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Michigan Career Connect Newsletter

June 10, 2020

Michigan Business Network

Career Connect Newsletter

Your Resume and Cover Letter: Position Yourself to Land the Interview!

Having an effective resume and cover letter are critical components in any job search. The cover letter allows you to target the job and the employer in a very specific way, leaving the resume to market your skills, qualities and experience.

Fortunately, there are great resources available to help you prepare resumes and cover letters that truly stand out!

Courtesy of Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, check out this in-depth resource that will guide you through the different types of resumes and cover letters… and how to write great ones.

Detroit at Work has also created two helpful videos you’ll want to watch: the first offers details on improving your resume, and the other offers additional tips for crafting an effective resume.

The importance of adult education is difficult to overstate. It provides the chance for adult learners to increase their knowledge, develop new skills and gain helpful qualifications and credentials.

Discover what you need to obtain your High School Equivalency or brush up on your reading, math and/or English skills through an approved adult education program.

Michigan has three High School Equivalency testing options: GED, HiSET and TASC. There’s even a High School Equivalency-to-School Voucher Program that can help cover the cost of one testing attempt!

Search for adult education program services near you and begin to unlock your dreams.

Contact LEO’s Adult Education team at 517-335-5858. For additional help, please contact your local Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Center; find Michigan Works! online or by calling 800-285-WORKS (9675).

There are some excellent job interview resources available to help you make a great first impression.

West Michigan Works! 15-minute video shares what you wish you knew before the interview.

This two-page handout lists things you can do to prove you’re the ideal candidate.

And for more tips on improving your interviewing skills, watch this helpful Detroit at Work video.

Pure Michigan Talent Connect, Find Your Next Job Now graphic

The best way to find available positions in Michigan? Check out Pure Michigan Talent Connect, the state’s labor exchange and talent portal!

PMTC connects job seekers with employers who are currently hiring. To create your job seeker profile (it’s free) and search for available jobs, visit MiTalent.org.

Discover Your Career Path

Have you heard of Pathfinder? It’s a free, online tool for finding educational paths, careers and outcomes. Visit Pathfinder to explore careers, schools and programs in Michigan to find the path that’s right for you.

Open the door to possibilities: check out Pathfinder today!

As you begin your search for the right training…

Michigan Training Connect can assist in making knowledgeable decisions concerning your professional future. Explore your options at MiTalent.org/MiTC.

Great Ways to Brush Up on Your Soft Skills

A free video series on Pure Michigan Talent Connect looks to raise awareness among students and employees about the key skills needed for workplace success.

And edX.org offers a series of self-guided soft skills courses designed to enhance the written, verbal and non-verbal skills needed in the workplace. The courses are free to take, but you can pay for a certification after completing if you’d like.

If you’re ready to get back to work but need some assistance preparing, there are resources available to help you.

As outlined in this newsletter, there are many easy-to-use online tools to assist Michiganders as they prepare to re-enter the workforce.

Created by the State of Michigan, Michigan Works! agencies and other partners, these resources provide step-by-step instruction for developing your job search materials, help you search directly for jobs, prepare for interviews, identify the education and training needed to pursue careers in specific industries, and much more.

If you would like more direct help, please contact your local Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Center. You can find the nearest center online or by calling 800-285-WORKS (9675).

Individual-Specific Resources are Available!

Are you a veteran? Are you a migrant or seasonal farm worker? Do you have a disability? If so, there are additional resources to help you on your career path.

Veterans’ Employment Services

Veterans’ Career Advisors and Veterans’ Employment Representatives provide individualized career and training-related services to eligible veterans and spouses who are unable to obtain employment. Check out Veterans’ Employment Services today. You can also contact Veterans’ Employment Services staff at 517-335-5858 or contact your local Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Center at 800-285-WORKS (9675).

Migrant & Seasonal Farm Workers

There are a variety of resources available to meet the unique needs of agricultural employers and migrant and seasonal farm workers. Agricultural Employment Liaisons are available to assist with employment and recruitment services. Contact Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services at 517-335-5858. For additional help, please contact your local Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Center at 800-285-WORKS (9675).

Vocational Rehabilitation

There are many resources available to assist individuals with disabilities, including the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) and Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS).

BSBP provides training and other services that empower people who are blind or visually impaired to achieve employment and independence. Contact BSBP at 800-292-4200 (TTY 888-864-1212) or find a local BSBP office online.

MRS provides specialized employment and education-related services and training to assist teens and adults with disabilities in becoming employed or retaining employment. Contact MRS at 800-605-6722 or find a local MRS office online.

The Career Connect is a monthly newsletter sent by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Office of Employment and Training.