Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 29, 2020)
SIUSLAW NEWS | MARCH 2020 | S ECTION C A Special Supplement to Siuslaw News Careers & Employment Community Career Fair 5th annual fair connects employers and employees Thursday, March 5 • 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Three Rivers Casino Resort, 5647 Highway 126 F or the past five years, Three Rivers Casino Re- sort has brought togeth- er job seekers and opportuni- ties for employment, education and volunteering with its free Community Career Fair. The next annual fair will be held Thursday, March 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Three Rivers’ event center, 5647 Highway 126. “Our first year, we had 24 vendors,” said event organiz- er Pam Hickson, recruitment specialist for Three Rivers Ca- sino Resort and the Confed- erated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI). “It’s really grown from there and taken on a life of its own.” The event has evolved over time into a regional event, Hick- son said. “And we’re rebrand- ing this year as a career fair. It’s more than just employers.” The Community Career Fair offers over 40 businesses looking to hire, employment opportunities including sum- mer employment, community business connections and the re- sources needed for a great career choice. Educational careers will also be represented, as well as Sum- mit Salon Academy PDX, Lane Community College Florence Center, Linn-Benton Communi- ty College, Southwestern Oregon Community College’s culinary school and IITR Truck School. A full list of vendors is includ- ed on page 4C. “There’s just a little bit of something for everyone,” Hick- son said. “If someone is chang- ing a career or looking at moving or starting a career, it’s a great opportunity to come to the fair. We also have volunteer opportu- nities.” Attendees at past Three Rivers Casino Resort Career Fairs have made connections for employment, education and volunteering. The annual event returns for its fifth year on March 5. According to State of Oregon Employment Department data, the unemployment rate in Or- egon continues to trend down- ward. “The unemployment rate has dropped to the lowest rate we’ve seen since the 1970s,” Hickson said. “You can’t just do passive recruiting anymore. You can’t just put a job on the website and expect people to apply online. You have to do more of an active role.” Through her job, Hickson at- tends nearly a dozen job fairs each year. “I thought, ‘You know what? There’s really nothing like that over here,’” she said. Three Rivers supported her vision, and they planned the first fair for March 30, 2016. “It all started because we want- ed another avenue to be able to recruit, and we thought we would share the opportunity with some other folks to see if they were in- terested,” Hickson said. Big partners in the event each year are WorkSource Lane, which has an office at 3180 Highway 101 in Florence, and Goodwill Job Connections, 1310 Highway 101. “They are the first stop when you’re looking for a job here in the community, and regionally as well,” Hickson said. “I always encourage vendors to establish those relationships with Good- will and our WorkSource em- ployment department here in town. They do so much. I get a lot of my applicants through those two sources.” Each year also sees a return of vendors, which allows for net- working and sharing of resources. “It’s not just for the Florence community,” Hickson said. “That’s of course where the bulk of our vendors come from, but there are also outside opportuni- ties as well.” All are welcome to the free event. Those seeking jobs can engage with resources offered through WorkSource and Good- will Job Connections. Many will be able to apply on the spot through a bank of computers available for online applications and a table and pens for paper ones. “We encourage people at- tending the event to come dressed to impress, and also bring some resumes to share with potential employers,” Hickson said. “It’s a chance to meet one on one and put your- self out there.” She added, “The Communi- ty Career Fair is for job seekers of all ages, not just adults in the workforce. The schools this year are on board. That wasn’t even a question.” Three Rivers and CTLUSI are among those hiring in both Florence and Coos Bay. “It’s nice to be able to use the resources we have to bring new talent, but also share that with our community,” Hickson said. “It really is in line with the Community Care Award we received at the Siuslaw Awards this year.” Florence Area Chamber of Commerce annually holds the awards to recognize the con- tributions of businesses and individuals who support the Siuslaw region. “That’s what it’s all about — it’s helping each other out,” Hickson said. “And we’re happy to give back. It’s just a win-win for ev- eryone.” Three Rivers will continue to plan for the event, with a date al- ready set for the 2021 event. “It’s great to have the vendors here, and it’s great to have the applicants coming in,” Hick- son said. “We’re thrilled to have planned the career fair for the past five years, and look for- ward to a future