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The 2026 Job Seeker Series

Eight (8) sessions of trendy topics for job seekers

An 8-week series provided by Cuyahoga Works Job & Career Services that will provide comprehensive services to job seekers. This will be an informative & interactive series of lectures and activities.

The purpose of this 8-week series is to continue our legacy of providing comprehensive services to meet the needs of adult job seekers who are either new to the workforce, in transition, or returning to the workforce after an extended break.  Our Job Seekers Series will cover eight (8) hot and trendy topics that we feel are essential for a job seeker to know in order to be competitive in today’s workforce. Our goal is to make this an informative and interactive series that will incorporate a mixture of lectures, activities, and technology to help job seekers learn what it takes to become the one that employers want as a part of their team. Participants will receive a certificate of completion. All sessions will be held on Thursdays from 10:30AM-12:00PM beginning February 12 to April 9, 2026 (there will be a one-week break between sessions 4 & 5).  

*Registration is required!  An email address is required to receive the link to participate. A Zoom meeting link will be emailed to registered participants within 24 hours of the program. You will need a device with audio and/or video and an internet connection to join.

WEEK #1 - HOW TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF TO NAVIGATE TODAY'S JOB SEARCH PROCESS (FEBRUARY 12, 2026)

Whether you are a recent high school or college graduate, a job seeker who has recently loss your job, you want to make a career transition, or reenter the workforce after an extended break -- know that you are not alone! Change is inevitable throughout life, but sometimes your motivation can make it challenging for you to make your transition seamless. Since job searching is such an integral part of life, finding, losing, or obtaining it can take a toll on you. This session will help you get through the positive and negative motions of navigating today’s workforce so that you can become and remain motivated to make your next vocational move!

WEEK #2 - HOW TO THRIVE IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE (FEBRUARY 19, 2026)

There are four distinct generations in today’s workforce. As a result, job seekers are competing with individuals of different ages for the same job who all bring varying levels of experience and skills to the workforce. In this session, there will be a discussion on how different generations define work, may have differing values, distinguishing characteristics, and assets. We will also discuss how understanding these differences can help you as a job seeker better communicate across the generations and become a better co-worker or manager in your next job.
     

WEEK #3 - LEVERAGING YOUR STRENGTHS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES TOWARDS A NEW JOB OR CAREER (FEBRUARY 26, 2026)

Job seekers are often asked to explain who they are and what is important to them in their resumes, during job interviews, and when networking. Some find it a challenge because they have not yet defined what their strengths, skills, and experiences amount to professionally. In this session, participants will learn how to explore who they want to be in the workforce and how they capitalize on their strengths, skills, and experiences to help them be able to get the job or career they want. 

WEEK #4 - WHAT DO EMPLOYERS REALLY WANT FROM JOB SEEKERS? (MARCH 5, 2026) 

When looking for a job it is sometimes difficult to understand exactly what employers are looking for. Are employers seeking someone with practical experience or is education the primary desire? In this session, job seekers will learn how employers determine who they will bring in for an interview, and how they ultimately determine who is the best candidate for the job.

WEEK BREAK (MARCH 12, 2026)

WEEK #5 - TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL JOB SEARCH (MARCH 19, 2026)

There are many ways to search for a job, but some ways may be more effective than others, depending on what field a person is in. In this session, job seekers will learn about popular local and national job search strategies, websites, professional networking groups and platforms, and about accessing the “hidden job market”. Another important factor is knowing what is in your own backyard. For example, healthcare is one of the top industries in the Cleveland area and makes up about 15% of all jobs. Job seekers will learn how to customize their job search towards employers they really want to work for, also, how to research companies so that they can stand-out during job interviews.

WEEK #6 -  EFFECTIVELY NETWORKING YOUR WAY TO THE JOB YOU WANT (MARCH 26, 2026)

Ever ask yourself, “Does networking really work?” Well research studies have shown that nearly 75% of job seekers obtain employment through networking. If this is true, you definitely want to know how to leverage connections and identify opportunities that will allow you to effectively network your way to a new job by using current tips and trends.

WEEK #7 - CREATING WINNING COVER LETTERS, RÉSUMÉS AND LINKEDIN PROFILES (APRIL 2, 2026)

Cover letters, résumés, and LinkedIn profiles are among the most popular ways for job seekers to provide employers with details about their professional experiences, qualifications, and attainments. This session will cover basic information that one should know in order to make the best impression on recruiters, human resources, and hiring managers through their cover letter, résumé, and LinkedIn profile.

WEEK #8 - HOW TO EFFECTIVELY IMPROVE YOUR INTERVIEW SKILLS (APRIL 9, 2026) 

Getting asked to interview is what all job candidates hope for. However, the mere thought of interviewing can be both exciting and anxiety-provoking. In this session, job seekers will learn what they need to do before, during and after the interview. Job seekers will also, have an opportunity to practice interviewing using the video recording studio.  Program evaluation and celebration will take place!

Presented by Cuyahoga County Public Library's Cuyahoga Works: Job & Career Services.