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Tulsa Goodwill Helps Unemployed Make Job Connections

By Dan Bewley and Scott Thompson, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A new program is working to guide Tulsans toward a job. Goodwill Industries launched the service this week and have already helped more than 50 people. The advice that's very important in today's economy.

Arkiesha Ivy spends most of her day at Goodwill's Job Connection.

"Trying to find a job is like having a job, you have to do it eight hours a day. So, yeah, it's overwhelming," said Arkiesha Ivy, a Tulsa resident and job hunter.

Ivy has sent out five applications a day since December but, so far, no luck.

"I think it's hard, even having an education, because there's nothing out there - no jobs," Ivy said.

Now she has a new tool. The Job Connection is Goodwill's new program to get unemployed Tulsans back on the job.

"We have workshops on resume writing; we have workshops on interviewing skills; we also have employers that will come and assist us to do mock interviews," said Von Williams of Goodwill Job Connection.

Job Connection is free, and anyone can use it. The program has two goals. One is to help job seekers find jobs they might normally miss. The other goal is teach people how to find a job, whether it's through training classes or simple steps they can take to get their foot in the door.

"A lot of people think they just have to fill out an application. I tell them all the time the application is just a screening out process and so if you do not know how to do it properly, your application is going to be the first one to get into the garbage can," Williams said.

Ivy says the program is needed in Tulsa. She's hoping it will help her land a job working security in Haiti.

If that doesn't happen, she's confident something else will come her way.

"I feel optimistic," said job seeker and Tulsa resident Arkiesha Ivy. "With this program, I feel optimistic. I mean the job board is full of jobs and. - take your pick."

The Job Connection is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 2800 Southwest Boulevard. Stop by or call them at 918-584-7291.

Some tips for job hunters:

A new survey lists the five worst job interview mistakes everyone should avoid.

• Dressing inappropriately
• Being late
• Trash talking former boss
• Not doing research
• Not prepared to answer basics like what your strengths and weaknesses are or why you left your last job

Some of the worst mistakes managers said they'd seen were job seekers who answer text messages during interviews, smell their armpits, ask for a ride home and brush their hair during an interview.