Targeting and Planning Your Job Search by Mick Verran

The next WIN (Work Initiative Network) workshop to be held at the Shrewsbury Public Library on Feb 12^th from 6:30-8 PM will be “Targeting and Planning Your Job Search” by Mick Verran. He will go over what is called a portfolio career. A "portfolio career" is a collection of revenue streams consisting of part-time employment; freelancing or consulting engagements; short-term contracts; and "products" that together add up to a full-time job. People with varied interests and diverse experience can explore a "portfolio career." Even those firmly committed to a full-time position can take a stimulating and fresh look at their skills and experience and embark on a new career path. Mick Verran, an organization consultant with over 30 years' experience, will help you 

• Take stock of all your skills and experiences
• Clarify the value of each of your capabilities
• Identify existing and potential customers
• Consider how you might monetize your diverse capabilities
• Target new job opportunities

To register for the workshop, please click here

Suzanne Gray's Workshop

Fifteen WIN participants gained from Suzanne Gray's expertise at yesterday's workshop. Suzanne first talked about why many are considering business ownership.  She reviewed statistics that many have themselves experienced, with downsizing and corporate mergers.  She called this “The New Career Economy”.  Suzanne shared her expertise in starting a business, thinking through transferable skills and personal and professional goals; and the importance of managing and marketing the business, not only be the technician.  Suzanne went on to review the basic pros and cons of independent businesses; investing in a resale of a business and franchises.  She wrapped up the workshop with a discussion around some of her successful clients, and where they are today, and questions to consider when exploring if business ownership would be a good fit.   

Self-employment & Business Ownership - January 8, 6:30-8pm

Suzanne Gray (Business Coach at "The Entrepreneur's Source") will walk us through the joys and realities of self-employment. What should potential entrepreneurs consider before they start their own business? Suzanne Gray will lead us through an exploration of self employment as a viable career path. 

Please click on the link below to sign-up for this free workshop.

WIN Workshop Sign-up

Revving Up Your Job Search for 2014 - Susan P Joyce

Susan P. Joyce (President of NETability Inc., Publisher/Editor of Job-Hunt.org & WorkCoachCafe.com), presented a very useful, informative workshop on 'How To Rev Up Your Job Search For Success In The New Year.'

She quoted Dick Bolles' statement - "Google is the new resume." The job search truth of the 21st century is - "What happens in Vegas, stays in Google, Bing etc." Employers are overwhelmed with resumes for most postings. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used for resume storage, screening and retrieval. And, candidate qualifications are verified via the internet - on social media (primarily LinkedIn). The main challenge for the job seeker is how to stand out from the crowd. In order to do that, one has to be appropriately and positively visible:

• Find-able in the ATS system.

• Find-able in Google and Bing.

• Attract the right employers and jobs to you with your personal SEO (search engine optimization).

• Create/protect a professional persona (social proof of who you are and what you did)

The 3 key elements for your online reputation:

1. Your 'screen name'- Job search and career name that uniquely identifies you.

2. Personal Social Proof - Online results confirm resume content.

3. Personal SEO - Positive content is found on the right searches for you.

In job search today, recruiters/employers assume that your internet visibility - your public profiles, activities, and connections - reflect who you truly are.

Customizing your resume, being fully prepared for an interview and having a complete LinkedIn profile are important factors for job seekers. Susan stressed that social proof is not optional. For creating social proof, LinkedIn is the most valuable resource. Other useful resources that she mentioned are:

SusanIreland.com for excellent resume advice, and

TagCrowd.com and Wordle.net for analyzing the keywords used for your target jobs and LinkedIn profile. 

How To Rev Up Your Resume For The New Year - December 11, 6:30-8pm

The presenter, Susan P. Joyce is a two-time layoff “graduate” who founded her own company in 1995 after her last layoff (Digital Equipment Corporation).  Currently, she is a publisher of two of the 100 websites included in the 2013-2014 Forbes 100 Best Websites for Your Career, and has been studying, writing, teaching, and speaking about the topic of smart online job search since 1995.  She is also a veteran (United States Marine Corps), and, in her spare time, a Visiting Scholar at the MIT Sloan School of Management. 

 

The combination of easy online resume submission, massive social media usage, and the dominance of search engines have created a new and different dynamic in the job market today.  What worked in 1995, 2005, or even 2010 won’t be successful today unless you prepare to leverage these technologies.  In this session, we’ll talk about how the recruiting process works now, and what you need to do to stand out in the very big crowd of competitors you have.

 

Please click on the link below to sign-up for this free workshop.

 

Registration for WIN Workshop

Delivering An Effective Value Statement - Stuart Paap

Stuart Paap (professional public speaker) conducted a lively, interactive WIN workshop that focused on delivering an effective value statement. "This statement works as a tool or script to open up the most amount of relationships," he said. In essence, a value statement is 'sharing who you are, what you do and why you do what you do to get into a meaningful conversation.' We have to become more effective communicators. We must leverage our network.

Rule 1: You've got to care. You should like what you are doing.

Rule 2: You should give yourself a baby goal - for example: have a real connection with one person.

Rule 3: You've got to do consistent networking (not necessarily networking events...even meet-ups will help).

Rule 4: Start your own interest group (anything you are passionate about).

The steps to creating an effective value statement are:

1. Who are you?

2. State your profession or focus. (not too vague and not too much)

3. Transition phrase or disruptive phrase. For example:"You know what I love?" Communicate some passion about what you do or care the most about.

4. "What I really do is help ......"

5. Who do you help? (narrow your focus...mention the target group)

6. What's the one goal you help them do?

7. Express how you feel about that or why do you care about what you do. Don't forget the emotion. For example: "I LOVE IT"....or..."Being a lawyer is in my DNA"

Put steps 1 to 7 together. Write it down to create your script/value statement. You can use this script whenever you meet someone.

Real genuine networking is forming connections. And, finally, remember that how you say it is more important than what you say.  

Delivering An Effective Value Statement - Stuart Paap - Wed., November 13, 6:30-8pm

For over a decade, Stuart Paap (Professional Public Speaker) has been teaching the principles of effective communication to professionals and entrepreneurs.  He has given workshops at the Enterprise Center, Bentley University, the New England School of Art and Design, and for many privately held businesses and non-profits, including marketing, law and technology firms. He is passionate about helping smart people with big ideas make a powerful impact. In this workshop, the focus will be on:

·        How to write and deliver an effective value statement

·        How to communicate better

·        How to connect with each other

Please register by clicking on the link below :

WIN workshop registration