By NEIL ZOLOT
ELEANOR RICHARD
NORTH READING — Are you between the ages of 15 and 26 and in the market to create a resume, explore new career options or in need of job application or internship support? Then the weekly Jobs Skills Drop-In sessions offered by North Reading Youth Services are for you!
“It’s here to provide a service to the community,” Youth Services Director Eleanor Richard told the Transcript in a recent interview. “There aren’t a lot of free services about this elsewhere.”
The idea for a Jobs Skills Drop-In came from meetings of the Youth Services Committee. “We discuss the needs of the community and it became clear young people were struggling with the issue,” Richard remembers.
“We heard from residents 16-24 struggling with finding jobs or preparing for a job search. There are gaps in services for high school students and people in their early 20s, so we try to meet the needs of middle and high school and the after-high school age groups. It’s primarily older teens or recent college graduates looking for their first job. Often they were students enrolled in online colleges without in-person resources,” she said.
Summer sessions of the Jobs Skills Drop-In are being held on Tuesdays at the Flint Memorial Library from 4-5:30 p.m.. Upcoming dates are July 23 and 30 and August 6 and 13. During the 2023-24 school year these sessions were held on Fridays, but another day may be chosen for the upcoming fall and winter.
Richard has served as Youth Services Director for about a year. Although she is a Town Hall employee, her office is located on the first floor of the library. The advantage of being housed in the library is its central location in the center of town within walking distance of three schools, the L.D. Batchelder Elementary School, the Middle School and the High School. Students make up the majority of people she sees. Often, they’re kids who use the library anyway. “It helps them to be in a familiar place and is closer to the schools than Town Hall,” Richard feels. “It makes sense.”
Most of the job skills advice and assistance Richard provides involves how to look for a job and how to prepare a resume. It starts with her talking to the young adults who drop in. “I try to get to know the person and their goals and jobs needs,” she said.
She also helps young adults find internships and the volunteer opportunities that students need for their college applications.
Young people are good at using the Internet, but Richard finds that they may not realize a listing on a job search app, platform or website may be old and they could search the websites of companies or organizations that interest them directly. It’s a step earlier in the search for an employee for these companies or organizations. “It can be scary to cold email a company, but it shows initiative,” Richard said.
As for resumes she said, “I try to tailor them to the needs of who shows up and highlight applicable things.”
She also points young adults to resources with sample resumes for a variety of professions.
Richard has been meeting with young adults in an open area in the library near the Young Adult book section, but has access to study rooms upstairs if necessary. Often, she guides them through searches or editing resumes on their own computer or using the library’s computers. “The library is a phenomenal space,” Richard feels.
“I fully support the Youth Services programs in North Reading and the vision to establish youth-driven and experiential activities and provide opportunities for young adults to become active community members,” School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Daly said. “From what I’ve heard from Ms. Richard about the jobs skills programs, I am excited our students and young people in the community will have this opportunity to review resumes, interview skills, the process of applying for jobs and more.”
Job skills and search programs are not just for the young. “I joined the over-50 job skills group three years ago to pursue a career change,” recalls Kim Lambert who is now the Head of Children and Teen Services at the Flint Memorial Library.
“The experience equipped me with the skills and confidence needed to seek a job I would love. I initially secured a part-time job at the library and, within a year, I was hired full time in my current position. I’ve never had a more fulfilling work experience. The staff at Flint is a fun, hard-working group and our patrons are fantastic. It’s true, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
