Job search advice available from state, colleges

By Frank Coletta
Anchorman
Published: November 21, 2008

October’s 9.3 percent unemployment rate means more Rhode Islanders than ever are looking for work and looking for advice on how to get that next job.

Help is available in many different places for all aspects of the job search.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve interviewed for a job,“ said Walter Lass, who’s hunting for work for the first time in about 15 years.

Lass worked in inside sales at Scott Brass in Cranston since the early 1990s. But in early October, the company closed its doors – another victim of the bad economy.

Lass was one of more than 50 people who had to start over and look for a new job.

“I need to brush up on those skills I never thought I would have to brush up on,“ Lass said.

To be better prepared, Lass has been attending classes offered by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. One of them teaches job seekers the proper way to handle themselves in an interview.

Instructor David Wright said job hunters should never tell potential employers, “I’ll take anything.“

“You can never afford to let them see you sweat. You don’t want to be desperate,“ Wright said.

The DLT also offers advice on formatting your online resume, and what to do and what not to do on your MySpace or Facebook Web pages.

“Hopefully, you’re behaving yourself,“ said Laura Hart, of the DLT. “Some of the things you’re doing in your social world can show up to a potential employer and they can hurt you if you are not in control of your own image. So, be careful of what pictures you post to the Internet.“

Help is also available at colleges in the state.

The outreach programs at

Rhode Island College offer training for unemployed and under-employed state residents in many fields, including medical assistant training, bookkeeping and computer skills. English as a second language classes are also available.

Biotech training is available at the University of Rhode Island‘s Providence campus.

Serey Tum was laid off from GTECH and qualified for the biotech instruction after he received adult basic education training.

“I got in here and everything is going great. I’m loving it. It’s learning something new,“ Tum said.

Job retraining and counseling is also offered by private consultants and life coaches. Their services are not free.

Sometimes the company that laid you off will pay for the counseling, and sometimes they won’t.

In the job search, patience really is a virtue. Especially in this economy.