Maximizing Networking Events by Kristin Mentz, Career Marketing Strategist
Thursday, May 7, 2009 | 11:44 amAfter attending yesterday’s seminar event sponsored by the Western Anne Arundel County Chamber for small businesses on “Harness the Power of Social Networking for Your Business”, I wanted to share with other networkers, job seekers, and business developers, that it was well worth the non-member cost of $20 for me to attend.
Here are a few reasons why my money and time were well spent:
1. Having a commitment on my calendar got me up out of bed, got me to dress professionally, and got me pumped up to learn and meet others.
2. Reconnecting there with a friend that I told about the event was a nice ice breaker. It was supportive to have someone to sit with and initially chat together. And surprisingly enough, another good friend showed up to attend on behalf of her company whom I’d not seen in ages!
3. The energy of the topic and information rejuvenated my spirits to continue to self teach myself the Web 2.0 technology, social networking functions, and the jargon to go along with it. As I learn to navigate this technology, I’m eager to share with others who might be just as overwhelmed or intimidated by all this ‘new stuff’.
4. Tips, tools, ideas, resources, and how to’s that were very simply explained and demonstrated were a reward in itself! Learning the ways of Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn and the value they can provide to my job search, client base, and community involvement were simply invaluable. I know the session only glossed the surface, but it gave me enough food for fodder and the ability to test out on my own.
5. Making several new connections with attendees are always enlightening, but specifically meeting the speaker, Glenn Garnes, was motivating in itself. His web site and radio show share a wealth of free resources and help individuals and businesses learn how to grow relationships and use this new technology to support them. He also personally gave me a few ideas of writing services I could provide to others.
This is just one example of many persons I’ve met locally, so by meeting Glenn, I hope to help grow his connections within my own network of similar minded persons, like Jeremy Epstein who shares about Community Driven Marketing and Raving Fans. Additionally, I will nurture and support my own quest for social networking knowledge through Glenn’s expertise. It’s a foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship. There is a gentle balance here, so I encourage you to take those few extra minutes to nurture new connections and relationships as we all explore the social networking avenues.
Lastly, look for and find those local events that ‘speak to you’. And make a point of attending and following through. Better yet, stretch yourself a bit. Step out of your box a little to learn something different or meet even just one new person at an event. I think you’ll find it worth your time, money, and effort. I hope to see you ‘out and about’!
If you have any comments or questions feel free to contact Kristin at Kristin@PinnacleCareerResources.com or follow her on Twitter at KM2Marketing
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Stay tuned for new tools and resources section…
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“Green- Collar Jobs” by Lisa Dolce
Monday, February 9, 2009 | 10:52 amStill looking for ways to use your talents in this new economy? Do you want a job that pays the bills AND changes the world?
How about a “green” job? We’ve been hearing about this “green initiative” for a long time now and many of you (and me) have been asking but where are the jobs? when are they coming? and what are they called?
Well here are a few answers to those questions:
According to Herman Trend Alert (www.hermangroup.com/alert) this eco- conscious sector is growing rapidly. A few of the Top 10 Green jobs are Land Use Planner, Ecotour Operator, Green Building Managers, Solar Panel Installers and Green Venture Capitalists. Check out GreenCollarHiring.com for the complete list.
Here are some organizations that are also hiring:
-Environmental Defense Fund is looking for web talent
-National Wildlife Federation is looking for folks with communications experience
-The Environmental Defense Fund
So how might you use your talents to better the world ecologically? Is a”green” job for you?
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(posted in Job Search, Posts)
Happy New Year! By Lisa Dolce
Thursday, January 1, 2009 | 5:59 pmNew Year’s Day has always been a day of reflection for me for as long as I can remember.
I celebrate the successes as well as the learning that came from the challenges of the past year. I take a deep breath in and exhale anything that may be holding me back and then breathe in all the possibilities of the coming new year.
Last year was a tough year for many of us personally and professionally. There seemed to be much that was out of our control and it looks like the economy is going to keep tumbling for awhile longer.
But the good news is that not everything is out of our control. One of my favorite quotes comes from Aristotle, he said, “Ones purpose is knowing where your talents intersect with the needs of the world”.
Well our world may look a little different this new year but it is not without needs, possibility and opportunity.
So where do your talents intersect?
For some of us it may be the perfect time to reinvent ourselves. You have probably known for a long time that it was time to do something else, but it never seemed to be the “right” time to do it.
It may be a career change, going back for that degree or finally starting that business you’ve been talking about. Now is the time.
For others it might be time to find more meaning or balance in their work and in their lives. What are we chasing after and why? What beliefs or dreams are we holding onto that no longer serve us?
So as we enter 2009, breathe in all the possibilities this new year has to offer, and take the time to clarify what your talents are and how you can share them to fill a need in this new economy. Make a list of your top skills that you already have and ways you can reconfigure them to meet the opportunities that the new job market will yield–then go out and explore, network with others and learn what new jobs will emerge as government bail-out plans unfold, companies restructure and new leadership takes over.
