Business Briefs

The Department of Continuing and Professional Education at Ocean County College is offering the following

• "Job Search Workshop with Résumé Writing," offered 9-11 a.m., Tuesdays, May 5-26 or 6-8:30 p.m., Wednesdays, June 3- 24 at the OCC Main Campus, College Drive, Toms River. The cost is $52. This program reveals the secret of an effective resume.

• "Help in Looking for a Job in Today's Market" offered 6-8 p.m., Wednesdays, July 8 to Aug. 12, at the OCC Main Campus, College Drive, Toms River. The cost is $89. The program provides tips on searching for employment and offers help with writing a powerful resume.

• "How to Get a Federal Job," offered 6:30-9 p.m., Thursdays, July 8 to Aug. 13 at the OCC Southern Education Center, 195 Cedar Bridge Road, Manahawkin. The cost is $89. The workshop provides tips and techniques for getting a federal job.

To register for any of the above, call 732-255-0404.

Ocean County College Career, Employment and Counseling Services sponsors a weekly job seekers support club. Meetings are held on Monday mornings from 9-10 a.m. in Room 104 at OCCs Center for Business Education and Training, 150 Brick Blvd., Brick. Admission to club meetings is free and open to the public. Details: 732-255-0400, ext. 2945.

Mark Boelte of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development will host a series of free presentations on resume writing and interviewing techniques at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River.

Boelte is renowned for his straightforward, no-nonsense advice helping "average people adjust to the vastly changed job market."

Individual critiques will not be possible within the time allowed. Sessions will be held on resume writing from 6-8:30 p.m. on April 27 and on interviewing 6-8:30 p.m. April 20 or May 4.

For more information or to register, call 732-349-6200 or visit www.theoceancountylibrary. org.

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) will hold its Central Jersey Business Conference & S.E.E.D. Competition 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 21 at Excelsior Caterers, 355 Route 9 south, Manalapan. Guest speaker will be Susan D. Wigenton, U.S. district judge who sits in Newark and hears civil and criminal matters. Her awards include Women Lawyers in Monmouth Achievement Award, and the Long Branch NAACP Presidential Award. The one-day business conference luncheon will feature workshops designed to benefit all businesses of central New Jersey. Tickets for both members and nonmembers are $80 before April 14 and $90 thereafter. Sponsorships and ad journal entries are still available.

NAWBO, Central Jersey Chapter will celebrate Women's History Month with the launch of its "Power NAWBO Annual Membership Drive." New members join by April 30 will save $25 off the national dues in all membership categories. In addition, existing members can earn points for new members they bring into the organization during the drive.

For more information, about either event visit www.nawbocentraljersey.org.

SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business, is offering a free and confidential in-depth business analysis for small business owners who want to sustain or grow their business during the current economic times. The analysis will include a comprehensive review of the various aspects of the business, including sales, marketing, finances, planning, management, organization and procedures. For more information, or to schedule a meeting at a SCORE location in Ocean County, call 732- 505-6033

The Provident Bank is hosting an essay contest for New Jersey students to commemorate the bank's 170th anniversary. Entry deadline is April 28. Students may pick a favorite president or invention and write an essay about why. The president must have held office or the invention must have been made within the last 170 years. Entries will be sorted into grades five through eight, and grades nine through 12, and one winner will be chosen from each group. Four first-place winners will receive an iPod Touch and a $500 donation to their school's media center or library. Winning essays will be posted on www.ProvidentNJ. com. Four second-place winners will receive an iPod Shuffle and a $50 savings bond, and eight third-place winners will receive a $50 savings bond.

For contest details, visit www.ProvidentNJ. com/essaycontest..