September is Workforce Development Month and was created to raise awareness about the importance of workers and employers strengthening our communities through policies and programs designed to create and retain solid workforce. At JFS, our Employment Services team is ready to help whether you’re unemployed or looking for a career change with free virtual and in-person workshops, trainings, and support groups.

Amanda Dubon, a JFS CW/TANF case manager, signed Ann up for a recent session of our Career Launchpad’s Nail Your Next Interview workshop. Ann attended, was engaged, and asked great questions during the presentation. After the workshop, Ann emailed Stacy Winner, JFS’s Job Readiness Instructor, to request individual interview coaching support. She had worked with an Employment Case Manager from a different agency before joining JFS’s Career Launchpad series, but she was feeling down because that person discouraged her from applying for certain positions due to her being hard of hearing and because she had been out of the workforce for seven years raising her three children and managing medical issues.

As Stacy and Ann began interview coaching, Stacy could tell that Ann was nervous and lacked confidence. Stacy asked Ann what worried her the most about an upcoming interview, and she said she feared the question, “Why haven’t you worked since 2015?” Ann’s concern is a common one seen with job seekers who are re-entering the workforce after extended breaks. Our advice is to empower yourself by that question and own your decisions by owning your narrative. Stacy taught Ann some ways to phrase her response by owning her decision. For example, Stacy suggested a response of, “I chose to take time out of the workforce because I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to raise my three children, and now, I am excited to get back to work and join a company like the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) where I can bring my customer service and data entry skills to help solve problems and achieve positive outcomes.” Once they practiced that answer a few times, Ann’s demeanor started to change. The two also practiced other common interview questions like, “Why are you interested in working for our company?” and because Ann attended the Career Launchpad interview skills workshop, she remembered learning about tying CBI’s mission and values and was able to incorporate that information into her response.

By the end of Stacy and Ann’s interview coaching session, Ann was a completely different person! She sat taller and talked confidently, smiling when discussing her skills and experience. Stacy reminded her to be her authentic self in the interview because she had valuable skills to offer the CBI team.

The following day Ann went in for the interview, and afterward, she called Stacy, excited by how well it went. She said she felt prepared because they asked many of the same questions that she and Stacy had practiced. Two days later, Ann was offered the Data Specialist position with CBI, and she is excited to be joining their team this September.

If you’re ready to learn more about employment services for job seekers, learn more about what JFS offers.