(MARSHALL, Texas) – The job application process can often leave one feeling frustrated, exhausted or — worse — discouraged.
That is why the Career Services department at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus offered a series of resume writing workshops to TSTC students from July 31 to Aug. 2. An average of 19 students attended each session.
The Career Services department holds two to three workshops each month, with resume writing being the subject once a month. Career Services coordinator Jena Corley acts as the workshops’ lead instructor. Career Services representative Karen Lester will soon begin teaching them as well.
“We cover resume writing, cover letters, soft skills, interviewing and professionalism, social media behavior, job searches — we have all sorts of different workshops,” Corley said.
On July 31, Corley gave a detail-oriented presentation on resume and cover letter writing. The two document types were discussed from top to bottom, with each portion carefully analyzed.
TSTC’s job portal for graduates and employers, hireTSTC, was discussed on Aug. 1. Every company that posts a job opportunity on the portal is looking to hire TSTC students, and students and graduates have access to hireTSTC for the rest of their lives.
For the final session, Corley talked about preparing for an interview, professionalism during the interview, and how to avoid phishing scams.
Through each workshop, Corley never let the students forget that Career Services could help them with every step.
Mother and TSTC Process Operations student Christine Richardson is grateful that the Career Services department’s guidance allows her to focus on finding a career to help support her family.
“It means a lot (that TSTC is) willing to walk side by side with us instead of telling us we need to do these things, and you’re not letting us just fall on our faces,” Richardson said. “It’s like no other program that I’ve been through.”
Though Career Services’ workshop topics can vary, all of them are connected to the heart of TSTC.
“Placing more Texans in great-paying jobs, that’s our entire mission,” Corley said. “We’re here to make sure that whatever a student needs through their whole job process, we assist with.”
Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology student John White recommends that all TSTC students take advantage of the Career Services department’s assistance, especially those that aren’t native to East Texas.
“Come down here and get your resume done within that first semester, and then update it every two semesters,” White advised.
While emphasizing that Career Services is always willing to help students write their resumes or hold practice interviews, Corley made sure to give the workshop attendants some crucial advice.
“Remember that a job search is a sales process, and your ‘advertisement’ needs to be run over and over again just like commercials,” Corley said. “Keeping your interview skills sharp, your resume updated, and applying to multiple places will increase your likelihood of success in landing a job in your field.”
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.
