a.  People I know from my old job know I am looking - but I haven't talked to people outside of my current professional circle.
b.  I sent out a blanket email to everyone on my email list - but nobody responded.
c.  I am not sure where to start.  People know I am looking, but I don't know how to get the help I need from them.

Be a giver:  The best networkers I know are amazing at providing value to the people they are connected to at every opportunity. Whether it is sharing an interesting article, a piece of new information, a new contact - they always collect and share what is of value to others. Give to your network and it will give back to you.

Ask for help:  Once you are connected and begin bringing value to your network, there is a strong chance those in your network will want to help you back.  Have a clear, short statement to share with people in your network (personally - not in a spam email) about what you do and what type of job/contact/help you are looking for.  Good examples are:

example 1.  I am a materials engineer and I am looking to make a contact with someone who works in the XYZ industry.
example 2.  I have worked at salons for 10 years and I am looking for small business owners to talk with about what I need to do to get started on my own.
example 3.  I have recently graduated with a liberal arts degree and I am looking for an entry level position with a growing company.

Act on help and follow-up:  The most important step of networking is to use help that is offered to you and thank the person who has provided it.  This means you need to reach out to the contacts you have been introduced to, read the information people have shared, or go to the events that people have told you about.  After you've received help or information, follow-up with your contact and send a sincere thank you.  Include specifics about what was most helpful to you.  If the help lands you a job or something of substantial value, a thoughtful gift or dinner might be a nice gesture too!  Gratitude is great to receive and makes it more likely that a person will help you again in the future.


My next blog post will uncover opportunities for improvement in Interviewing ...

Karen Austin is a Certified Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC) and resume writer for Jobing Career Services.  For more information about Jobing Career Services or to get professional help writing a resume - email resumereview@jobing.com or visit our information page at www.jobing.com/careerservices.
]]> Wed, 2 Dec 2009 14:51:56 GMT http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22701&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22683&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea During this recession, you don't have time to hang your head and feel sorry for yourself. How are companies like Amazon, Netflix and Verizon actually increasing their profits? Let's take those same strategies and apply them to your personal brand:

Stay Engaged. Engagement comes from having purpose and passion in life. Stay focused on what you need to do and who you need to connect with. Keep your eyes on the prize, don't let distractions deter you.
 
Re-Innovate. Improving means getting better. I always say you should be able to look back at yourself six months from now and laugh. Why? Because when you grow, you learn to do things more efficiently. It's up to you to reinvent yourself. People only pay attention when you give them a reason to.
 
Plan Ahead. Fact: The recession will eventually end. When it does, will you be in a position to capitalize? Most people are in survival mode and living defensively. Successful people are networking, learning and creatively marketing so when the economy turns around, they'll be ready to thrive.
 
The recession will test your character. When adversity strikes, do you lay down or fight? If a new ideas or perspective is what you need - hire a coach and start going forward with Growing Forward!
 
Are you ready to start Growing Forward? Contact Growing Forward NOW at (310) 295-0046 or visit www.growingforward.net]]> Tue, 1 Dec 2009 12:00:27 GMT http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22683&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=7128&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea We're days away from Los Angeles OIC Job Fair on Friday, December 4th.  As far as employment events go, this is one of the last job fairs for 2009.

This is an amazing way to jumpstart your career and reinvigorate your life for 2010. You don't want to miss out on a job great opportunity or a conversation with a recruiter who can help your job search. Here are a list of employers are will be attending so get there early. Doors open at 11AM so don't be late and bring your smile!

Employers and Social Service Agencies scheduled to attend.

AAA Auto Club of Southern California               

AT&T                                                                              

Bank of America                                                          

City of Inglewood                                                       

City of Los Angeles – Community Dev. Dept.

City Year Los Angeles

Comerica Bank

Community Centers, Inc.

CVS

Department of Transportation

DeVry University

Employment Development Department

ExxonMobil

Farmers Insurance

Goodwill Industries

Jobing.com

KJLH 102.3 Radio

Los Angeles County Children & Family Services

Los Angeles County Probation Department

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)

Los Angeles World Airport

Metropolitan Water District

Mt. Sierra College

Prudential Insurance Company

RadioShack

Registrar Recorder – County Clerk Office

Southern California Edison

Southern California Gas Company

U.S. Census Bureau

Union Bank

University of Phoenix

US Bank

 VA Greater LA Health Care System

 Verizon

Wells Fargo

The location for this event: 

LAOIC JOB FAIR

Friday, December 4, 2009

11:00am to 2:30pm

Sheraton Gateway Hotel (LAX)

Century Foyer

6101 W. Century Boulevard

Los Angeles , CA   90045 ]]> Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=7128&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22675&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea So, why are they not getting work? Here’s what I see is working against them in their job search.

