Some recently laid off workers from the Verizon Call Center in Springfield and other displaced workers are trying to get the tools needed to find a new job.

About 30 unemployed people went to a two day Career Options Workshop from the University of Missouri Extension to learn how to better market themselves and get a job.

After three years as a customer service representative at the Verizon Call Center, Cheryl Bowen now finds herself without work.

"Suddenly found out they were going to close our call center, so we were surprised," Bowen said.

She, with some other former co-workers and unemployed people are trying to better prepare themselves to find a new job.

The Career Options Workshop shows them how to update their resumes and market themselves.

"Be positive. Be upbeat. Look at my qualities, what I am bringing to workforce. I've been in customer service for nine years, so I do have a lot of experience," Bowen said.

"Taking this program, I've learned to write a resume called an objective resume, which will outline my skills that I've learned throughout construction trade. Computer use. I am proficient in scheduling with microsoft projects, using microsoft word and excel and being a supervisor," Mike McDonough said.

The current economic climate and unemployment at more than 9% in Missouri makes the job search even harder.

That's why career counselors say networking is more important than ever.

"You really need to be able to contact people you may know that know of your work skills, even years past, to be able to help connect you with places might employ," University of Missouri Extension career counselor Joan Smith said.

Be ready to change your career path.

Know what skills you have and how they can help you get a different job.

"Being able to identify those transferable skills because many of industries they worked in past, such as many factories are no longer here, so we have to pull out what their skills are and how that can transfer to a new position," Smith said.

Through a grant, the University of Missouri Extension does these Career Options Workshops throughout the state as there are large layoffs in the area.

This one was in response to the Verizon Call Center closing and about 150 people losing their jobs.