistants work in an office setting, where responsibilities include both clinical and administrative tasks: recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures, assisting with injections, urinalysis, CPR and general patient care, maintaining records and scheduling appointments. Median wage in 2008: $28,300. Centura College, Remington College (8-10 months)
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Medical billing and coding specialists are vital to the healthcare profession, whether working in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, home health agencies or in private practice. Knowledge of medical terminology and codes, medical billing and software training will pave the way for a rewarding peutic massage is usually administered in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, elder care facilities, corporate settings and even private homes. Anticipated job growth is faster than the average in other occupations. Salaries vary widely depending on the type of work environment and the hours worked. MTC QuickJobs (nine months)
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Dental Assistant
From sterilizing instruments and equipment, assisting with various procedures, applying topical anesthetics and performing office duties like scheduling and billing, dental assistants help keep busy practices running smoothly. One of several in-demand medical careers, dental assistant certificate programs generally include classroom, laboratory and pre-clinical instruction. Job prospects are excellent; median salary is $32,380. Midlands Tech, Fortis College (12 months)
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EKG Technician
Related to the Cardiac Care Technician mentioned earlier, EKG Technicians actually operate EKG machines and perform tests on patients to detect and record the electronic impulses transmitted by the heart during and between heartbeats. Employment in this field is expected to grow 24 percent through 2018. Median annual wages in 2008 were $47,010. MTC QuickJobs (20 weeks)
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Medical Assisting
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HVAC Computer Technician Networking
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Fast-Track Health Care Career Resources Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov Midlands Technical College mtctraining.com/quickjobs (803) 732-0432 Centura College centuracollege.edu (803) 754-7544 Remington College remingtoncollege.edu (803) 214-9000 Fortis College fortis.edu/columbia (803) 678-4800
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and profitable career in this field, which is growing much faster than the average for most occupations. Median salary was $30,610 in 2008. MTC, Centura College and Remington College (8-15 months)
Medical Transcriptionist
medical transcription might be ideal. Transcriptionists convert voice-recorded patient reports as dictated by physicians and other healthcare professionals and are employed by hospitals, medical offices, laboratories and even medical libraries and government facilities. Employment of medical transcriptionists is projected to grow by 11 percent from 2008 to 2018, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Median hourly wages were $15.41 in 2008. MTC QuickJobs (nine months)
Phlebotomy Technician
Whether in medical offices, hospitals or laboratory clinics, phlebotomists draw blood samples from patients needing blood work for health, medical, drug or work-related testing and analysis. National certification can be obtained after completing a minimum of 100 blood draws and 120 hours of clinical work in an approved lab. Median hourly wages of approximately $12-$13 per hour. MTC QuickJobs (nine weeks) Descriptions edited from course catalogs with additional information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Let us know what you think: Email news@free-times.com or comment online at free-times.com.
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