In today’s competitive market, job seekers can never be too prepared for their next interview. How applicants present themselves can determine not only whether they are hired but also how much they are offered as a starting salary. The Office of Career Services at the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV) is offering skill-building assistance to job seekers at three upcoming workshops, all free and open to UHV students and the public.

“Dress for Success,” the first workshop, will be held Tuesday, October 25, at 6 p.m. in University West, Room 105. Suzanne Clodfelter, manager of the UHV Center for Nonprofit Leadership, will speak on business attire, expectations of prospective employers for professional dress, and common wardrobe mistakes made by job applicants.

The second workshop, “Writing the Resume,” will be held Tuesday, November 8, at 6 p.m. in University West, Room 116. Presenter Sandra Heinold, manager of the UHV Academic Center, will talk about both the traditional resume and the new trend of online application. She will also discuss using the Internet as a resource to research companies before submitting a resume.

The final workshop will be held Tuesday, November 15, in University West, Room 105 at 6 p.m. Titled “How to Make the Most of a Career Fair,” it will be presented by Eunice Mesa, UHV Career Services coordinator. With more and more companies switching to online application, the few minutes of face-to-face interaction a job applicant gets with prospective employers at a career fair can be invaluable. Mesa will provide workshop participants with tips on making the best impression.

“Many people don’t realize just a few simple updates to their resume, wardrobe, and interview techniques can set them apart from other job applicants,” says Mesa, who is also one of the event organizers. “Everyone from first-time job seekers to seasoned workers can learn something at these workshops to make their next interview a real success.”

Additionally, Mesa will facilitate a session called “Application to Resume Writing” on Wednesday, November 2, from 4-5 p.m. at the Memorial High School Senior Campus. This session will be held in collaboration with the Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s “Business Sense” initiative.

Workshop participants can put their newly learned tips to use at a career fair UHV will be hosting in March. For more information on the workshops, job fair or other programs through UHV Career Services, contact Eunice Mesa at (361) 570-4369.