Applying for a job can be challenging – especially during a pandemic, but our career coaches are here to help you land a job after completing a FastForward credential.
As part of the training your local community college provides through FastForward, our career coaches offer students an abundance of support and coaching. From navigating online applications to virtual interviews and resume workshops, here are some of the ways our coaches help to prepare students for finding a job.
Resume writing
Whether you need a quick proof or to build your resume from scratch, our career coaches are a resource for polishing up that paperwork before submitting to potential employers. Once you’re enrolled, ask your coach what support you can receive here. You can also look into the career center at the college to give you even more tools and support.
Interview skills
Interviewing for a job can be a daunting event, but our coaches will work one-on-one with you to share best practices, tips and work through mock interviews. Some coaches have even created workshops for students.
“To prepare student for applying to jobs after they’ve completed training, I have created three separate workshops to include Marketing Yourself: A Resume, Cover Letter, & Interviewing Workshop; Network: It’s Who You Know Workshop; & Build: Soft Skills, Critical Thinking Skills, and Technical Skills Workshop,” said Tidewater Community College career coach Alejandra Diaz-Rangel.
Going virtual
With many employers shifting to virtual interviews and digital applications, students have new technology-related issues to navigate.
“When using an online application process, it is very important to have all of your information, like names and dates, handy and ready to type into the application,” said Rappahannock Community College career coach Constance Peay. “Do not leave anything blank and don’t wait until the last minute to apply.”
And Southside Virginia Community College career coach Pam Taylor shares with her students how to name their electronic files, like resumes and cover letters, for easy identifying and tracking by company initials and date.
General tips and skills.
Our career coaches work closely with local organizations and businesses and often have the inside scoop to send you to those employers hiring. Other job search tips they provide include soft skills and how to network.
“I coach students to research the company they are applying to,” Camp Community College career coach Lisha Wolfe.
Virginia Workforce Connection is another great resource for job searching, interviewing and resume support.
No matter where you are in the process of finding a new job, our career coaches will jump in to guide you. All you have to do is reach out.