Employees from Mattel, Inc., a global leader in the toy industry, provided valuable insight and taught jobseekers strategies to effectively highlight employment qualifications during an interview preparedness event hosted by JVS SoCal.
The event, held at the West Los Angeles WorkSource Center in Culver City, which is operated by JVS SoCal. It gathered participants in the BankWork$ and CareerWorks Medical® programs. BankWork$® prepares job seekers for positions in the financial services. CareerWorks Medical prepares individuals for healthcare careers in non-clinical roles.
“We are thrilled to partner with Mattel, Inc. Their employees’ expertise is invaluable to those seeking employment,” said Jeff Carr, Chief Executive Officer of JVS SoCal. “By enhancing interview preparedness, we aim to increase individuals’ chances of securing meaningful employment.”
Volunteer employees from Mattel engaged with program participants in mock interviews and gave them practical tips and personalized feedback.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to meet the students and learning more about their background, experiences, and future aspirations,” said Lauren Jackson, one of Mattel’s volunteers. “To provide suggestions on how they can further up their elevator pitch, it has been a great experience.”
As part of the JVSWorks® programs, clients receive free job training and job placement assistance. Ongoing coaching for career advancement is available for those who need further assistance. Other JVSWorks® programs include ApartmentWorks® and CareerWork$® Medical.
“This was very good because they are helping us,” said Angelica Azizi, an event participant. “The mock interviews and the class itself teach us how to be prepared for the question they ask and how we can present ourselves, both image-wise and through effective communication.”
For many job seekers and volunteers, this was a first-time experience in mock interviewing as well as exercises such as elevator pitching. The elevator pitch exercise provided jobseekers a chance to briefly introduce themselves and their experiences to an interviewer, who in turn gave them feedback and suggestions.
“This was my first time doing it,” says Kristen Sanzari, a lead product designer at Mattel. “It feels very rewarding knowing that any feedback is useful and that I can help others.”
“By volunteering with JVS SoCal, people can give by sharing their skills and knowledge to help job seekers in Los Angeles succeed in their career aspirations,” said program instructor Jynelle Sumera. “We believe that by equipping individuals with confidence, we can make a significant difference in their employment prospects.”
f you’d like to help people find a rewarding career that combines what they love doing with the ability to earn a good income, consider donating here.