By: Anthony Bolton
Finding employment can present challenges, from locating job listings and preparing for interviews to balancing work and personal responsibilities. Several community resources exist to help New Jersey residents navigate the employment process and retain employment, including Atlantic City’s Job Readiness & Employment Resource Program.
At 250 N. New York Ave., the Job Readiness & Employment Resource Program helps Atlantic City residents who are unemployed, seeking career advancement, or looking for better employment opportunities. The program includes a 16-hour in-person curriculum that teaches technical skills, soft skills, and workplace expectations. The curriculum is a prerequisite for the certification courses offered by the program. There are six certification training options, including front desk representatives, guestroom attendants, restaurant servers, maintenance employees, kitchen cooks, and breakfast attendants. The program also partners with local organizations, including Jewish Family Service, to offer résumé workshops.
Marcus R. Wilson, an employment specialist with Atlantic City’s Job Readiness & Employment Resource Program, hosts job readiness classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wilson has worked in employment-related services in Atlantic County since 2014.
“The classes are designed to help people become better prepared for the entire employment process, not just completing the application,” Wilson said.
According to Wilson, the classes are intended to accommodate participants’ schedules and provide flexibility when they take the examination at the end of the certification course.
For applicants unfamiliar with available employment resources, Wilson said he first wants to understand their personal circumstances and then create a plan to address the barriers they may face. Sometimes, the first steps might involve completing a GED, strengthening workplace readiness skills, or completing training.
Wilson said the most difficult parts of the application process depend on the individual. He also noted that different job postings have different application requirements, and he works with applicants to help them navigate those requirements.
Common barriers applicants face include a lack of transportation, family responsibilities, a lack of a high school diploma or GED, and gaps in their résumés.
In the case of employment gaps, Wilson said that once he and an applicant understand the reason for the gap, they can identify transferable skills developed during periods of unemployment. Examples include a formerly incarcerated person gaining work experience while in prison or a caregiver developing time-management skills while at home.
“This is why I emphasize that getting someone hired is only part of the process,” Wilson said. “We also have to think about what may prevent them from keeping the job.”
Wilson emphasized that the program’s resources are available to community members. Even if an applicant does not find employment directly through the program or its referrals, the skills and connections developed during the courses may help with future employment opportunities.
“That’s one of the other purposes of coming here to the class and showing commitment and dedication to yourself,” Wilson said.
For Atlantic City residents seeking employment or exploring new career opportunities, programs such as the Job Readiness & Employment Resource Program provide access to training, guidance, and resources that can help them navigate the challenges of entering or returning to the workforce. By addressing individual barriers and emphasizing skills that extend beyond the application process, the program aims to help participants prepare not only to find employment but also to maintain it.
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This article was produced as part of Follow South Jersey’s student journalism program, which provides aspiring journalists with practical experience in professional news reporting and writing.
