Employment Ministry Aims To Help Individuals Looking For Work

Since 2002, the St. Francis de Sales Employment Ministry at 135 S. Buesching Road has provided more than 1,300 job seekers with a variety of tools to find employment.  

The first of four two-day workshops offered by the ministry through the end of the year will be held tomorrow, March 25, and again March 27.  Pre-registration and attendance at both sessions is required. The sessions are free and open to all job-seekers.

Among the job search tips offered are one-on-one resume assistance, interviewing skills and how to network to get valuable job referrals.

“We teach people to fish instead of giving them fish. Our program is designed to enhance the ability to locate a potential job and strengthen interviewing skills,” said Linda Engle, director of Care Ministries.

Engle herself went through the workshop, designed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, prior to being employed at St. Francis de Sales.

“I came to St. Francis de Sales shortly after going through the program and sensed I was meant to help minister people who were not working,” Engle said.

In August of 2002, Engle said she brainstormed with other program coordinators, and the first Employment Ministry Workshop was offered the following November.   

Finding jobs for participants is not the cornerstone of the program, but Engle says there have been a number of success stories resulting from what is taught at the workshops.

“We emphasize the importance and success found through networking; participants are strongly encouraged to make networking phone calls in their job search,” Engle said.

Engle added that a large majority of participants who were able to land a job followed the guidance provided at the workshops, and satisfaction ratings from attendees have always been very high.

Videotaped mock interviews will also be conducted so workshop attendees can evaluate themselves and strengthen their overall presentation before getting in front of a potential employer.

The next workshop starts tomorrow at 6:00p.m. until 9:30p.m. Business casual attire is required and participants should bring a current resume and cover letter.

The Friday session begins at 9:00a.m. and runs until 4:30p.m. Attendees should be dressed professionally for an interview and lunch will be provided. 

The workshop will be held in the Ministry Building directly south of the church. The sessions are open to anyone who has not participated previously.  Confirmation of the pre-registration is required, as walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

If you are interested in attending, visit the St. Francis de Sales website at www.stfrancislz.org, click on ‘Ministries and Activities’ then click on ‘Human Concerns’ and finally on ‘Employment Ministry.’

If there are openings for tomorrow's workshop, an email confirmation will be sent to you.  If not, you will be notified and offered attendance at another workshop in the summer or fall. 

Additional workshops will be held on July 13 and 15, September 21 and 23, and November 9 and 11.