Online STEP UP! Program – Week 1: Resumes & Cover Letters

What is the STEP UP! Program

At the Leadership Lab, we are strong believers that nothing can be built on top of a poorly formed foundation. We wanted to create a program that our one main focus is to work with individuals and groups to help them recognize their strengths and assess challenges, all with the goal of improving productivity, work-life balance, and reduce stress.How do we do this? First, you must commit to change. Secondly, you will be enrolled in our 6-week STEP UP! career readiness program and 1:1 career coaching through an intake and assessment session. Once in the program, you will be assigned a well-trained Lab career coach who operates within the ethical standards of ICF (International Coaching Federation). Our career coaches provide coaching based on your relevant issues and identified needs. Your needs will be addressed continually through relevant educational practices, while you gain knowledge or skills or change your behaviors to break through barriers to become employed.

This will be hard work!

We understand how it feels to be unemployed, we have all been there. We understand that when you’re unemployed for short or long periods of time we need to start from ground zero with rebuilding your self-esteem and giving you back your confidence. We want you to take your place in the world and pursue a career and/or go to college or vocational school in a career field you want to be in. And we do not do this alone. We have an amazing network of community partners to help you if needed.

Our Program will be specifically designed around career readiness and consists of:

• 6-weeks Leadership Lab STEP UP! workshops
• 6-weeks of intense 1:1 career and/or academic coaching
• Up to 1 year of on-going career and/or academic coaching and 90 days retention career coaching

Many people are ready to work now. To be upfront, this program might not be the right fit for you, this program is focused on helping you create a career, not just get you another fast-food job. We do have relationships with businesses in the construction, tech, and healthcare industries. Someone that wishes to enter into an apprenticeship or mentorship program, during or after week six of workshops and coaching we can match members of the construction, tech, and healthcare industries to provide mentorship with the outcome for you to become employed.Are you ready to change your life?

REQUIREMENTS

• Current Oregon Resident
• Currently a SNAP Participant (we cannot accept TANF)
• Youth 18 – 24
• Adults 24 – 59

We review the 3 types of resumés (functional, chronological, and combination) and determine which resumé is best for each participant. Also, we cover personal statements versus an objective on resumés.

Intro into Personal Statement

A personal statement is used on your resumé and your LinkedIn profile. It helps people get to know you and your personal strengths, accomplishments, and career goals. A well-written personal statement can help you make a great first impression; it can also be used when describing yourself during an interview or when networking with professional connections.

Cover Letters

We look at a better way to write a cover letter.

First Impressions

When meeting a new person, you have an opportunity to make a great impression—or a poor one. We cover the Do’s and Do Not’s in this module along with how to make a great first impression on your first day of your new job.

Professionalism & Work Ethic

We discuss the elements of a strong work ethic and what employers are looking for in an employee. For example:

• Integrity
• Emphasis on Quality of Work
• Professionalism
• Discipline
• Sense of Responsibility
• Sense of Teamwork

We also ask questions and discuss:

• Where do people learn work ethic?
• How does work ethic relate to being a responsible employee?
• How can you tell if someone has a strong work ethic? What does it look like?
• Are there misconceptions/assumptions made about who does or does not have a good work ethic?
• Why is it important to talk about work ethic? What challenges are there in talking about your personal work ethic?
• How can you develop your work ethic?

About Your Instructor

Emily Sturgess-Cleek, Sr Instructor & Curriculum Specialist, Sr Career Coach

Emily is a lifelong learner and a career educator. She joined the Leadership Lab team after 16 years of teaching university students. Her career transition was inspired by her work with adult learners and the satisfaction Emily gained by empowering them to achieve their academic goals whilst managing jobs, childcare, taking care of ailing family members, and all the responsibilities modern life throws at us. After completing life coach training, Emily was eager to dedicate time to working with more adults to find balance and satisfaction in their own journeys. With the Leadership Lab, Emily is the lead instructor and curriculum specialist of our career readiness workshops as well as a career coach. At home, Emily balances her career with raising two daughters, navigating the joys and challenges of family life. She also volunteers at The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science, The Opal School at the Portland Children’s Museum, and Portland Community College, Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Emily is also bilingual and fluent in Spanish.Education and

Certifications – International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC), M.S. joint degree in Geography and Forest Ecology and Management, Initial Certification in Teaching English as a Second Language, B.A. The School of Teaching ESL

About the Leadership Lab

The Leadership Lab (Lab) was founded in 2015 by two Native American sisters in the belief that all people deserve to be heard and supported through coaching, mentoring, and strength finding workshops. Our mission is to respect, listen, support, encourage, inspire, and motivate our clients to excel in all areas. We strive to open minds to options and plans of action that will take our clients to the next level of success in ways they did not believe were possible. By helping to bring clarity to priorities, strategies, and opportunities within our clients’ professional and personal lives, they may achieve the exceptional results they desire.

Our combined experience includes more than 100,000 hours of 1:1 life, transitional, executive, and career coaching, and over 60,000 hours of group coaching and workshops. The Lab’s vision is to support our clients in their journey to have a clear sense of direction and focus so they may achieve quantifiable success in all areas of their professional and personal lives. Our goal is for them to take ownership of their role in society, have job satisfaction and happiness, to flourish and be profitable while growing, learning, and developing.

We are not just another business; we are a part of the Pacific Northwest community. We care about our city, the environment, our children, our way of life. We strive to work on projects that enhance our community, maintain our way of living, and give an example to other organizations across the nation.