Candidate Resources

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Put Off Your Job Search

March 31, 2021

Here’s Why You Should Be Job Searching Right Now...

1. Current labor market supply and demand is in your favor

It’s not a major secret – many individuals are once again experiencing a feeling of security due to recent short-term stimulus and unemployment benefits. But when everyone is zigging, it’s time to zag.

With a high demand for individuals ready to fill vacancies , and a low supply of job seekers willing to work, now is your best chance to decide how you want your post-pandemic career path to look. And best of all, you can jump the line in front of candidates who may be waiting it out until the last minute.

Three Companies Hiring Immediately:

2. Look out for sign-on bonuses

To help entice workers to get Back to Work, many companies are offering sign-on cash bonuses, often paid out shortly after a probationary period.

A number of manufacturing companies across RI in particular have been rolling out this incentive.

Click Here to view all SkillsRI manufacturing opportunities.

3. Companies are getting creative in addressing barriers to employment

Candidates facing barriers to employment such as child care, safety concerns, or public transportation concerns will find many companies aregetting creative with how they support their critical workforce.

Cargill in North Kingstown, RI is now offering a reliable ride-share program to help their employees get to-and-from work safely!

Apply to Jobs at Cargill and learn more.

4. Many companies are planning a slow return to traditional offices...

…and many are offering temporarily remote (work from home) positions.

Take advantage of the opportunity to slowly and safely transition back to the workforce.

Bank of America is currently offering temporarily remote positions. Apply Now to learn more.

5. Industries hit hardest by the pandemic are likely to bounce back in a big way

With the expectation for a better spring & summer on the horizon, industries such as food service, hospitality, travel, and tourism may be primed for a bounce-back in a big way.

SkillsRI can help you make your spring and summer job plan.

Reach out today to connect with a recruiter and explore available opportunities. Call (401) 680-5960 to get started.

6. Rhode Island is offering many free skill-building & training programs

If you were unsatisfied with your work situation prior to the pandemic, there is no time like the present to consider adding new skills to your toolkit – and SkillsRI is serious about offering many programs to help you.

Apply to join the next cohort of ReadySetWork!, a free virtual 4-day intensive that provides job seekers with career coaching and tools to successfully navigate today’s job market.

Click Here to Apply

7. Still not convinced? Explore career pathways with Skills Academy

We’re in the midst of a period of rapid digital transformation. Are you ready?

Skills Academy is offered free of charge to Rhode Island residents.

Online Courses • Workshops • Training Programs • Career Coaching

Visit Skills Academy

SkillsRI Celebrates Over 1,000 Shifts Claimed for the Dispatcher Program

November 5, 2020

COVID-19 has brought about countless challenges across the board, though one of the industries hit hardest and rapidly shaken up by the crisis has been healthcare. While many businesses across Rhode Island ceased their in-person operations and allowed their employees to work from home if they could, hundreds of hospitals, congregate care facilities and human service organizations across the State were pushed to their limits.

Skills for Rhode Island’s Future had the opportunity to work with the State in April to quickly develop and roll out a “Dispatching Program” to help support congregate care sites across the State who were, and still are, critically in need of healthcare workers. The program offers increased wages to eligible Certified Nursing Assistants ($25/hour), Licensed Practical Nurses ($40/hour) and Registered Nurses ($55/hour) interested in picking up per diem shifts. Utilizing a user-friendly scheduling app, facilities are able to post shifts they need to fill and healthcare workers are able to claim the shifts that work within their schedule and location.

We’re thrilled to share that earlier this month we exceeded 1,000 shifts claimed through the dispatching app, now approaching 1,100 shifts claimed, offering congregate care facilities the support they need and providing Rhode Island healthcare heroes the increased wages they deserve as they stand on the front lines to help navigate us through this difficult time.

Though this program is temporary in response to the COVID crisis, we are still inviting eligible RNs, LPNs and CNAs to apply for entry into the dispatch program: https://backtowork.skillsforri.com/job-board/for-job-seekers-dispatching.