They believe the hype- The media spins statistics to grab attention. Often the picture that is painted is less than accurate or doesn’t tell the whole story. The job market is tough. There’s no doubt about it. Don’t give up your search because you read there are no jobs. There are still millions of jobs available and employers are hiring. You have to look critically at the statistics to find the reality and approach your job search accordingly.

They focus on “perfect” rather than “good enough”- Having a good resume is important in the job search. Crafting a resume that highlights your accomplishments and consistent high performance is a good foundation for interviewing. However, I see too many job seekers spending way too much time moving around periods and adjusting fonts in the hopes that those changes will get their resume noticed. At some point, you have to go with good enough, not perfect, and send out your resume. If no one sees it, you definitely won’t get any interviews.

They’re holding out hope of finding the perfect job- I’m an optimist and believe that you can get the job you want. I talked about that in a previous article, 4 Ways to Pursue Your Passion.  However, the perfect job may not appear when and where you want it. You may even have to create your own opportunity. In this job market, flexibility and timing are key. Consider broadening your scope of the “perfect” job.  Start applying for jobs to get some momentum in your search. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

Their fear of networking is holding them back- Personal contacts make a huge difference in the job search. Job seekers underestimate the power of networking and building solid relationships with other professionals, and, therefore brush off the idea as non-essential. That’s a big mistake. A significant amount of time in your job search should be meeting new people and connecting with existing contacts. You can do that in person by attending events and volunteering, for example, and by engaging online by blogging, and using Twitter and Facebook. Networking is a valuable job search and career advancement tool, if used correctly and consistently.

They’re looking in the wrong places- Job boards are an easy place to look for jobs. Submitting resumes through online job boards, even directly through a company’s online job board, is the least effective job search technique. The sheer volume of resumes submitted makes it like looking for a needle in a haystack. It’s an overwhelming task for recruiters and many resort to informally sourcing candidates through their network. A much more effective approach is to engage people and let them know what type of opportunity you’re looking for. Be as specific as you can from the industry, company names, positions, and locations. Avoid the mistake of being “open to anything.”

They don’t understand the hidden job market- This is the where most jobs are found. In the hidden job market, recruiters and hiring managers use informal means to find qualified candidates to fill their positions, often before they are advertised.  For this reason, networking effectively and leveraging your contacts is so essential to your job search. If you’re not meeting people, following up, and keeping in touch, you’re missing out on opportunities.

In today’s job market, you have to try new techniques to get the job you want. Gone are the days when you could just submit your resume and feel assured that your phone would start ringing with interview offers. That doesn’t happen much, if at all, anymore. The job market is competitive and there are tons of new tools you can use in your job search.

Click this link to read more articles on networking and job search: http://tinyurl.com/dmth27

Get better results from your job search efforts. Request the audio program and special report, 3 Secrets to Creating Luck in Your Job Search.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Markell Steele is a career counselor, owner of Futures in Motion, Inc. and author of Fast Track Your Career: Three Steps for Finding Work You Love. She helps frustrated job seekers find career direction so they can get the job they want in less time with less stress. 

 ]]> Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:37:20 GMT http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22675&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22611&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea

Come join local employers, HR professionals & 4 local associations for this year's most festive Holiday event!

Members of the Professionals In Human Resources Association D11, Greater Riverside Employer Advisory Council, The Inland Empire Jobshare Network and the American Society for Training and Development Inland Empire Chapter will be celebrating the Holidays together with:

Wine-tasting

Hor'dourves & Desserts

Raffle Prizes & Fun Games

Networking with 4 Different Associations

Supporting Two Great Local Causes

For every unwrapped gift you bring you will receive 1 raffle entry!

Gifts will be donated to Operation Safehouse Don't know what to bring? View their wish list! 

&

Proceeds from this event will go to the Music Changing Lives Foundation

Event Partners

    Thank You To Our Event Sponsors!(Sponsorship opportunities are available from $20-$2000. Email for more information)

Winery at Canyon Crest

&

        Space is limited so be sure to RSVP Soon

          We look forward to seeing you there

Other important meetings this month from event partners:

HR Legal Update - Greater Riverside Employer Advisory Council
December 9th, 7:30AM at CBU in Riverside RSVP

Best Practice Sharing - ASTD-IE
December 14th, 11:30AM at The Pacific Grill in Ontario RSVP ]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:34:33 GMT http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22611&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22582&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea

Join Us This Saturday!

