Human Resources specialist, Carolynne Bornhutter and Reverend Ross Southern standing outside Pinelands Methodist Church which will host the job hunting workshops.
Image: Image supplied
Pinelands Methodist Church (PMC) will be teaming up with a Human Resources (HR) specialist to help young job seekers.
The church will be hosting free job-hunting workshops next month facilitated by HR specialist Carolynne Bornhutter to help improve the employment opportunities for those job seekers who have just finished school or recently graduated from their tertiary studies.
Ms Bornhutter has over 35 years experience as an HR specialist and is currently the HR manager and training specialist at a business that specialises in fencing and wirewalls.
In these job hunting workshops, she will be teaching young job seekers how to improve their Curriculum Vitae (CVs) and the covering letter, as well as about the dress code for interviews, reference checks, and their social media presence on LinkedIn and Facebook. She will also conduct roleplaying question-and-answer sessions to prepare them for possible interviews.
Ms Bornhutter says most of the challenges faced by new job seekers of today are that they do not have any idea of what their passion is and what they want to do. “Many have unrealistic expectations, a sense of entitlement and are not willing to put in the work.”
She added: “When there are opportunities, they cannot write a covering letter and have no idea of how to present their CVs or themselves at an interview. This is the gap that this workshop team aims to fill.” She says there are jobs and hope for the future.
Reverend Ross Southern says unemployment is a challenge and traumatic for individuals including school leavers and up to post graduates who have not been exposed to workplace readiness. He says it will take more than a CV to get a job. “PMC’s involvement is to build relationships and mentor and coach young people to reach their full potential spiritually and practically.”.
Reverend Southern says his church is honoured to offer their space, not only to this programme but to many opportunities for individual and community upliftment. “Every person is worthy and important so it is a privilege and honour to offer whatever assistance we can.”
Ms Bornhutter says she and PMC are passionate about people and community development. “We are reaching out to the unemployed people who do not have an income or the means to pay for this service,” she says.
PMC is planning on running the job hunting workshops on their premises at 16 Ridge Way, Pinelands from next month, Thursday May 22, from 6.30pm. To book your place, call or SMS 074 186 6149 or call the church at 021 531 8972.