Whether you have been working a long time or are just starting out, you’ve probably heard a fair amount of career advice. While it is tempting to ignore unsolicited advice, be open to any advice that comes your way. It may encourage you to try something new or challenge you ...
Three Tips to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out With today’s online and automated application processes, you might think that a cover letter is no longer necessary. However, a strong cover letter may be even more important in this digital world. Use your cover letter as a tool to help you stand out from applicants who don’t submit ...
Work From Home Success As our world continues to face a new normal, many people are learning how to work in a familiar, but different environment, their home. Here are a few tips for making your remote office space work for you. Develop a Work from Home Routine Whether you have a flexible start or stop to your day, or you have a set schedule, it is important to create a ...
Hiring events are a great opportunity for job seekers to make personal connections with potential employers and showcase more than their resume. According to Kyle Tarkington, a business solutions representative, job seekers can expect to have casual conversations with employers and suggests they come prepared with questions for employers to ...
Throughout your lifetime, you might experience a period of unemployment because of family illness, childcare, schooling or another reason. While extended resume gaps might cause hiring managers to pause, it doesn’t mean you’re not qualified for the job. Use these tips to deal with a resume gap and impress hiring ...
A quick internet search for “career training Grand Rapids MI” will bring up many training options throughout West Michigan. Where do you begin? How do you find the right training program for you? Before you dig deeper into training programs, here are a few questions to think about: What do ...
“Tell me about yourself” is one of the most common interview questions. Answering open-ended questions like this can be difficult, but don’t let them throw you off. Plan ahead to make the most of an opportunity to share something that’s not in your resume or cover letter. Here are some ...
Are you using the right words on your resume? Writing a resume can be challenging. It’s hard to sum up years of accomplishments with a few words. Are the words you choose the best words to describe your skills and expertise? Choosing the right words to describe your work experience ...
Working with a career coach is about self-learning West Michigan Works! (WMW!) offers a variety of employment and training services designed to empower job seekers with the tools, resources and confidence needed to find a job. Working with a WMW! career coach is one of the best ways to prepare ...
The job search process can be long and stressful. Doing it on your own can feel isolating. At West Michigan Works! service centers you can not only find answers to questions and get connected to local resources, you can get some encouragement when things get tough. Don’t wait until your ...
This is the fifth of a five part series. West Michigan Works! now offers workshops designed to help you bring important employability skills to your job search or current workplace—skills that West Michigan employers have identified as the ones they look for in an ideal candidate or employee. WorkReady workshops ...
This is the fourth of a five part series. West Michigan Works! now offers workshops designed to help you bring important employability skills to your job search or current workplace—skills that West Michigan employers have identified as the ones they look for in an ideal candidate or employee. WorkReady workshops ...
This is the third of a five part series. West Michigan Works! now offers workshops designed to help you bring important employability skills to your job search or current workplace—skills that West Michigan employers have identified as the ones they look for in an ideal candidate or employee. WorkReady workshops ...
This is the second of a five part series. West Michigan Works! now offers workshops designed to help you bring important employability skills to your job search or current workplace—skills that West Michigan employers have identified as the ones they look for in an ideal candidate or employee. WorkReady workshops ...
This is the first of a five part series. West Michigan Works is offering workshops designed to help you bring important employable skills to your job search or current workplace — skills West Michigan employers have identified as the ones they look for in an ideal candidate or employee. WorkReady ...
We recently asked Beth, one of our talent development instructors, for some insider information on our free workshops. Beth has been teaching workshops for seven years and one of her favorite workshops to teach is Cover Letter Writing. This is what she told us about the workshop: What is Cover ...
The average job search process takes over six weeks and can be longer depending on the industry and level of the position. If you’re unemployed, you need to make job search your full-time job to get the fastest results. West Michigan Works! provides free services to help you at every ...
Recently, LinkedIn analyzed hundreds of thousands of job postings to decide which skills companies need most in 2019. How does that list compare to what West Michigan employers need? We asked a couple of them their thoughts. The 5 most in-demand soft skills in 2019 soft skill: personal attributes, personality ...
Are you unemployed? Do you want to break into a new field? Where do you start your job search? A successful job search starts with a strategy; a plan with defined tasks that will help you achieve your goal. Your first step: Take time to look at what motivates and ...
There are many moving parts to a job search: research, networking, writing, applying, following up. The list goes on and on. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. Here are five easy, yet important tasks that are easily forgotten: Consider job search your job. Set a daily schedule. Wake up at the ...
Your first visit to a Michigan Works! service center might have been to register for work. Now that you’re registered for work and receiving unemployment benefits, it’s time to jump start your job search. We can help! What else does West Michigan Works! do? Job search: West Michigan employers are ...
It’s really easy to get discouraged or depressed during your job search. Here are five ways to keep your job search upbeat and successful. Connect with past co-workers. Let them know you are on the hunt. You’ll be surprised how many are willing to help. Volunteer. Use your free time ...
There are two steps to apply for unemployment insurance: 1) file a claim for unemployment and 2) register to work. Here’s an overview of how to file a claim with the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). If you have specific questions, please contact the Unemployment Insurance Problem Resolution Office at 866-500-0017 ...
There are two steps to filing for unemployment insurance. Your first step is to file a claim for unemployment insurance. Your second step is to register for work with a Michigan Works! agency. What you’ll need to register for work A photo ID Social security card Resume How to register ...
Have you seen our monthly series on Facebook, Ask a Career Coach? We're traveling to our service centers to sit down with a career coach LIVE to give you a chance to ask job search-related questions. This month we visited the Holland Service Center. In this video, Mark talks about: ...
Employers offer short phone interviews now more than ever before. These interviews help hiring managers decide which candidates to invite to a longer, in-person interview. More than half of what a person says is communicated through body language and non-verbal cues. During a phone interview, the hiring manager can only ...
Whether you’re employed and looking for a new job, thinking about a new career or applying for unemployment insurance, use these tips to make the most of your visit to a Michigan Works! service center. (See a list of all ten locations here.) 1. Bring your resume After checking in, ...
Editor’s Note: This is the final in a four-part series about how to answer common interview questions. See part 1, part 2 and part 3. The interview is a time for you to make yourself stand out from other candidates. Asking thoughtful questions during the interview can set you apart ...