Ojai and Piru Libraries of Ventura County have announced a series of free career coaching sessions taking place throughout the first five months of 2024. In total, twenty sessions will take place across both libraries, with ten at each location. These events will occur on either Thursday or Tuesday in the afternoon. Each session includes seven career-focused workshops designed to serve the interests of the community.
In a statement, Ventura County Library Director Nancy Schram said, “We are proud to serve as a catalyst for empowering our community’s workforce. This program aligns with our strategic plan and commitment to being a hub for knowledge and support, fostering growth and success for all.”
The sessions are open to all and easy to access. “Coaching is free, registration is not required, and drop-ins are welcome,” reads the Ventura County Library website. Auxiliary aids and services will be available to people with disabilities. Any participants with hearing or speaking limitations may reach the California Retail Service by dialing 711.
The seven workshops include:
- “Brand Called You,” a workshop about defining your experiences, skills, and values to promote a personal, professional brand.
- “Digital Literacy,” a workshop about finding and evaluating information through the internet and digital media platforms.
- “Edge Up,” a workshop about the free online Career Edge platform for continued career development at all stages.
- “Emotional Intelligence,” a workshop about managing one’s own emotions and better understanding the emotions of those around you.
- “Power of Networking,” a workshop about connecting with coworkers, collaborating with colleagues, and building professional relationships.
- “Why Way?” is a workshop about finding your strengths and values and deciding on a career path that aligns those with your goals.
- “Winning the Interview,” a workshop about the best ways to ‘win’ in conversations with potential employers.
The sessions that take place at Ojai Library are scheduled to occur biweekly on Thursdays between 1/11 and 5/30. They will begin at 2 p.m. and last until 4 p.m. They are scheduled for 1/11, 1/25, 2/8, 2/22, 3/14, 3/28, 4/11, 4/25, 6/16, and 6/30. Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai, CA.
The sessions that take place at Piru Library are scheduled to occur biweekly on Tuesdays between 1/9 and 5/28. They will begin at 2 p.m. and last until 4 p.m. They are scheduled for 1/9, 1/23, 2/6, 2/20, 3/12, 3/26, 4/9, 4/23, 5/14, and 5/28. Piru Library is located at 3811 Center Street in Piru, CA.
Workshops are made possible by federal funding in the amount of $4,950,787. This allows each topic to be generously taught to the community without any expectation of payment or donation from participants.
Questions about the sessions can be directed to the Ventura County Library’s Education, Literacy, and Outreach Manager, Antonio Apodaca, at [email protected] or (805) 677-7159. The libraries are excited to offer this service to the community and are committed to making them as accessible as possible to the people of Ventura County.
