Weatherford Democrat

Local News

January 2, 2009

Preparing youth for tomorrow’s job market

Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

A job interview can be a frightening experience for any adult. As today’s youth live the remainder of their high school days in wonder of what the world holds for them, they get part-time jobs, apply for scholarships and prepare to leave the nest and roam the great world of grownup responsibilities.

Workforce Solutions of North Central Texas has free programs for young adults to make the most of opportunities and equips them for the best chance at interviews and the perfect career fit.

Teens are paid incentives each time they attend classes and seminars to help build their confidence.

This week, DeWayne Owens was the special guest motivational speaker for a seminar held at the Workforce Soluntion Center in Weatherford. Young adults learned in a comfortable setting what it takes to be themselves and boost their confidence during a pressured interview.

Owens focused on “Confident Communication,” where he gave the teens hypothetical questions and taught them how to pause before they blurted out answers during an interview.

“Stop before you think,” he told the students. “Prepare your answers. The last thing you want to do is immediately start talking and not know what the answer is.”

Owens presented ficticious scenarios and gave his subjects one-and-a-half minutes to respond. The catch was they had to use the complete tie to answer the question without veering off the topic of discussion.

Ownes said some students do well and others have to be taught how to use the time wisely and efficiently.

Heather Dezomits, Workforce youth specialist, said she tries to book Ownes for every seminar and course as often as she can.

“He’s just wonderful,” Dezomitz said. “He’s popular with the kids and they gravitate toward him.”

One of Owens main goals is to teach the students to speak articulately.

She added students from ages 14 to 21 gather monthly for activities and classes. She targets job readiness, leadership training and team building. Students come from Azle to Aledo, Brock and Springtown to attend calsses, which sometime include physical activities.

Dezomits said a team building course includes rappelling from telephone poles to build confidence as well as learning to trust others in any environment.

Program coordinators are working with Weatherford College to develop other classes and gain more students.She said she is looking for about 30 new local recruits.

An income guideline must be met by new enrollments, but Dezomits said it is much easier than most people think to meet the guideline. Students do not need a GED to attend the program. For more information, call the Workforce Center at (817) 594-0049.

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