Benefits of Joining PROFILE

Departments

Currently, PROFILE is organized as two departments: Operations & Technology and Training.

Operations & Technology Department - This department's primary charter is providing general administrative support for PROFILE of Santa Cruz. The responsibilities includes the maintenance of membership records; staffing the front desk; maintaining procedures for consistency; generating accurate monthly reports for PROFILE's hosts, EDD & WFSCC (Workforce Santa Cruz County); and providing additional administrative support as needed.

Training Department - This department is responsible for developing and presenting workshops for members. Workshops include Résumé Writing, Cover Letter Writing; Interview Skills; Phone Interview Skills; our newest workshop Communication Skills; and many others all geared to help members effectively market themselves to employers.

PROFILE workshops most favorably compared to professional companies doing similar training with one major difference, ours are free.

Executive Committee - PROFILE of Santa Cruz is governed and coordinated by the Executive Committee composed of the co-directors of PROFILE's various departments plus PROFILE's Executive Director, Associate Executive Director, plus EDD EU Coordinator, and WFSCC (Workforce Santa Cruz County) who also occasionally attend the Executive Committee's weekly meetings.

Workshops

PROFILE provides the following workshops for members. Orientation/Job Search Basic Training, PSR and Desk Volunteer are core workshops required for membership.

• Orientation/Job Search Basic Training (Core requirement)
  An overview of PROFILE and details member responsibilities. The bulk of the Orientation/Job Search Basic Training Workshop is devoted to learning a number of specific job search skills.
• PSR (Core requirement)
  PSR, Problem Solution Result, creates statements with impact for use with all aspects of one's job search including resumes, cover letters, and interviews.
• Desk Volunteer (Core requirement)
  Training for handling PROFILE's front desk as a Desk Volunteer.
• Résumé Writing
  The latest techniques on getting a company's attention with your résumé.
• Cover Letter
  The latest techniques and how to get a company's attention with your cover letter.
• Résumé Critique
  Members gather in a small group, sometimes one-on-one, to improve and customize each other's résumé. Your peers "shred" your résumé on your way to the "perfect" résumé.
• Phone Interviewing
  Members learn how to prepare for an interview, what kinds of questions may be asked at an interview, what not to say during phone interviews and what types of questions you should ask a prospective employer.
• Interview Skills
  How to present yourself during the all-important interview.
• Negotiation Skills
  Just that: how to negotiate for the job.
• Communication Skills
  The newest workshop added to hone all your communication capabilities.
• Marketing Yourself
  Putting your best face forward in print, in person and everywhere else. Members learn techniques on "Self- Marketing" through a series of fun exercises.
• Train The Trainer
  The latest techniques and skills to become a better trainer.

See the Calendar for a schedule of classes.

Other benefits include :

• New job listings filed by prospective employers.
• A network of other job seekers who interact with one another to share information on prospective jobs, past experiences in the job market and other topics that help us all in our career goals.
• Broadband Internet access.
• Laser and ink jet printers.
• Occasionally guest speakers are scheduled including representatives from local employers, temp agencies, and other professionals on various subjects. Guest speakers follow the weekly General Meeting.

See How To Join

See Member's Obligations