Module 05 — Job Skills & Career Tech¶
Duration: 2–3 sessions · Audience: Adults, recovery, reentry · Prerequisite: Module 01, Module 02; Module 04 strongly recommended
The module with the most direct, measurable participant benefit. Most adult Boot Up participants take it.
Learning objectives¶
By the end of Module 05, a participant can:
- Write or update a resume using LibreOffice templates
- Manage a professional email account
- Use LinkedIn and at least one online job board appropriately
- Prepare for a video interview (technical setup + content)
- Use AI to draft cover letters tailored to specific jobs
- Identify free certifications and learning paths relevant to their goals
Session breakdown¶
Session 1 — Resume + email. Resume structure: what goes in, what gets cut. Translating non-traditional experience: recovery-era work, incarceration gaps, volunteer work, family responsibilities, military. LibreOffice resume templates. Professional email accounts and Thunderbird. Email etiquette for applications and follow-ups.
Session 2 — Online job search. Major job boards: Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, state workforce sites. LinkedIn profile basics. Saved searches and alerts. Application tracking (a simple spreadsheet works). Reading a job description critically. Fair-chance employers: where to find them, how to identify them.
Session 3 — Interview prep + AI assist. Video interview setup: camera, mic, lighting, background. Common question types. The "tell me about yourself" question. Using AI to draft a cover letter from a real posting, practice interview questions, get feedback on a resume bullet. Free learning: Google certifications, LinkedIn Learning, freeCodeCamp, Coursera audits.
Hands-on assignment¶
By the end of the module the participant has produced a polished resume saved to their device, a professional email account in use through Thunderbird, a LinkedIn profile (or a documented reason not to have one), at least one AI-assisted cover letter for a real posting, and a short list of free certifications relevant to their goals.
Audience adaptations¶
| Audience | Emphasis |
|---|---|
| Recovery | Translating gaps, recovery-friendly employers, peer-support orgs that hire alumni |
| Reentry | Fair-chance employers, expungement awareness, parole-officer-aware application timing |
| Veterans | MOS translation, veteran-preference programs, GI Bill alignment |
| Older adults re-entering workforce | Age-positive framing, skills update vs. replacement, gig and consulting paths |
Partnerships that strengthen this module¶
Local Workforce WV office (or state equivalent); WIPA counselor (for SSI / SSDI recipients — earned-income rules matter); recovery-friendly employer coalition (WV has one — confirm contact); reentry simulation programs / Goodwill Industries; local community college continuing education.
What this module doesn't cover¶
Specific career coaching for one industry (bring in subject volunteers); salary-negotiation depth (follow-up if there's demand); legal advice on background-check disclosure (refer to fair-chance legal aid).
Assessment for award eligibility¶
A facilitator confirms (no written test): Does the participant have a saved, polished resume? Have they completed at least one practice or real job application? Can they describe their next step in their own words? If yes to all three, Module 05 is complete.