Nov 21, 2008 4:30 pm US/Pacific
Veteran Employees Struggle To Get Back In The Game
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
-
-
This man is attending a career building workshop at Workforce One in Davie. He along with a dozen others were learning how to write resumes, organize their job search, and interviewing skills.
Jim Robinson/CBS
The number of Californians out of a job jumped to a 14-year high. 8.2 percent of workers in the state are out of work, which are about 1.5 million people. With layoffs or jobs disappearing, people are looking for work for the first time in decades.
"I haven't done an interview in 25 years," says James Andrews who is unemployed.
Yesterday, James Andrews lost his job at the age of 50. He is now hunting for a new one for the first time since 1981.
"I come from the old school of work ethic. Pull up your boot straps and go," says Andrews.
Andrews quickly realized it's a whole new work world out there.
"Now it's all electronic and fast and no nonsense if you will," he says.
Putting his resume together was the first challenge. He thought it was tough tracking down employment details from 20 or 30 years ago, until he had to figure out how to post it online. Andrews is also competing with much younger, tech savvy candidates for jobs that in the past didn't require higher education.
Unemployment officials say people like Andrews, who may be a little rusty, should reach out for help. Free workshops are held at 300 EDD Resource Centers across the state, where you can learn everything from basic computer skills to tips on how to impress employers during an interview. There is also hands-on help with computers and fax machines at each center.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
