Purdue Calumet reaches out for 25th consecutive year to help local residents ‘Work Smarter’
The 21st Century work world brings many challenges – new technology, new trends in the workplace and many other tests of knowledge. Additional changes in just about every career field brings people to the realization that they must find new ways to confront and deal with those challenges.
Faculty & staff share insights, expertise
Last month’s “Working Smarter to Be Job Ready” program found some 100 people in Alumni Hall to hear university faculty and staff experts offer perspectives, hints, expertise and encouragement about job searching, career changing and self-exploration.
“I just graduated with a business management degree; but since I’m new to the area, I’m having trouble looking for employment,” said Hammond resident Katlyn Franklin, who relocated recently to northwest Indiana from Chicago. “I need all the help I can get.”
Keeping job skills current
Director of Career Services Shelly Robinson emphasized the importance of keeping employment skills fresh.
“Outdated job issues and gaps in one’s work history can cause unnecessary job search stress,” she said. “We want to introduce new ideas that job seekers can implement to impress employers and build self-esteem.”
Behavioral-based interviews
Human Resources Employment Manager Heather Runyan also zeroed in on personal development skills as they relate to behavioral-based job interviews. Such interviews seek to draw out past experiences to determine how job-seekers might handle current challenges.
Additional sessions featured presentations by Center for Entrepreneurship Success Dushan Nikolovski (“Succeeding at Your Dream Job”), Marketing Instructor Matthew Hanson (“How to Use Social Media to Find Your Next Job”) and Recruitment and Outreach Specialist Susan Giannini (“Learning How To Work Smarter to be Job Marketable”).
The Times and Post-Tribune newspapers co-sponsored the program.
