Personal Branding, Online Job Hunting and Power Networking

Rachelle Lappinnen, who runs the Leominster Job Seekers Group, will lead the WIN workshop on Wed, August 14 from 6:30-8 PM. Rachelle worked as a Career Adviser at Becker College. She also volunteers with Worcester Dress for Success. Rachelle motivates job seekers to discover their academic and career interests and to help them achieve their goals through education, training and career advice. To register for this workshop, please follow this link: Workshop Registration

Selecting a College or Training Program

Dawn Kiritsis, College and Career Navigator at Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, gave a comprehensive and informative presentation on the resources and programs at the QCC. She went over the admissions process, the prerequisites, the tuition, the financial aid available and convinced the audience that QCC is one attractive college for students who wish to save money and attend a college in Central MA that offers a wide array of courses. For the most up-to-date course listing, visit www.qcc.mass.edu. 

Ms. Kiritsis also spoke about the resources available at the Workforce Central Career Center in Worcester, MA. There are a number of computer courses, and free workshops on resume writing, interview taking and other job skills related topics. For more information, visit the website,
http://www.workforcecentralma.org/about-us/worcester-center-info. 

Dawn also had useful handouts that the participants really appreciated having. 

Selecting a College or Training Program

To stay relevant in today's job market, it's important to stay up-to-date with modern technology and undergo training to upgrade one's skills. The workshop on Wed, July 24th, 6:30-8 PM will help us learn about opportunities and resources in a nearby college. Dawn Kiritsis, Career Navigator at Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, will guide us through the process of selecting a college or choosing a program at QCC, that would be valuable for adults and young adults. 
To register for the workshop, please click on this link: Workshop Registration

Improv for the Job Search - Michael Taylor

Mike Taylor led a highly interactive, fun-filled improv workshop for WIN participants. He guided them through exercises that relieve stress and calm interview jitters.  He encouraged participants by suggesting some useful tips to think on the spot and prepare for interviews. For the resume, he advised that one could use the following 7 cues to create a narrative: 

Once upon a time …

And every day …

Until one day…

And because of this …

And because of this …

 Until finally …

And ever since that day …

Mike incorporated several enjoyable games into the workshop.

"Improv for the Job Search" on July 10, 6:30-8 PM

Mike Taylor's "Improv for the Job Search" promises to be a fun and highly interactive meeting that you wouldn't want to miss! Improvisation Theater, improv for short, can be a stressful activity requiring you to think "on-your-feet" and impress an audience. Job hunting meetings can be a stressful activity requiring you to think "on-your-feet" and impress an audience. This presentation is a participatory activity that uses a few improv exercises to show skills that can be applied to business meetings, in particular interviews. Michael Taylor has studied improv at Boston Improv and with a number of improv master instructors across the US. He is the co-founder of Mill City Improv. He has been a hiring manager, job candidate, and speaker on a number of technical and business topics. 

To register for the workshop, please click on this link:
http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=SHREWSBURY&curName=2013/07/10_Improv_for_the_Job_Search

See you on the 10th!

Building A Job-Search Toolbox - Randall Warniers

Randall Warniers led an informative workshop titled ‘Building a Job Search Toolbox.’ During the presentation, he provided useful insights and tips for job seekers. “The better the tools you have to work with, and the more you know how to use those tools, the more effective you’ll be at getting the job done,” he said. His presentation covered 5 areas of improvement:

(1)  The new resume: Your resume will get 10-30 seconds to make an impression. The top third of the page is your resume impact zone, so make it forceful and compelling. Your resume should be accurate, brief and clear.

(2)  Networking skills: An effective networker facilitates connections and provides value in any exchange. The 6 fundamental components of effective networking skills are - excellent business cards, a professional email address, an effective name tag for networking events, good grooming and high-quality clothing, a memorable first impression and an engaging social manner.

(3)  Social media is emerging as the way people communicate and do business. The fundamental components of your online presence in social media are – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, a website/blog, videos on YouTube, appealing and appropriate photographs, and positive participation in discussion groups.  

(4)  Technological literacy: The pace of technological change is very rapid. To keep up with it, Warniers advised that we stay in school, attend seminars and conferences, do webinars, take classes, read books, be fluent in the language of our field, listen closely to our passions and follow our bliss.   

(5)  Personal entrepreneurship: You are the CEO of Me, Inc. (read Tom Peter’s article ‘The Brand Called You’). You are an effective solution to somebody’s ongoing problem. The better you understand the solutions you offer and the problems that need to be solved, and the better you communicate the solutions you offer, the more effective you’ll be at being the best solution.

Do something every day to enhance your toolbox. With the right skills and tools in your toolbox, you will overcome the obstacles and create your dream job.



WIN Workshop on Wed., June 26, 6.30-8pm

Building a Job-Search Toolbox

Randall Warniers (Principal at RW Communications & Design)

 

·       Competing in a wired world and a rapidly changing marketplace

·       Meeting demands of today’s new world of work

·       Acquiring necessary skills to compete effectively and be employable

Please click on the link below to register:

Sign-up Link : Building_A_Job-Search_Toolbox