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11/01/2017 08:00 AMFinding a job can be a daunting task for anyone, but for teens entering the job market for the first time, it can be particularly confusing.
Old Saybrook’s Youth and Family Services (Y&FS) agency wants to de-mystify the job hunt process and strengthen the skills teens need to be effective and valued employees.
On Monday, Nov. 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., professional presenters will lead an interactive session for young people on employment skills. Held at the Old Saybrook High School Library, the event is open to teens and young adults from shoreline area towns. Although the evening targets teens’ needs, parents can also attend. This Employment Skills workshop is the first session in a year-long Essential Life Skills
series developed as a way to help teens and young adults build the confidence and competence to thrive as independent adults.
“This first session will focus on how to apply for jobs, how to behave on the job, address communications skills, and the proper etiquette for personal social media use [as an employee],” said Samantha Steinmacher, Y&FS program organizer.
The presenters will also tackle topics like how to interview, write a résumé, and fill out a job application. Also addressed will be interpersonal and communication skills teens need to develop to help them land a job—and once there, to keep it.
Hands-on Experience
The three presenters at this first program on employment skills—Laurie Warshavsky, Sandra Beckman, and Arlene Saffron—are human resource and business professionals with personal experience reviewing résumés, with hiring, and with managing employees.
“Every class [in the series] will be taught by an expert professional, and each class incorporates hands-on experience and basic information. Our goal is for students to leave feeling more confident and competent in their ability to manage their independence,” said Steinmacher.
Employment Skills is the first of eight educational sessions of a new year-long lecture series called Essential Life Skills.
Each monthly session throughout the year will focus on a different topic. Session locations will vary, based on the size of the venue for that topic presentation, but all will be held on Monday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The Employment Skills
program, like others in the year-long series, is open to teens and young adults (and parents) from Old Saybrook and other shoreline towns .
To register to attend this or other programs in the Essential Life Skills
series, call Old Saybrook Y&FS offices at 860-395-3190. A donation of $5 per participant is requested. All sessions will be held on Monday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m., but will be scheduled in different locations, depending on the presenter and the topics to be addressed.
Cooking, Problem Solving, and More
Two evening sessions are scheduled during the month of December.
The first will be on Monday, Dec. 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and is titled Budget Friendly Cooking
. The focus will be on how to make healthy quick meals with limited appliances and on a budget. Lectures and discussion will be in the staff break room/training room at Stop & Shopin Old Saybrook. Each participant will walk through the store with the presenter to select the healthy ingredients they will use to later prepare a budget meal.
Then on Monday, Dec. 18, the program shifts to skills that students need when living independently in apartments or dorm rooms. That evening, Safety & Emergencies, will explain how to manage household emergencies, such as power outages, hazards, and flooding and how to shut off a home’s main power. Each student will also practice using a fire extinguisher.
In January, a session on Problem-Solving
will be led by Dr. Alicia Farrell. Participants will learn conflict resolution and communications skills through group problem-solving activities. Anyone seeking to learn how to navigate differences and conflicts that may arise with a future and current roommate or with friends would benefit from this program.
February will bring a session for teens and young adults on Car Maintenance
, taught by the professionals at Cardone and Daughters. Topics for this session include how to effectively care for a car, change a tire, check fluids, and keep to a proper maintenance schedule.
Planned for March is a session on Health and Wellness
presented by Dr. Charlayne McStay. Topics will included how to find a doctor, the importance of knowing your medical history, insurance issues, and medication management.
Also planned for sometime in the spring of 2018 is a program on Household Maintenance
. A date for this program has not yet been set.
In April the topic will be Financial Literacy
, taught by SCORE representatives. The discussion will focus on providing a review of banking basics, credit cards, debt, loans, and budgeting.
Closing out the year will be a session on Citizenship
taught by Selectman Carol Conklin, addressing practical applications of rights and responsibilities, representation, taxes, and laws.
Call the Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services agency at 860-395-3190 to register for a program or for more information.