Experience and Celebrate Teen Empowerment!   I am so excited to invite you to join us for a unique opportunity this Saturday. Teens from leadership programs, group homes, schools, and homeless shelters in the Inland Empire will be celebrating their graduation from a full-day Motivating the Teen Spirit Safe Space workshop.   Come and join us if you want to: Hear these teens share what they learned about themselves and what they commit to do differently as a result of spending the day in our program... Celebrate their HUGE accomplishment... Let them know there is a community that supports them as they prepare to take world-class tools for building self-esteem, communicating effectively, and increasing success through integrity-based decision making back to their everyday lives... Watch these teens from diverse backgrounds stand in their true power while they take responsibility for their lives, make commitments to a healthier and happier future, and reconnect with family and staff... If you are a youth advocate (administrator, teacher, counselor, etc.) looking for ways to empower your teens, this is a great opportunity for you to see and experience the results of our world-class curriculum and process.     If you are an individual or business owner who is looking for ways to impact your community's health and well-being, this is a perfect way for you to see what's possible for the teens and families in your community.   I can promise you it will be an experience you won't soon forget!  Please RSVP to Help Us Prepare the Space! Contact Amanda Johnson at AmandaMTS114@yahoo.com or 909.292.3330 for more information!  When: Saturday, November 21, 2009   Graduation    5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Parents and Sponsors are encouraged to attend graduation!)   Where:  Space Provided by Riverside Community Center for Spiritual Living 3891 Ridge Road. Riverside, CA 92501

If you know someone who works with teens or is looking for a way to impact the community in a powerful way, please forward this invitation to them!

The Opportunity of a Lifetime!     In the last 15 years, Motivating the Teen Spirit (MTS) has proven that it is part of the solution to the growing confusion and pressure our youth are facing worldwide.  As of June 2008, we have served over 110,000 teens, prevented more than 3,000 teen suicides, influenced 850 teen dropouts to return to school, and reconnected thousands of teens with their families.  And the numbers keep climbing!   Our experiential workshops help teens learn how to love themselves, communicate more effectively, and make integrity-based decisions. They learn by doing and practice the tools and skills they need to go back to their lives and create success -- manage the pressures they're facing, modify the behaviors that have been keeping them from success, and achieve their goals.    This program will change your teen's life!    If you have a moment, please watch our video presentation at www.MotivatingTheTeenSpirit.com  to get a deeper understanding of what we do and how we do it!

Does It Really Work? Does It Really Last?   These are some of the questions Andy McIntosh, a regular op-ed columnist for the Californian newspaper and youth advocate, asked himself while he participated in our June workshop. I am grateful for all that he added to the room with his presence, and for the wonderful three-part article he wrote after following up with teens who experienced our Safe Space that day. Thank you, Andy!   Please enjoy Andy's personal account of the transformation he witnessed.   Motivating The Teen Spirit - Part One Motivating The Teen Spirit - Part Two Motivating The Teen Spirit - Part Three   Your Partner in Empowering the Next Generation,   Amanda Johnson

Highlights from Our Last Local Workshop    The 19 teens who joined us for the full-day workshop came from a variety of backgrounds.  Almost half of them came from a local homeless shelter, one was a victim referred to us by a rape crisis center, several were high-risk teens dealing with personal tragedies and trauma, and three were leadership teens dealing with the responsibilities and pressures that come with leadership.   At the end of one full-day workshop: 88% of the teens said they felt less confused and angry 88% said that they felt they could communicate more effectively with their peers and the adults in their lives as a result of this experience All 5 of the teens who reported considering suicide prior to the workshop said that they no longer considered suicide an option All 19 teens said they felt they had more access to their self-esteem as a result of the workshop And ALL of them want to return for another full-day workshop!

Contact Amanda Johnson at 909.292.3330 or AmandaMTS114@yahoo.com for more information, or to register teens today!

]]> Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:48:08 GMT http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22582&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22578&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea workplace diversity with you.  What are your thoughts?  Also, if you haven't become a fan of Jobing on Facebook be sure to do so right away for daily updates on your local employment world :)]]> Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:51:57 GMT http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22578&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22574&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea Nonprofits, businesses, partner to feed needy on Thanksgiving

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer Posted: 11/14/2009 06:11:00 AM PST 
 

Last November, more than nearly 500 people showed up for the free Thanksgiving feast provided by Catholic Charities at a San Bernardino nightclub.

This Thanksgiving, at the end of yet another tough year for countless families, the number could easily grow.

So to ensure there is enough turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie to go around, the nonprofit is partnering with other organizations and businesses.

"It takes many entities working together. For example, it's not just Catholic Charities making this happen, it's the community that makes it work," said Beverly Earl, director of the San Bernardino County Family and Community Services Department for the nonprofit.

The organization, that reaches out to the needy in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, is one of many partnering with others to make sure they can provide food and other services during the holiday season.

In the case of Catholic Charities, it is working with nonprofits, including Young Visionaries and Time for Change Foundation. to provide a meal for the needy from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., on Thanksgiving at the Brandin Iron Saloon in San Bernardino.

