What People are Saying

The single most important piece of advice received:

  • The single most important thing I learned from iYES staff was to not discount myself, whether that be my professional skills or job history. (John, age 24, Edwards Theaters)
  • Be aggressive when looking for a job. You have to let people know you want it in order to get it. (Timothy, age 18, UPS)
  • Always do research before going in for an interview. Employers prefer to hire people who genuinely care about their business and will go above and beyond the expectations. (Melinda, age 17, Redstraw Tea Bar)
  • I learned that job seekers have to step out of their shell or comfort zone and be very confident and energetic. Employers want people who can make a positive influence in the work force. (Jennie, age 16, Central Irvine Kumon Center)
  • Do research about the company before the interview, and send a thank you letter after the interview. (Simon, age 15, Premier Aquatics)
  • Show the employer you are eager and enthusiastic for the position you are applying for. Although it may feel unnatural and excessive, doing so in a professional manner shows the employer that you, as a potential employee, have a good attitude and are dedicated. (Kate, age 17, State Farm Insurance)
  • I learned that finding a job is not a one-day thing. It is definitely a process but the staff of iYES will help you every step of the way. The staff helped me build my résumé, cover letter, and find a job (and were) very kind and checked up on me regularly. I am very satisfied with the service and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for their first job or just simply need help with building their résumé. (Manar, age 17, State Farm Insurance)
  • I learned how to make an amazing résumé and I was able to build my confidence due to that. (Sachi, age 17, The Melt)

Lessons learned from the workshops and/or 1:1 appointments:

  • I appreciated having the mock interview experience and résumé appointment. The mock interview allowed me to see what an actual job interview would feel like and gave me time to think about presenting myself in a more professional light. The résumé appointment helped me organize my ideas, thoughts, and employment history in a way that I could easily refer to them. (John, age 24, Edwards Theaters)
  • The workshop and appointment prepared me greatly in what to expect from an interview. Before, I thought I had it all figured out, only to be bombarded with questions I was not ready for. This workshop prepares you for the unexpected. (Timothy, age 18, UPS)
  • The staff at iYES gave me excellent critical feedback on my draft résumé and followed up to any questions I had, including the details of the résumé such as paper type to print the résumé on, or the design styles to set myself apart from the rest of the applicants. I was able to make my résumé more concise and detailed in phrasing with the résumé appointment. (Melinda, age 17, Redstraw Tea Bar)
  • The workshop and all my appointments helped shape my job application in a better way since I learned detailed information and tips about being professional, emailing etiquette, follow up, and building stable work history. I received great advice and applied it to my interview responses, résumé, and cover letter. (Jennie, age 16, Central Irvine Kumon Center)
  • It was very helpful setting up my résumé, and with interview help. (Simon, age 15, Premier Aquatics)
  • My mock interview was very valuable to my success in finding a job as it calmed my nerves for my first-ever interview, gave me a sense of what to expect, and identified things I needed improvement on. Not only was I asked questions that were commonly asked at interviews, iYES staff gave me feedback on my answers — something you can't experience from merely reading interview advice online. (Kate, age 17, State Farm Insurance)​
  • I did not do the mock interview but the staff of iYES helped me build my résumé and cover letter. It was extremely helpful. They made a lot of beneficial changes to my résumé, and they always responded back very quickly. (Manar, age 17, State Farm Insurance)
  • The résumé and mock interview appointments really helped me because I was more than prepared for the actual interview and it was really natural too. (Sachi, age 17, The Melt)
  • The résumé appointment really helped bring out the best of me in my résumé and made me more professional. The mock interview really helped me enhance my interviewing and even speaking skills. (Helen, age 18, Staples)

Advice for other job seekers:

  • Being a recent college graduate who is continuing to learn about myself professionally, I would recommend exploring any professional opportunity you get. See this time as an opportunity to talk with and get to know the human resources department, the manager, president, or CEO of that company. You might be surprised where a conversation may lead you. (John, age 24, Edwards Theaters)
  • You have to truly want it to get it. Be aggressive and assertive in your quest to find a job. Take matters into your hands and do not expect people to hold your hand through this. It is up to you to do it. (Timothy, age 18, UPS)
  • Even when finding a casual first job, it is still more important to present yourself professionally. During your job interview, and especially so in group interviews, always keep eye contact with the employer and respond appropriately with nods, smiles or responses. Presenting yourself with a resume, especially if you have a lot of extracurricular activities like leadership experience and volunteering, also puts you ahead of your peers who want the job. (Melinda, age 17, Redstraw Tea Bar)
  • Don't be nervous because you guys can do this! (Jennie, age 16, Central Irvine Kumon Center)
  • Use iYES; (staff were) super helpful on my résumé. (Simon, age 15, Premier Aquatics)
  • Take advantage of your resources. I was so confused about the job-seeking process before I dove into it, but once I came to IYES, they helped through every step of it, from job opportunities to résumés, and cover letters to the interview. The program was eager to help but it's important to know that you need to seek help first; they can't answer questions you don't ask. (Kate, age 17, State Farm Insurance)
  • My advice to job seekers my age would be to stay determined and persistent. It might take a while and you should be prepared for rejection. However, if you stay motivated and determined, I am sure you will be able to find the right job. If you put in the effort then you can succeed in your job hunt. Good luck! (Manar, age 17, State Farm Insurance)
  • Prepare for interviews, but over-memorizing and stressing won’t help. Just smile and try to have a normal conversation, but a little more professional. (Sachi, age 17, The Melt)
  • Keep applying. I got my job when my parents asked me to apply one more time after I had already given up hope. The jobs are out there! (Helen, age 18, Staples)