VOICE OF THE TOWNSHIP: SEEKING EMPLOYMENT FOR OTHERS

Helping clients obtain employment continues to be our ultimate goal at the Wayne Township Trustee’s Office. So far this year, we have assisted in getting over 100 jobs for clients and expect that number to be much higher by the end of the year.

We have several ways we work with clients to help them find jobs. One way is to bring in outside speakers to address our Wednesday employment training classes. We were pleased recently to have a particularly inspirational speaker for the class, Ms. Cathy Serrano, Human Resources Director for Allen County.

Some of you may recognize Ms. Serrano as a talented local entertainer, who sings and plays acoustic guitar. In past years, she volunteered to perform for clients during the Healthy Cities Health Fair when the fair took place at the Wayne Township Office. Ms. Serrano has worn many hats in addition to being a performer and Human Resources Director.

She also is an attorney, a military veteran and a person who has had a variety of jobs while working her way out of poverty. She attended law school later in life, going to classes on weekends and working during the week. Ms. Serrano told the employment class, “You can do anything if you set your mind to it,” and she is a great example of what can be accomplished with hard work and perseverance.

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Her most important lesson to our clients, which she stressed many times during her talk, was to never give up. “No matter what obstacles are put in front of you, walk around them. You can do it.” Ms. Serrano told our clients that job opportunities are out there even in a bad economy.

Ms. Serrano began her talk by giving examples of famous persons who had failed before they became successful. Among those were Abraham Lincoln, who lost several elections before being elected President. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, yet became one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Henry Ford failed in business more than once before forming Ford Motor Company. “If you see yourself as a failure, you are going to be a failure,” she explained.

Based on her experience in seeking jobs and now as an employer, Ms. Serrano gave our clients many practical tips regarding how to get a job. She stressed the importance of making a good first impression on prospective employers. That first impression may be through a job application or resume’, which should be professional and complete with no misspellings or typos.

When you meet a prospective employer, a good, firm handshake is important. You are up against many other candidates, and you must do everything you can to stand out. After an interview, Ms. Serrano recommended that the clients send a letter thanking the employer for the interview. She said persons seeking employment should prepare a cover letter to go with his or her resume’ that really “sells you.” She advised clients to not waste time applying for jobs for which they are not qualified. Go for the jobs for which you have the skills and make sure you stress those skills to the employer.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am thankful for persons in our community like Ms. Serrano, who are willing to take the time to meet with our clients and inspire them to strive to greater heights. I also am thankful for my staff, who work so hard everyday to help our clients and who often come up innovative ideas to further our mission. Most importantly, I am thankful for you, the residents of Wayne Township, who have supported our office and given us the opportunity to help our clients make a better life for themselves.

Richard A. Stevenson, Sr.
Wayne Township Trustee
www.waynetownship.org