Bill Thomas, owner of the saloon, said it is a big enough facility to provide the service and he is happy to do it.

"One of our philosophies is to be part of the community, and I couldn't think of anything better to do on Thanksgiving than feed the needy," he said. "It also offers our guests the opportunity to participate in serving the less fortunate."

To ensure everything works out for a Thanksgiving dinner and coat giveaway slated for 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 24, at San Bernardino's Family Focus Center, the center has partnered with a nearby high school and a Redlands-based radio station.

"We operate from the perspective that when you bring to gether a number of people who have a passion for the poor and the underserved, you can definitely make a difference," said Linda McDonald, vice president of mission services for St. Bernardine Medical Center, which operates the center.

Athletes from San Bernardino High School will serve food and clean up at the center.

And Redlands-based radio station KSGN, is helping out with the drive to collect gently-used coats, jackets and sweaters, which will be donated to families after the dinner.

People are invited to drop off items at valet parking at the main entrance of St. Bernardine Medical Center, in the week ahead.

"We all have a different role we play, and in our case we use the airwaves to get the message out to the people," said Peggy Stapleton, account executive for the radio station.

Another long existing partnership is between Inland Empire Job Corps culinary students and the Salvation Army's Hospitality House shelter on Fifth Street in San Bernardino.

The culinary students typically bake hundreds of pies for the annual Thanksgiving feast, which has brought as many as 800 people to the Salvation Army.

This time around they will donate, 300 cherry, apple and pumpkin pies to the shelter for the dinner at 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving.

The students then stick around to volunteer.

"They are a joy to work with," said Roosevelt Carroll, director of the Hospitality House shelter. "And by doing this together, we touch everyone not just one or two people."]]> Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:09:52 GMT http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22574&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22558&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea San Bernardino Community Police Academy aims to improve communication, trust between police, residents

"We need to get some sensitivity in there, put together small events so we can both better understand each other," said Stone, who is president of the Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy. "Then regular folk might have a different idea when there's a police shooting or other incident."

The Police Department's first Community Police Academy concluded last week and about 30 residents who varied in age, ethnicity and neighborhood graduated from the six-week class.

Out on patrol Friday, San Bernardino police Officer Jose Loera, left, updates Westside Food & Liquor employee Bassem Hassanieh about a recent burglary. (Al Cuizon / Staff Photographer)

They got crash courses in crime analysis, SWAT training, graffiti investigations, traffic laws and how Internal Affairs processes complaints of police misconduct.

Karla Miles, a teacher at Riley Elementary, brought a dozen sets of parents to class with her to ease their uncertainty about police. She was delighted that the department provided a Spanish translator so the parents could fully understand.

Thomas McCaa, 65, is a former taxi cab driver and said he joined the academy to enhance "situational awareness" in his neighborhood and better learn how to lower crime in San Bernardino.

"There's a lot more people than there are police. We can't leave it all to them," he said. "I think most of the problem is the fear of the unknown. A little understanding on both sides can do a lot of good."

Police instructors said they also learned and appreciated the questions asked by attendees because it gave them insight into community concerns.

Homicide Sgt. Dave Dillon knows people are afraid of being labeled a snitch. He is no longer surprised when a witness refuses to identify a killer or even give a statement.

"People are afraid. They're scared to death to come forward," Dillon said. "But if they're not willing to cooperate, there's not much we can do."

"It's a shame. We have hundreds of unsolved cases that we can't solve because people won't talk to us."

stacia.glenn@inlandnewspapers.com, (909) 386-3887]]> Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:13:59 GMT http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22558&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22541&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea Groundhog Job Shadow Day 2010, a national initiative to engage students in a "real-life" work setting providing them with opportunities to "shadow" a workplace mentor for one day.

Job Corps Center is the nation’s largest job training program for young adults provides academic, vocational, and social skills training to more than 70,000 students at 122 residential Job Corps centers nationwide.

On Tuesday, February 2nd, local employers will host students to Job Shadow as part of Groundhog Job Shadow Day 2010, a nationwide effort to give young people an up-close look at the world of work by letting them shadow various "career mentors" in their places of work. If you or your company is not available on the 2nd, you can also select another day during the month of February.

National Groundhog Job Shadow Day is a coordinated effort of America’s Promise - The Alliance for Youth, Junior Achievement, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor. National partners include the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and is made possible through the support local sponsor PIHRA Foundation, Jobing Foundation, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles and NAAAHRLA.

We are looking for companies like yours to take a day and host a shadow day at your workplace. We are also looking for volunteers to help conduct pre-workshops to help gear the students for their shadow experience.

For more information about how you can get involved, please contact:

sheila.wiley@jobing.com]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:02:43 GMT http://orangecounty.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=22541&utm_source=jobing&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=blogarea