Expert help for newly unemployed

The Auckland Chamber of Commerce is working to boost the chances of the recently unemployed stepping out of the dole queue with the launch of a new scheme.

Using in-house expertise, the chamber is offering free career advice and one-day seminars on sprucing up CVs and interview techniques. The support is aimed at those with job skills who have become more used to being shoulder-tapped for a new job than hit with a redundancy notice.

Auckland Chamber chief executive Michael Barnett said many were burning through any redundancy and holiday payouts while hunting for a new job before seeking some help.

"If we can contribute to their employability it's going to get them back into the workforce and get them back in quicker than they otherwise might do," he said.