EmpowerHER workshop helps Burlington residents sharpen job search skills

On Jan. 15 the Women’s Resource Center in Alamance County hosted EmpowerHER Career Pathway – Searching for Your Next Career, a two-hour workshop at 411 B West Fifth Street in Burlington. The session ran from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and focused on practical tools for navigating today’s job market, including resume building, interview preparation, networking strategies, and using online job boards to find hidden opportunities.

Organizers structured the program so attendees could pick individual sessions that matched immediate needs or participate in the full series to build a more comprehensive job-search toolkit. The event was categorized under employability skills, life design, and workshops and was tagged for career development, EmpowerHER, entrepreneurship, and job search. Residents interested in similar programming can contact the Women’s Resource Center at 336-227-6900 or look for registration on the center’s website and Constant Contact listings.

The workshop addressed issues that matter locally: Burlington and wider Alamance County residents face a labor market where employers increasingly screen candidates digitally and where informal networks and entrepreneurship open alternate paths to steady work. By emphasizing both online job-board strategies and networking for “hidden” jobs, the training aimed to reduce common barriers job seekers face when submitting resumes into applicant-tracking systems or competing for roles that are filled through referrals.

Nonprofit-run career programming like EmpowerHER fills an important gap in local workforce development by providing low-cost, targeted skills training. For women returning to the workforce, shifting careers, or starting small businesses, the session offered actionable steps to shorten job searches and make applicants more competitive for roles across sectors that hire in Alamance County, from manufacturing and healthcare to retail and local services.

Beyond immediate help with resumes and interviews, the workshop reflected longer-term trends affecting the local economy. Employers are placing greater value on adaptable skill sets and networking; entrepreneurship remains a viable route to income in a county where small businesses are a key source of employment. Programs that combine employability coaching with life design and entrepreneurship support can boost labor-force participation and household incomes over time.

For readers, the takeaways are practical: update resumes for digital screening, prioritize targeted networking, and pursue training sessions that build both technical and interpersonal job-search skills. For future workshops or to join the EmpowerHER series, contact the Women’s Resource Center at 336-227-6900 or visit their website for registration details and schedules.