St. Elizabeth’s Church holds free Job Readiness Symposium

St. Elizabeth’s Church holds free Job Readiness Symposium

Deputy Labor Commissioner Richard Constable delivers keynote address

On Saturday, October 22, St. Elizabeth’s Church in downtown Elizabeth will hold a free Job Readiness Symposium to help people who are struggling to find jobs and are not sure how to effectively search for one.

Keynote speaker at the Symposium will be Richard E. Constable III, deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, who will discuss the programs and services that are available to help job seekers find the right employment.   The Symposium also will include a job fair to connect qualified potential workers with employers and recruiters from around the state who have jobs that match their skills.

 “Joblessness is a major issue that is injuring the lives and living conditions of people throughout our country and our state,” said The Rev. Andy Moore, rector of St. Elizabeth’s Church in Elizabeth. “According to recent Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, unemployment in New Jersey has climbed to 9.4 percent – affecting 421,676 people – and that’s higher than the 9.1 percent national average.  St. Elizabeth’s is offering the Job Readiness Symposium to help people who are desperately trying to help themselves.”

Job Readiness Symposium participants will be able to take part in four of 10 workshops offered that address critical needs of people who are unemployed and underemployed.  The workshops are:

• Developing a Winning Resume – Tips on how to make sure your resume stands out, led by Vernay Simmons, a director in Investment Management at Prudential, and Toni McDaniel, a director in Diversity Recruiting at Prudential.
• Changing Lanes: Reinventing Your Career – Kim Osterhoudt, CEO of Jams by Kim and 2010 winner of the Emerging Entrepreneur Award from the Central Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, and Cecil Cates, owner and president of CMIT Solutions, give expert advice on entrepreneurship.
•  The Human Connection: How to Tap Your Network – Learn how to leverage relationships you already have in your job search.  Led by Dr. Linda Epps, president and CEO of 1804 Consultants, and former president and CEO of the New Jersey Historical Society in Newark; and Jeannine LaRue,  a senior vice president with Kaufman Zita Group.
• Managing Stress During Difficult Times – Gain insightful tips about nutrition, exercise and yoga from Dr. Yvonne H. Johnson, a Broker/Wellness consultant and president and CEO of Hall, Harrison & Johnson Associates; Jackie Collier-Thomas, proprietor of Fitness With A Beat; and Niyonu Boateng, registered yoga instructor and founder of Peaceful Practice.
• Putting Your Best Foot Forward – Maryanne Moxie, an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay, gives tips on dressing for success.
• Taking Stock of Your Finances – George R. Barnes, a financial planner and registered representative of Pruco Securities, discusses managing personal finances in good times and bad.
• Reaffirming Your Faith During Crisis – The Rev. Andy Moore, rector at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Elizabeth; and The Rev. Ted Moore, deacon at Grace Episcopal Church in Plainfield, NJ, and director of St. Elizabeth’s college ministry program at Kean University, discuss ways to remain spiritually focused during challenging life situations.
• Understanding Human Resources – Learn first-hand what hiring managers are seeking in candidates from Karen Davis-Delk, a vice president at Prudential Financial, where she designs leadership programming.
• Leveraging Social Media –Ayasha Robinson, founder of Urban SociaLites, a business-to-business networking service for Black professionals, demonstrates how to use social media tools such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and others to find a job.
• Getting Back Into Mainstream – Patty Dow, a life coach/parent educator with more than 23 years of experience helping people cultivate the tools they need to live lives that they love, provides tips on transitioning to a new career.

The free Job Readiness Symposium will be held at St. Elizabeth’s, 1209 Chestnut Street, located at North Broad and Chestnut Streets in downtown Elizabeth, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.  Advance registration is required.  To register, click on www.stelizabethschurchnj.org/Job_Readiness_Symposium.html.