While more than 10 percent of the county's work force is considered unemployed, the DWS office in St. George provides a variety of free workshops to assist residents as they seek employment in an increasingly competitive job market.
The department's workshops and specialized programs focus on a wide array of topics, said Teresa Banks, manager of the DWS southwest service area, including resume writing, interviewing and a variety of other topics.
Following about two years of unemployment, St. George resident Kate Deschamps said she sought assistance from the local DWS office, enrolling in the department's newly formed Work Success program.
"I have been looking for a job for so long," she said. "It has really affected my self esteem and confidence."
Deschamps, who lost her job managing a local landscaping company as a result of the recession, said she was able to recapture a sense of confidence with assistance from employment counselors at the DWS office who helped the St. George woman hone her resume writing and interviewing skills.
While Deschamps is enrolled in an intensive DWS program designed to assist unemployed residents develop a wide variety of skills, Banks said the office also offers individual workshops for members of the community seeking to develop specific skills.
DWS employment counselor Jerry Norton said the department offers a basic computer course and a workshop designed to assist residents as they search for jobs online.
Although a growing number of employers require prospective employees to submit online job applications, Banks said many residents lack the necessary computer skills to apply for jobs online.
The five workshops offered by the local DWS office are available twice every month, Banks said.
For Washington City resident Gina Raymond, the department's technology workshop provided a wealth of valuable resources, as the unemployed woman said she was exposed to many websites offering information about local job openings
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