Sacramento, California. February 15, 2006 - Human Resources Executive and Work-Life Coach Barbara Dwyer, International Education Consultant Adair Mathers-Gasparian, and Vice President of Operations and Educational Consultant Erin Dwyer of The Job Journey will co-present an interactive workshop titled "No Soft Skills? No Job!" at the Southern Region California Association of Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (CAROCP) February 25 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Designed to help educators better prepare their students for entering the job market, the workshop includes exercises that explore and build essential "soft skills," such as communication, team work, critical thinking, decision making, and problem solving. "Our approach comes from decades of experience in human resources and first-hand experience in what employers are looking for in a job interview," says Barbara Dwyer, who founded The Job Journey six years ago.
A human resources executive for 25 years, Dwyer developed The Job Journey after observing that most young applicants fail to pass the application process because they are unable to communicate and negotiate effectively when interviewing for entry-level positions. "I've never seen a high school course that teaches students how to build rapport and communicate effectively in an interview or employment setting," notes Dwyer.
An international educator for 17 years, co-presenter Adair Mathers-Gasparian contributes a global perspective to The Job Journey's mission of empowering a generation by turning young adults into young professionals. Mathers-Gasparian served as an English as a Foreign Language professor and consultant in foreign countries after a lengthy career as a classroom teacher in the United States. She has witnessed the high quality employees that American companies obtain when they outsource business services to foreign countries and the resulting competitive impact on job seekers in the U.S.
Co-presenter Erin Dwyer, Vice President of Operations, is an educational consultant throughout California, and has provided client training to the nation's largest pharmaceutical and payroll corporations. With her professional experience, her passion for fulfilling The Job Journey's mission, and her education in communications and organizational management, Dwyer brings a skilled and inspirational approach to the challenge of preparing American youth to successfully compete in today's job market.
The Job Journey (www.thejobjourney.org) is a Sacramento, California-based organization that helps prepare students who are entering the job market for the first time or re-entering the job market. The intense and highly interactive career preparation program is offered as a turnkey solution for schools and youth service programs, or as anindependent-study package of DVDs with accompanying study materials. The Job Journey is produced by a uniquely qualified and highly motivated team of human relations, communications, and education professionals with a diverse and comprehensive skill set and a passion for their audience.
CAROCP (www.carocp.org) promotes and supports Regional Occupational Centers and Programs in providing exemplary career education, career development, and workforce preparation that contribute to student academic and career success and to the economic development of California.
Company Contact
Barbara Dwyer
Work-Life Coach
CEO, Job Journey
1 (530) 753-9380
thejobjourney[at]cal.net
www.thejobjourney.org
Editorial Contact
Ruth Danielson
Mulberry Street Marketing & PR
1 (360) 665-2794
ruthd[at]msmpr.com