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Business & Tech

Keep Your Skills and Your Speech Current to Land a Job

If you are not currently working, but know you want to return to the workforce, it's important to keep up with your "vocational vocabulary."

Staff at Maryland’s Professional Outplacement Assistance Center (POAC) in Columbia often tell seminar attendees to maintain their “vocational vocabulary” – the vocabulary relevant to people in their profession.

POAC works with unemployed people who are in a professional, executive, technical, managerial, or scientific occupation to help them find a job. POAC is run by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s Division of Workforce Development. Services are free for Maryland residents.

If you are at home, you start talking about painting projects, or childcare issues, Steve Gallison, POAC’s Director said at a recent seminar. To stay marketable you need to maintain your knowledge about what is happening in your industry. You can also use time at home to explore new career options or enhance skills.

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Crofton resident Lisa Benitez used her time at home to make herself more marketable. Benitez has a bachelor’s degree in communications. After graduating college, she worked at a television station and then was a college admissions and student services staff member.

After Benitez had her first son, she choose to stay home. “My goal was to go back to work when my second son was in school full-time,” Benitez said. So she returned to college on the evenings and weekends to earn her master’s degree and teaching certification.

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“The smartest thing I ever did was to go back to school early,” Benitez said. “If I had waited until [my sons] were in school, I would have needed two years before I could start working,” she said.

Some people may choose to stay at home, but others may be in a forced unemployment situation. Regardless of the reason you are at home, the following tips can help you maintain your vocational vocabulary if you plan to return to the workforce.

  • Stay active in a professional society - Professional societies will often waive fees for members who are unemployed. Read society publications and participate in online forums or groups. Attend society events – it’s a great way to network and expand your professional contacts while keeping current.
  • Volunteer – Volunteering is another way to network and keep your skills fresh. Benitez volunteered regularly in her son’s school. The staff knew she had her teaching certification and she was very familiar with school operations. When a long-term substitute was needed, the staff asked Benitez if she would be interested. She said yes. She eventually was offered a full-time position.  
  • Take a class – Funding may be available if you want to transition to a new career or update your skills. Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation offers training to qualified individuals. If you do not qualify for aid through AAWDC, other funds may be available. Benitez received two scholarships from state delegates. “I would strongly encourage people to look for scholarships. There are scholarships for continuing education – they are not just for high school students.” she said.
  • Use social media – Create a LinkedIn profile and become active in online groups pertinent to your industry. 

Networking is a great way to keep up with industry news. Go to lunch with an old colleague, or make a point to call them just to chat, Gallison said. Keep your knowledge current.

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