Job seekers get their career lives in shape at bootcamp

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — Although some say the recession is over, many across the nation and in southeastern North Carolina are still without jobs.

Rep. Mike McIntyre hosted a free Job Seekers Boot Camp for those wanting to whip their career lives back into shape. Adults got back to the classroom to learn important skills like how to build the perfect resume.

“Nothing today is guaranteed. There’s always uncertainty,” job seeker Eather Mitchell said. “The economy today brings us a lot of uncertainties, but whenever the economy is booming and it’s doing great, there are still uncertainties.”

Mitchell attended the boot camp to revamp her resume and learn some new skills. Motivational speaker Farad Ali said her determination is exactly what all job seekers need.

“If you look back over the years, the US economy has dropped, but we usually bounce back even higher,” Ali said. “I do believe that great things are going to happen. We just have to continue to be innovative and find new solutions. We can’t use the old solutions in these new economic times.”

One of McIntyre’s new solutions is a program called Make it in America.

“We want families to make it in America, literally. We all want to make it, and we want to make good and do well,” the Congressman said. “We also want to literally make the products in America, so it has a double meaning.”

Curtis Hill has a political science degree from NC State, but he has been unemployed since he graduated in 2005.

“I just think it’s really about being a rural area,” Hill said. “I think it’s really tough to find industries to come in to this area to help folks find jobs.”

Rep. McIntyre is trying to change that by harnessing biotechnology and biofuel development among other things in our area.

“We’re looking at ways that we can capitalize in tourism for our area,” McIntyre said. “With Easter coming and soon to be the beach season, we want to make sure every angle we can attack we go after it for job creation in our area.”

A hopeful Mitchel said, “You can always enhance yourself. You can always go farther if you just keep the faith and keep that determination and persistence.”

McIntyre said he has a big announcement to make in Robeson County Tuesday about 300 new jobs. Gov. Bev Perdue’s office says she will be in Pembroke for the jobs announcement tomorrow morning.