Next!

Although extremely talented and skilled job seekers may be more than willing to work and become contributing members of our ever-growing population, when it comes to using Work-in-Texas.com (WIT), they may unknowingly have incomplete resumes and yet be convinced otherwise.

Employers don’t hang on to partially completed applications or resumes as they consider qualified candidates whose profiles are complete! Regardless of ability, incomplete documents trigger red flags for employers. As a result many qualified applicants may be quickly eliminated. I’d like to offer a few key pointers on “How to create a Better Work in Texas Profile.”

Once you get halfway through your WIT registration, you will see a “Confirmation Page” which only confirms that you’re partially registered at a basic level. Unfortunately the vast majority of folks completely stop at this point assuming that they are done! (I would too if I weren’t familiar with this system). The confirmation page serves only to acknowledge that registration is in progress. However, on that very same page (bottom right corner) there is a blue button that reads “Next” along with simple directions to complete your application in its entirety.

Once you’ve clicked the next button, you will be guided to complete your profile in WIT through the “My Portfolio Screen,” which functions as a checklist prompting you to continue through to all the various fields required to also provide you with a new resume, once your profile is completed! The more details you provide the better your chances are of getting contacted for interviews and ultimately hired!

After completing your WIT profile and enjoying some of the benefits a more comprehensive resume can provide, you also have the option of completing an official State of Texas application. If you have been seeking employment with the State of Texas, many jobs available will offer an opportunity to apply immediately on WIT. However, again – you must be ready! And let me repeat — The State clearly asks that applications be completed at the time of submission. An incomplete state application is automatically disqualified from consideration, as indicated by the directions listed prominently at the top of the application itself. Folks, this is serious and employers seek only serious candidates who know how to complete first steps and all the other necessary steps that follow.

So during the initial registration in WIT, once you’ve reached the registration confirmation page – be sure and scroll down just a bit farther and click “Next.” This will open up a world of opportunity filled with a completed application profile; detailed skills based resume and a State application to wrap it all up nicely!

We live in a world that wants us to hurry up, clear it up, tie it up and move on to the next big thing – and quickly through impossible rapid fire timelines that we have little to no control of! However, if you intend to keep moving at the speed of light, don’t forget the message you may unconsciously be sending employers – that you can’t close the deal. Take my advice. “Get The Best Out of WorkInTexas!” Finish up, scroll down and click next!

Frieda Carmouche is a member of the Regional Navigator team specializing in training, educating and assisting employers, and career center staff throughout the Gulf Coast with community resources, outreach events and technical support in assisting job seekers with disabilities. She obtained her BFA in Graphic Communications and minored in Psychology from The University of Houston. Frieda, a native Houstonian with a love of training and development, has been employed by Workforce Solutions for over 10 years.