3/10/2010
Women get an edge for their job search
By

With more than 400,000 New Yorkers currently unemployed, calling the job hunting process competitive is putting it mildly. For those without up-to-date skills or inside access to companies currently hiring, the options are even fewer.

Last month approximately 100 New York women graduated from Grace Institute, a tuition-free job-readiness program for women. After undergoing extensive training in computer skills, business writing and communication, business math, office procedures, and keyboarding, these women are strong candidates to find employment in administrative or clerical positions.

"Going through the program and being able to learn Microsoft OfficeSuite, how to write a memo, putting together a resume, was amazing and it's incredible that there is a school like this for women," says Jennifer Ward, a recent Grace graduate. "Never having had an office background before, I was able to learn so much and I feel extremely prepared. I can compete now."

In preparation for their graduation, the Grace Institute students met with representatives from more than 30 companies and community partners.

Grace Institute's reputation for providing high quality job candidates gives these women a connection with leading employers in the local area, and a better chance of landing a coveted position.

"We are fortunate to have strong relationships with companies like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Continuum Health Partners, and Victory School that seek out our students for open administrative positions.We want to provide quality candidates to our employer partners, so we meet with them regularly to make sure we understand their changing needs and adapt our training accordingly," said Mary Mulvihill, executive director of Grace Institute.

"In exchange for our commitment to providing top notch candidates, they keep our program and students in mind when they have open positions," she said.

Since January 2010, Grace Institute has received 35 open positions: a combination of full-time and well-paid temporary positions, along with internships at local businesses and volunteer opportunities at leading NYC hospitals that could lead to permanent employment.

Mulvihill explains, "While we can't control current job market conditions, we can provide the necessary skills to help women gain access to quality career options. Many of the women entering our program have an average personal income of $6,000. The average starting salary of a Grace graduate is $33,000.The ability to obtain a job with benefits for $33,000 has a huge impact on the women we serve and the families they support."