SkillsRI Celebrates Over 150 Temporary Staff Placements

November 3, 2020

COVID-19 has brought on deep uncertainty to say the least, both on the side of employers and job seekers. We as individuals and organizations have had to navigate through unchartered waters, unsure of what the days ahead will bring. However, at SkillsRI we have remained laser focused on solutions to support Rhode Islanders.

Collaborating with the RI Department of Labor and Training, in April SkillsRI introduced a temporary staffing initiative aimed at providing increased wages of $18 to $23 per hour for Rhode Islanders displaced from their jobs due to COVID-19. These individuals are placed temporarily with employers small and large across the State who are in high need of talent to keep their operations running safely and smoothly.

Throughout the phased re-opening, we have worked side-by-side with over 150 individuals to secure temporary employment in banking & finance, call center/customer service, hospitality/food services, human services, manufacturing, office/clerical, retail, transportation and warehouse/logistics.

Thank you to each and every one of the individuals who have stepped up to help the Rhode Island economy during this difficult time… while earning increased wages in these uncertain times.

If you would like to learn more or apply for the SkillsRI Temp Staffing program, please visit https://www.skillsforri.com/temp.

SkillsRI Celebrates 10,000th Rhode Islander Receiving Career Enhancement Services

November 2, 2020

SkillsRI offers job seekers various job search tools and resources, similar to Indeed, ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn, but our individualized focus is what makes us different. SkillsRI has helped secure employment for nearly 3,000 Rhode Islanders since just 2016, though our impact runs even deeper than that.

“Career Enhancement” is an approach that SkillsRI recruiters specialize in — rather than simply providing a list of job opportunities, SkillsRI takes the time to get to know our valued candidates. Our recruiters work closely with them to discover the talents and traits that make each a unique candidate for one of our many employer partners. Recruiters get to know a candidate’s professional history as well as career goals so that they can provide a personalized approach to helping a candidate find employment.

In the process, recruiters often become defacto “coaches,” identifying areas of opportunity to work with a candidate on developing or revamping a resume, offering job search tips and tricks, job interview preparation and follow-up strategies, and professional etiquette recommendations (appropriate dress, virtual interview setups, etc.).

Recently, SkillsRI celebrated the 10,000^th candidate to have received career enhancement services! We’re deeply honored to have the opportunity to work with each and every individual who comes through the SkillsRI (virtual) doors!

Are you looking for guidance in your job search? May we support you with career enhancement services? Call 401-680-5960 or visit our job board at https://backtowork.skillsforri.com and let us know how we can help support you.

Zoom for Virtual Interviews: Tips to Get You Started

October 27, 2020

During the early part of this year, Zoom grew in popularity to become the most widely used platform for video conferencing. With people using it for education and meetings to webinars and social gatherings. It’s also a safer and quicker alternative to meeting in-person, and it’s no surprise it’s become the most common tool for virtual job interviews. You can be miles away from your interviewer and still have the opportunity to meet face-to-face and display your confidence and personality. As part of our “how-to” series for virtual interviews, here’s a guide on how to nail your Zoom interview.

Using Microsoft Teams to Nail Your Virtual Job Interviews

October 27, 2020

Microsoft Teams is a collaborative online platform that allows team members to stay connected and organized with the ability to chat one-on-one or in groups, partake in interactive video calls and easily find, share and edit documents. Because of its popularity, it has also become a common tool for virtual interviews and meetings. Check out the below tips on how to get started and nail your interview on Microsoft Teams.

The Ultimate Guide to Acing Video Job Interviews

March 20, 2020

Tip #1: Practice & Prepare

Hiring managers can learn a lot about you from your surroundings, so consider everything in view behind you as well as in front of you. Keep it clean and tidy, but feel free to use index cards or post it notes to ensure you hit on all of the key points you would like to convey.

