Preparing youth for tomorrow’s job market

Local News

January 2, 2009

Anonymous The Weatherford Democrat Fri Jan 02, 2009, 10:10 AM CST

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.

Text Only

Local News

Wildlife volunteers needed
Like any other mother, Donna Robinson has pictures of her “babies” on her phone.
“Let me show you,” she said eagerly. “I’ve got lots of pictures of the kids.”
She scrolls through the photos — there’s one of a squirrel with milk on its mouth after a feeding. Oh, there’s a cute one of two tiny possums looking over her shoulder as she feeds another “baby.” Aww, there’s the group of four raccoons named after the Beatles: Ringo, Paul, George and John.
Ok. She’s not your “ordinary” mom.

February 6, 2012 2 Photos
Water woes on floodplain in Weatherford
When Wendy Walling purchased her home in the Briarwood subdivision off of Sante Fe Drive in the mid-1990s, her son could easily jump from one side of the small creek behind the home to the other.
“My son was in fourth grade (when we moved in) and he could actually jump across the creek,” Walling said.
By 2007, however, Walling said the width of the creek had begun to expand.
“(The creek) can hold water now and before it never could,” Walling said.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
DPS: Motorcyclists didn't see slowing truck
February 6, 2012
Kidnapper gets 99 years
February 6, 2012
Judge tosses plea in horse deaths
February 6, 2012
Weatherford junior to perform with All-State choir
When she was a little girl, Cassandra Kirby used to climb up next to her grandmother’s big fireplace and sing songs during the holiday get-togethers.
While she has a reserved and polite personality, recalling these memories makes a big smile break out onto Kirby’s face.
Get her talking about songs and suddenly she’s effusive and happy.

February 5, 2012 1 Photo
Rock solid gymnasts
February 3, 2012 2 Photos
WCS gala slated for Feb. 11 at Clear Fork
February 3, 2012
CASA of Parker County seeking new volunteers
February 3, 2012
Millsap lends helping hand to one of its own
February 3, 2012
More Local News Headlines

The Komen Foundation recently cut ties (before announcing they would reinstate them) with Planned Parenthood and stopped funding breast cancer screenings — was that a good thing?

Local News

Search Results

Preparing youth for tomorrow’s job market

The Komen Foundation recently cut ties (before announcing they would reinstate them) with Planned Parenthood and stopped funding breast cancer screenings — was that a good thing?

Site Map

Contact Weatherford Democrat