And to help get you started, and as a New Year’s gift to you, Pinnacle will be offering free monthly career clubs. Come join us and other career seekers for inspiration, motivation and strategies for matching your talents with the needs of our community. Check our calendar for dates and times.
Wishing you a new year filled with exciting possibilities!
Lisa Dolce
Founder and President
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Navigating Today’s Job Market by Cindy Virtue, Job and Career Transition Coach
Thursday, November 20, 2008 | 12:50 pmYou have always heard the saying “it’s best to look for a job while you are employed.” Many clients who are unemployed and even employed refer to this saying when they come to me for job search assistance and each view this saying differently. Those who are unemployed, feel frustrated because they think employers view their being out of a job as a red flag such as “what is wrong with this applicant”. Those who are employed, state they don’t have time to do an effective job search and sometimes think they are betraying their employer if they seek work with another company.
Being employed or unemployed is NOT the issue with employers. What matters most to employers is to hire the best qualified candidate. With many companies downsizing, there is a lot of competition in today’s job market.
Here are some tips that will set you apart from the competition:
1. Know your Job Target – Identifying job titles and how they relate to your industry is important. Using resources such as O*Net Online a Dictionary of Occupational Titles is one tool used to discover information on earnings, education, tasks, skills, related jobs and much more.
2. Develop a Strong Resume – Once you have defined your job target, building a concrete resume that reflects your skills, strengths and accomplishments is important. With today’s technology for “scannable” resumes, understanding key industry words and how to market yourself will put you ahead of your competition.
3. Build a Solid Network – Having a solid professional network is essential, not only for job search but also for career management. Develop a plan on how colleagues, alumni and professional associations, friends and family can be part of your network for career success.
4. Don’t Do it Alone – Find a friend, a colleague or a professional career coach that will assist you with your job search. Having someone you can trust and guide you through the maze, optimizes your time, helps you set realistic goals and helps in pulling together a strategic job search plan. This has been proven to be more effective then those who do it alone.
We’d like to hear from you! If you would like to share your own job search tips that helped you find a job please post a comment. Or if you have a job search question, feel free to post it here and I’ll be glad to answer it.
Cindy Virtue, JCTC
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A STRATEGY FOR MAKING DECISIONS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES by Maria Smith
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 | 9:05 amA key part to living a focused life is the ability to make good decisions and it is difficult to make good or timely decisions when we are faced with the unexpected.
In these current difficult economic times, the tightening job market is generating unexpected change on a daily basis. Job layoffs are occurring more frequently and finding a job or changing jobs is very competitive. Also, many of us are seeing our savings and retirement benefits diminish -all of which generates a high level of anxiety.
Changing your perspective will help you manage your anxiety and breakout of the cycle of feeling ‘immobilized’ and get you moving again.
Strategy for changing perspective and getting unstuck:
- Recognize that you are stuck or immobilized.
- Identify as specifically as possible what you perceive to be the ‘challenge’ or ‘challenges’ you are facing
- Clearly outline your goals and the steps you need to take to reach your desired goal
- Evaluate your alternatives & take action to implement the steps to move forward.
Get help from an impartial person who does not have a vested interest in the outcome of your decision. For example, a life coach can walk you through the evaluation process and the steps to help you change your perspective and get moving to confidently make better decisions during difficult times.
—Maria S. | 1 comment
(posted in Decision-Making | tagged Add new tag)
Welcome to our New Blog!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 | 10:04 amBy Lisa Dolce
Change is in the air… with the transition from summer to autumn, that cool crisp air seems to bring our senses alive and a feeling that changes are coming.
And as you can see by this new website and blog, we’ve had some changes here at Pinnacle.
This is an exciting time for us. Much like when our clients are ready to stretch themselves and advance in their careers, we at Pinnacle were ready to do the same.
We’ve been hard at work this last year enhancing our coaching skills by training with some of the best master coaches in the industry; learning the best job search strategies to use in this ever changing job market; and ways to use the latest cutting-edge technology to better serve you.
And as a result, we’ve designed some exciting new services and programs to help you reach your goals. Here are just a few of them:
- Small Business Start-Up Coaching, Training and Resources
- Now What? 90 Days to a New Career Direction
- “How to Navigate Today’s Tough Job Market” Workshops and Tele-classes
- 24/7 access to an enhanced Virtual Career Center
- A variety of new training formats to fit everyone’s budget
- A quarterly newsletter filled with resources and tips
- An interactive blog to build community and support each other
But don’t worry, some things will still be the same, like our unwavering passion and commitment to helping you reach your personal and professional goals. Each week we will be addressing topics that are important to you.
Whether you are just re-entering the work world after raising your kids, or if you are at a point in your life that you need a change in job or career–or if you’ve had enough of working for someone else and you are ready to strike out on your own–we will be sharing the latest trends, info and resources here in this blog forum.
And most importantly we want to hear from you! We would love for you to join in and “blog” with us about your challenges, successes and ways we can help each other. So bookmark this page and join our discussion each week.
Until next time, enjoy the cool autumn air and all the wonderful things this season can bring!
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