Tip #2: The Importance of Body Language

Just as you would in-person, it is important to maintain uninterrupted attention to the hiring manager – maintain eye contact, smile, act natural and engaged in the conversation, use expressive hand gestures and body language. Be mindful of posture and avoid slouching in your chair.

Tip #3: Dress Professionally and Appropriately

While you may be tempted to “dress down” for a virtual interview, it is still recommended you dress head-to-toe as if you were interviewing in-person. Take special care that your clothing is clean, ironed and professional, and be sure to check how your clothing appears on a web camera before the interview begins.

Tip #4: Test Your Tech

The last thing you want is to have any sort of technology issue when you’re scheduled to interview. Be sure to check that your WiFi is working, your speakers and microphone are set to an ideal volume, and your web camera is positioned properly. If your interviewer is using a video-conferencing software such as Skype or Zoom, be sure to check your computer compatibility before the interview.

Tip #5: Don’t Risk Distraction & Interruption

To avoid any potential interruptions, it is best to set yourself up in a quiet room with the door closed, ensure all pets are properly cared for but are outside of the room, inform individuals in your household of your interview time-frame, and of course be sure your cell phone is off or set to silent and your television or radio are turned off.

Tip #6: Communication

While interviewing virtually may seem different, remember that all of the same strategies as interviewing in-person apply – keep your pace constant and at a normal speed, relax, don’t rush through your replies, keep a water bottle or glass of water nearby, and be confident. You’ll be great!

SAVE FOR LATER: DOWNLOAD THESE INTERVIEW TIPS

Punta #1: Practica y prepárate

Los supervisores de reclutamiento o la persona que lo entreviste para una posición durante una video llamada; puede proceder o no con su aplicación, de acuerdo a su entorno. Así que considere todo lo que está a la vista tanto detrás como delante de usted, antes de iniciar la video llamada. Mantenga su alrededor limpio y organizado, pero siéntase libre de usar fichas o hacer notas para asegurarse de hablar de todos los puntos clave que le gustaría informar al entrevistador.

Punta #2: La importancia del lenguaje corporal

Tal como lo haría en persona, es importante mantener una atención ininterrumpida al supervisor o persona que lo esté entrevistando mediante la video llamada: mantener el contacto visual, sonreír, actuar de forma natural, participar en la conversación y usar gestos expresivos con las manos y lenguaje corporal. Tenga en cuenta la postura y evite encorvarse en su silla (Mantenga una postura firme).

Punta #3: Vístase professional y apropiadamente

Si bien es posible que sienta la tentación de vestirse informalmente para una entrevista virtual, se recomienda que se vista como si estuviera entrevistando en persona. Asegúrese de que su ropa esté limpia, planchada, y acorde para una entrevista de trabajo. Es importante, ver cómo su ropa se ve en una cámara web antes de que comience la entrevista.

Punta #4: Pon a prueba tu tecnología

Lo último que usted quisiera es tener algún tipo de problema tecnológico cuando tiene programado una entrevista. Asegúrese de verificar que su WiFi esté funcionando, que sus parlantes y micrófono tengan el volumen ideal y que su cámara web esté colocada correctamente. Si su entrevistador está utilizando un software de videoconferencia como Skype o Zoom, asegúrese de verificar la compatibilidad de su computadora antes de la entrevista.

Punta #5: No arriesgue la distracción y la interrupción

Para evitar posibles interrupciones, es mejor que te instales en una habitación tranquila con la puerta cerrada, asegúrate de que todas las mascotas estén bien cuidadas, pero fuera de la habitación. Informa a las personas de tu hogar sobre el plazo de la entrevista y por supuesto asegúrese que su televisor o radio estén apagados.

Punta #6: Comunicación

Si bien las entrevistas pueden parecer diferentes, recuerde que se aplican las mismas estrategias que las entrevistas en persona: mantenga su ritmo constante y normal, relájese, no se apresure a responder, mantenga una botella de agua o un vaso de agua cerca, y este confiado de sí mismo. ¡Usted tendrá éxito!