While giving a presentation to students in the Youthbuild program administered locally by TAP, Valley Character Director Chris Moody and Board Member Sam Lionberger III, president of Lionberger Construction, impressed upon the students that respect to an employer is vital.
Along those lines, while in the interview process, applicants should dress appropriately — including wearing a tie — even if the job will never require that level of dress. The message the applicants need to give is that they respect the prospective employer enough to make themselves as presentable as possible.
Because TAP, by definition, serves a low-income segment of the community, it seems likely many of the students don’t have a business-appropriate tie. Moody then told the students that if they did not have suitable ties, Valley Character would get them some. Several said they didn’t have ties.
Now Valley Character is requesting of business leaders in the Roanoke Valley, if you have ties that are seldom worn, would you be willing to allow someone from Valley Character to pick them up and give them to TAP.
More than just the Youthbuild program is involved. TAP has indicated the Virginia Cares and other programs that assist in job placement are interested in acquiring business-appropriate ties.
If you can contribute ties, email Chris Moody at cmoody@valleycharacter.orgto make arrangements for them to be picked up.
Ties can be sent to the Valley Character office at:
Valley Character
4415 Pheasant Ridge Rd.
Suite 104
Roanoke, VA 24014
