Celebrate Work Conference Helps Job Seekers Focus on Strengths

Let's say you're looking for a job and you run into a potential employer on the elevator. Can you sell yourself before he or she gets off on the seventh floor? 

It's that first personal impression -- whether happenstance or during an interview after your resume is submitted -- that's most likely to nail the job.  Celebrate Work, a conference scheduled for Monday, Aug. 29 at Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights, aims to help attendees weave their successes into short, engaging stories.

"We all have different strengths, but when it comes to job hunting, we often bury the lead," said Monica Keane, director of , a Barrington-based organization that coaches job-seekers. "The purpose of the conference is to help people understand their strengths and translate them into meaningful assets for employers."

Executives and human resource professional throughout Chicagoland are joining together to tell their hiring stories and offer insights and coaching to job seekers.  The conference promises to be an uplifting break from the day-to-day tactics of a job search.  With "Uncovering your Strengths" and "Telling your Stories" workshops, career coaches will challenge attendees to understand and promote their best attributes.

"Even in this tough economy, laid off workers tend to blame themselves for their predicament," Keane said.  "As a result, they often start a job search with low self-esteem. Celebrate Work aims to reach beyond that low point, and help job seekers rediscover their innate strengths." 

In addition to workshops, attendees will hear a keynote address by former CareerPlace client, Rebecca Darr, currently the executive director of WINGS, an organization that supports homeless and abused women and children in the Northwest suburbs.

Formerly known as the Barrington Career Center, CareerPlace is a not-for-profit organization that helps job seekers by providing coaching, training, resources and support. CareerPlace is partnering with District 214 Community Education to produce the Celebrate Work conference. 

The conference, which takes place from 8 a.m. until noon on Aug. 29, is $10.00 for CareerPlace members and $20.00 for non-members.  To register, log on to http://uncoveryourstrengths.eventbrite.com.  For more information call CareerPlace at 847-304-4157.