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Restoring Human Dignity through Employment

Job Search Skills Workshop

Orpe Human Rights Advocates (OHRA) exists to alleviate poverty by restoring human dignity through empowerment, justice, and opportunity. A cornerstone of this mission is employment creation for underserved communities.

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The Job Search Skills Workshop, under OHRA’s Restoring Human Dignity Program, equips individuals with the confidence, tools, and strategies needed to secure meaningful employment. Participants learn to identify their career purpose, assess skills, craft strong resumes and cover letters, search effectively for job leads, network confidently, and succeed in interviews.

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The program is designed to achieve measurable outcomes: within three months of completion, at least 60% of participants are expected to secure jobs or internships. By fostering self-reliance and dignity, the workshop contributes directly to poverty alleviation and long-term community transformation.

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What We Do

​Activities:

  • Workshops, coaching, job fairs, employer linkages, ​

  • Baseline skills assessment.

  • Training sessions (resume, cover letter, job search strategies, networking, interview practice).

  • Mock interviews, mentorship pairing, employer linkages, job fair participation.

  • Follow-up support, tracking of applications, and placement results.

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Pathways to Employment

Statement of Need

Poverty in underserved communities is reinforced not just by a lack of jobs but by barriers to employability. Many job seekers:

  • Do not know how to align personal skills with job opportunities.

  • Lack access to professional resumes, cover letters, and online job platforms.

  • Struggle with networking due to limited social capital.

  • Face interview anxiety that undermines success.

  • Confront systemic inequities in employment opportunities.

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For individuals experiencing these challenges, poverty becomes a cycle of exclusion and dependence. OHRA’s program intervenes at a critical juncture; giving participants the skills, confidence, and pathways needed to break this cycle and claim sustainable livelihoods.

Program Goals and Objectives

Goal:  To restore human dignity and alleviate poverty by equipping underserved individuals with job readiness skills and employment pathways.

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Objectives:

  1. Empowerment through Purpose: Guide participants in identifying personal strengths, values, and skills to determine career direction.

  2. Professional Readiness: Train participants in creating effective resumes and cover letters tailored to market demands.

  3. Strategic Job Search: Provide tools and guidance to navigate job boards, community resources, and employer networks.

  4. Networking & Confidence: Build soft skills for networking, workplace communication, and professional self-presentation.

  5. Interview Success: Deliver mock interviews and coaching for effective performance and follow-up.

  6. Job Placement: Link participants to employers, job fairs, and mentorship opportunities.

Theory of Change

If underserved individuals gain access to structured training, mentorship, and employer networks, then they will acquire the confidence and skills to secure employment, which reduces poverty, restores dignity, and strengthens resilient communities.

Our Impact​

  • 100 trained participants per cycle, 100 resumes and cover letters completed, 70% attend interviews.

  • 60% employed or in internships within 3 months; improved self-reliance; community-level poverty reduction.​

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Performance

​Activities:

  • Workshops, coaching, job fairs, employer linkages, resume/cover letter clinics. 

  • 100 trained participants per cycle, 100 resumes and cover letters completed, 70% attend interviews.

  • 60% employed or in internships within 3 months; improved self-reliance; community-level poverty reduction.

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Job search Clinic:

  • Baseline skills assessment.

  • Training sessions (resume, cover letter, job search strategies, networking, interview practice).

  • Mock interviews, mentorship pairing, employer linkages, job fair participation.

  • Follow-up support, tracking of applications, and placement results.​​

What You’ll Gain from Job Search Skills Workshops

Module One: Getting Started

  • Workshop Objectives

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Module Two: Ready, Set, Go!

  • Identifying Your Values and Purpose

  • Assessing Your Skills

  • Setting SMART Goals

  • Building a Resource System

  • A 30-Day Plan

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Module Three: Building Your Resume

  • Basic Resume Formats

  • Chronological Style Resume

  • Combination Style Resume

  • Essential Information to Include

  • Dealing with Awkward Points

  • Checklist for Success

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Module Four: Polishing Your Resume

  • Creating an Attractive Package

  • About Branding

  • Some Extra Touches

  • Checklist for Success

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Module Five: Writing a Cover Letter

  • Types of Cover Letters

  • First contact cover letter

  • Targeted cover letter

  • Recommendation Cover Letter

  • Creating a Template

  • Customizing the Template

  • Checklist for Success

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Module Six: Creating a Portfolio

  • When Do I Need a Portfolio?

  • Types of Portfolios

  • Working Portfolio

  • Display Portfolio

  • Assessment Portfolio

  • Essential Elements

  • Checklist for Success

Module Seven: Networking Skills

  • What is Networking?

  • Getting a Conversation Started

  • Creating an Effective Introduction

  • But I’m So Nervous!

  • What Not to Talk About

  • Wrapping Up and Moving On

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Module Eight: Skills for Success

  • Being Organized

  • Becoming a Punctual Person

  • I Can Do This!

  • Important Etiquette Points

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Module Nine: Where to Look?

  • The Obvious Places

  • The Hidden Job Market

  • About Cold Calling

  • The Power of Networking

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Module Ten: Understanding the Interview

  • Types of Interviews

  • What to Expect

  • About Behavioral Questions

  • About Knowledge Questions

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Module Eleven: Interview Skills

  • Dressing for Success

  • The Meaning of Colors

  • Interpreting Common Dress Codes

  • Deciding What to Wear

  • Answering Questions

  • Asking Questions

  • Following Up

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Module Twelve: Wrapping Up

  • Words from the Wise

  • Review of Parking Lot

  • Lessons Learned

  • Completion of Action Plans and Evaluations

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