Paris Junior College students were recently treated to a free Business Outlook Breakfast to learn more about the job market and tips for marketing themselves for better jobs. The breakfast was a joint initiative by the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce and the PJC 100th Anniversary Committee.
“You may have a future all planned, but the journey sometimes takes twists and turns and doesn’t always follow the path you expect,” said Dr. Stephen Benson, Paris Junior College president in his welcoming comments. “My plan was always to be a music teacher in West Virginia and look where I ended up. Listen to these experts, learn from them, and keep an open mind about what your future can look like.”
Dr. Benson then introduced Paul Allen, President of the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce, who moderated a panel comprised of Paris Small Business Development Center Business Advisor Martin Orrostieta, Synapse Health Marketing and Communications Director Savannah Abbott, Paris Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Maureen Hammond, and Paris Regional Health Chief Operating Officer Scott Avery.
Each panel member introduced themselves and explained their role and how they work to support the local economy.
SBDC helps individuals create plans to start or expand a small business, according to Orrostieta. Abbott explained that in addition to her marketing role, she volunteers with the Junior Chamber and helps young people craft their story and market themselves to help their dreams come true. The PEDC is the jobs organization for the community and uses their funds to recruit business and industry to the area and help existing business and industry grow and expand.
“We have a very diverse base for job opportunities,” said Hammond. “In Paris, our top three industries are health care, manufacturing, and retail.”
Avery touched on the relationship Paris Regional Health has with PJC. The hospital has about 800 employees, many of whom were trained at PJC.
Before turning to the question-and-answer portion of the program, Allen spoke to the students about possibilities.
“I spent 32 years in education as a teacher, coach and principle and I have dealt with a lot of young people,” Allen said. “I want to encourage you to look at everything that’s out there and surround yourself with good people.”
A student asked the panel about how to market themselves.
“Do research on what is desired right now in whatever it is you’re applying for,” Abbott said. “Typically, if it’s a program, a university, or a job, recruiters in different fields have different preferences. You can find those preferences and that information online.”
A student in a health care program asked if the hospital would partner on education for the nursing students.
“We do offer programs to help pay for advanced degrees,” said Avery. “Also, we provide financial incentives for those who achieve additional certifications, for instance, a certified trauma nurse. There are other organizations in the community offering grants or scholarships for completing education, so there are lots of opportunities for financial incentives.”
Hammond and Avery both addressed a question about what skills employers need the most.
“Soft skills, such as showing up on time and basic business etiquette”, said Hammond. “We interviewed over 20 of our larger employers and 90 percent said, ‘we can train our labor but we’re struggling with soft skills.’”
“We have to be continual learners and be there, show up and work hard, and take care of yourself,” said Avery. “Your work ethic becomes your name and your brand. It shows up when people talk about you and who you are at work. Your reputation is going to precede you no matter where you go.”
Writing a thank you note after an interview is a great way to set yourself apart, Hammond pointed out. Avery agreed, saying that thanking a hiring manager for their time and saying you look forward to being part of the team can differentiate yourself from others in the process.
Abbott continued with recommendations for those just out of college to make themselves stand out.
“On average, a recruiter scans your resume for about seven seconds before deciding whether they keep going or not. Find ways to differentiate yourself. Tailor your resume to the role or opportunity and look for ways to tweak it. If you make it to the interview, the best thing you have going for you, is you. Put in your personal development right now, as much as in your educational and professional development because sometimes that can be the tiebreaker between candidates. It’s easier to teach skills than it is to teach someone how to have a different personality.”
Orrostieta spoke of helping a client who was seeking financing. The person had all the technical skills, accounting and online marketing needed, but was turned down by three banks. He called to ask the bankers why they turned the proposal down when everything looked flawless on paper to the SBDC.
“They said, ‘you can’t communicate with this person, he’s too aggressive,’” Orrostieta said. “So, we started to work on that, and the fourth bank funded them. It’s not just about getting a job; soft skills are vitally important for your personal development.”
A person’s digital footprint is important both negatively and positively, Abbott added.
“Sometimes you learn about cool things they’ve done or awards they’ve won but you may also stumble on things that raise a red flag,” Abbott said. “You don’t want something like that to come up when someone is researching you. That is absolutely something that hiring managers and recruiters look at. Be positively building your digital footprint, get a LinkedIn profile and be adding to that.”
Dr. Benson took the microphone to laughter when he said that while he wasn’t on the panel, he wanted to jump in.
“On soft skills,” Benson said, “two things that are important to me is finding people who think creatively and are problem solvers.”
He also echoed the comments about being “you.”
“It is important to be very genuine about who you are,” Benson said. “You do not have to pretend to be things you are not. If you’re genuine and you have the skills and knowledge, it’s going to come to you.”
The panel’s last word went to Hammond, who told the students that there are 20,000 job opportunities in Paris and Lamar County.
“If you leave, we definitely want you to come back,” Hammond said to the students. “If you plan to stay, you can reach out to any of us, and we’ll be happy to help you.”
Photo Cutlines: Paris Junior College President Dr. Stephen Benson welcomes students to the Business Outlook Breakfast.