of having these events.” For more information, visit the Community Career Fair Face- book page or threeriverscasino. com. Applicants can stand out among the crowd with these résumé tips C hanging jobs can be a difficult decision to make, just as starting out fresh can be intimidating. In many ways, landing a new job is more chal- lenging than ever thanks to the technology-driv- en society in which peo- ple live. Information is shared faster than ever, and applying for jobs isn’t the same as it might have been as recently as a de- cade ago. One thing that has evolved is the résumé. Although creating a pow- erful résumé has always been a challenge, writing — or modifying one — for today’s digital world requires some insider tips. Adapting a résumé as one ages and has gained experience can be advan- tageous. A well-crafted résumé is one way for professionals to demon- strate how their skill set is current and adaptable to today’s business climate. The following are some current résumé trends that will help profession- als stand out from other applicants. Be brief yet effective A concise design is key. Many recruiters spend little to no time review- ing the hordes of résumés they receive. In fact, auto- mated résumé bots may initially screen the docu- ments to thin the crowd. According to data from the 12th an- nual Mystery Job Candi- date survey by CareerX- Roads, the average recruiter spends six se- conds look- ing at a ré- sumé. If a résumé is len- gthy or does not attract attention, it Many employers now will likely be ignored. Stick to a single-page and make use application tracking sure wording is brief but software to sift through the scores of résumés that meaty. are submitted for each opening they post. Consider design Keywords make it easy Design your résumé so it will look good whether for employers to sort it’s viewed on a screen or through thousands of a mobile phone or print- résumés. The right key- ed on paper. Classic serif words will flag your ré- style fonts (such as Times sumé and increase your New Roman) can make a “relevancy score” in the résumé seem dated, so se- main HR/recruiting soft- lect modern fonts that are ware programs available. Take your cue from the crisp. The idea is for the ré- job advertisements them- sumé to look balanced selves and mimic the ver- and clear, without being biage used. Replace the overdone with modifi- lingo accordingly, tailor- cations, like italics and ing it to each job you ap- colors. However, bold ply for. Also, consult the lettering could provide “about us” area of a pro- spective employer’s web- much-needed attention. site. This area may offer clues about buzz words Embrace keywords back up the claims. Accord- ing to a 2015 survey by Career- Builder, em- ployers say that résumés that include links to a candidate’s portfolio, website or blog garner more atten- tion than ré- sumés with- out such links. for the industry. People should also adapt their résumés for each ap- plication they submit. Use some of the words listed in the initial job posting and description. In addi- tion, look at similar job postings and incorporate some keywords listed in those ads so that you have all the bases covered. Keep juicy details up top Format the résumé so the most pertinent in- formation is within the top one-third of the doc- ument. Beef up a sum- mary statement and use it in lieu of an objective. Make sure that summary includes keywords that promote your skills and Highlight what you experience to potential- have done ly lure the recruiter into Rather than listing ev- reading more. ery job responsibility and position in chronologi- Put your own voice in cal order, use a résumé to the résumé highlight specific career Rather than using stan- accomplishments. This is dard verbiage on your a time to be your biggest résumé, personalize what fan and tell the world all of you want to say. Hiring the great things you have managers want to hire a accomplished. Remem- human, not a machine. ber to include evidence to When speaking about yourself, be sure to use strong action words that define your skills even further. HR professionals cite terms like “managed,” “achieved” and “im- proved” as examples of positive, assertive words. Also, engage in activi- ties that can improve your marketability. Be sure to list training, coursework, degree or volunteer ef- forts that pertain directly to the skills needed for the job to which you’re apply- ing. These additions can tip the scales in your favor over another applicant. Who you know Landing a new job is of- ten about what you know, but getting a foot in the door is also largely influ- enced by who you know. Include any professional groups to which you be- long or alumni associa- tions. Who knows? The recruiter may have the same alma mater or vol- unteer with the same or- ganization. Updating a résumé with the goal of standing out among a crowded pool of applicants is a great way for job seekers to land a new job. Simple changes like keywords, phrasing, formatting and having the right skills for the job can ensure a résumé is seen by a recruiter, and perhaps even lead to a new career.