Summer is finally here, while many of you are looking for ways to enjoy the sunny weather, the summer is great time to improve the skills that will help you stand out in your job search. Brushing up your skills is great way to keep your mind fresh and prepared for your next interview.

In this month's newsletter, we give you advice on how to use your summer downtime to fine tune your professional skill sets. We hope you find this information to be helpful in your job search.

Baby Boomers are working longer.

A report published by William Fey of the Booking Institution finds:
"most U.S. workers nearing retirement age want to gradually reduce their workload rather than abruptly stop."
Source:Ohlemacher,Stephen, Associated Press Writer: "Working Longer: Boomers Staying On", June 12, 2007

View local jobs here!
AkronWorks.com offers great jobs with excellent employers...all in or near Akron, Ohio.

FEATURED EMPLOYERS 

Utilize your summer downtime to improve your skill sets.

Summer is time of vacations, barbeques and sporting events. With so many activities to keep you busy, it is often difficult to think about your job search. However, no matter what your employment needs, summer is a great time to improve your skill sets that will help you become a stronger candidate in your job search.

Assess your strengths and weaknesses
Determine what your strengths and weaknesses are as an employee. We all have our weaknesses, but it is important to narrow down what skill need the most improvement. Common areas of improvement include:

  • Time Management
  • Organization
  • Computer Literacy
  • Public Speaking
  • Writing
    If you fall under multiple categories, choose the category you feel needs the most improvement and focus your efforts there first.

    Whether you have a lot of time or very little, there are many resources available to help cultivate your job skills and allow you to shine as a highly developed employee.

    Take a Class or Workshop
    Several organizations and universities offer short and long-term courses for writing, public speaking and much more. Classes and workshops offer a hands-on approach to improve your desired skill. Your instructor and classmates can be valuable resources for giving advice and critiques on how to improve your skill of choice.

    A class or workshop is an ideal setting to improve a skill such as public speaking. This gives you an opportunity to work alongside your instructor and classmates. You and your classmates can work together to provide feedback and support which will help you become more comfortable interacting in a group setting

    Browse the Web
    The web is a quick and inexpensive way to improve your skill sets. You can find classes, software, and web sites specializing in the skill of your choice. Some sites charge a fee for their services while others offer free advice and articles to get you started.

    The web is a quick and inexpensive way to improve your skill sets. You can find classes, software, and web sites specializing in the skill of your choice. Some sites charge a fee for their services while others offer free advice and articles to get you started.

    This is a great resource to use to improve organization or time management. There are dozens of sites devoted to improving these skills through articles, web blogs and other resources. The web is a great tool to utilize for people who do not have a lot of time or money to invest. Many sites offer printer-friendly versions of their articles so you can print off the article you need and read it at a time that is best for you.

    Volunteer
    A great way to improve your skills is to take on a volunteer opportunity. Many non-profit organizations have opportunities in administration/clerical, event planning, instructors, sales, hospitality, and much more (contact the local chapter to learn more about opportunities in your fie