Spotlight: Employment Essentials
Typically, unemployment rates are a sign of the health of an economy. In the United States, as of April 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an unemployment rate of just 4.2%. Unfortunately, that number doesn’t account for those who are employed part-time (and unable to find full-time work) or those earning less than a living wage. An analysis by the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (LISEP) found that those workers, alongside the fully unemployed, represent a staggering 24.3% of the U.S. workforce.
If you’re in that number, HopeWorks’ eight-session Employment Essentials program will help prepare and equip you to successfully search for employment that meets your needs.
What is Employment Essentials?
HopeWorks’ Employment Essentials program provides a tailored approach for every job seeker. Participants will work with our staff to identify their interests and determine the best possible career path. They learn and perfect a variety of skills to help them secure a job and become the kind of employee managers love to have on their team. Even better, you’ll leave with the skills you need to get hired over and over again.
What do students learn in the Employment Essentials program?
These days, career success is often driven by soft skills. “Hard” skills – things like using a certain type of tool – are the type of skill most employees learn on the job. Soft skills include things like how you communicate, and they’re harder to teach – but HopeWorks can!
In this program, you will:
- Discover Yourself: identify interests, abilities, work values and personality traits to find a career that increases your work satisfaction.
- Pursue a Smart Job Search: Master effective job search strategies to find the right opportunities.
- Gain Employer Insights: Learn how to understand and manage employer expectations for a smooth working relationship.
- Learn to Ace Your Interviews: Get expert tips and best practices for nailing job interviews.
- Perfect Your Resumé: Receive professional guidance to develop a standout resumé.
- Develop Effective Communication Skills: Enhance your workplace communication skills to thrive in any environment.
- Refine Your Emotional Intelligence: Learn emotional management techniques to handle workplace challenges with ease.
- Build Character: Develop strong character traits that will set you apart in your career.
Who participates in the Employment Essentials program?
The program is ideal for anyone who wants to:
- Find a job.
- Seek opportunities for higher wages.
- Identify a long-term career path.
- Pursue advancement opportunities.
What will I gain from the Employment Essentials program?
In addition to the soft skills that will help you throughout your career, HopeWorks takes pride in developing relationships with top employers across the Mid-South. Our staff will walk alongside you, coach you through job search, help introduce you to employers who have openings that fit your skills and needs, and provide long-term coaching and support for your career path.
Looking for more information about Employment Essentials at HopeWorks? Click here to access the Workforce program page on our website. You may also call us at 901-240-0171.