Sometimes people contact 40Plus who for some reason are not really able to join because they are not in the professional/managerial job category.
They may be people who are industrial, manual or service workers, or maybe they can’t afford the fairly modest fee for the 40Plus training. (Of course, all people are welcome to come to 40Plus’s Monday morning talks.)
People at 40Plus should know that there’s a service in the Washington area that may be a good alternative for people in that situation. It’s called Next Steps, and it’s sponsored by Samaritan Ministry, an ecumenical group that does not appear to impose religious content on participants. It seems to be set up to help people who may be low-income or may be going through very difficult times and may need a range of services, like housing, medical care and interview clothes.
Next Steps has caseworkers that can help people figure out which services they can use, and there are no religious requirements for participation. Here’s how to reach Next Steps in DC or Northern VA:
Main office
1516 Hamilton St. N.W. DC 20011 (202) 722-2280
Southeast DC
1345 U Street, SE DC 20020 (202) 889-7702
Northern VA
2207 Columbia Pike, Arlington VA 22204 (703) 271-0938
Accessible by bus or Metro, the offices are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. M-F and from 2-5 p.m. Thursdays.
If 40Plus is able to refer people to Next Steps, it’s better than having to say to interested people, “Sorry, we can’t help you and we have no alternatives we can suggest.” This way, there IS an alternative.
Job seekers: If you want to work for or with area startup community leaders, Social Matchbox DC is your opportunity to get in the door. You will meet and hear from team members and executives from existing startups working in energy, health insurance, housing, music, philanthropy, and more. Many of these companies have openings in business development, design, human resources, management, marketing, public relations, quality assurance, and sales.
Date/Time: Monday, Jan. 28, 6-8 p.m.
Where: TeqCorner, 3rd Floor, 1616 Anderson Rd., McLean, VA 22102
The Washington Post is sponsoring a mega career fair over two days in two locations — Monday, January 28, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Bethesda Marriott North Hotel and Conference Center, Bethesda, MD, and Tuesday, January 29, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Dulles Expo & Conference Center, Chantilly, VA. Click on the link above to see more information. Job seekers will find an impressive range of employers looking to fill positions at all levels of experience.
Join us to hear tips and advice on using personal (as opposed to computer!) networking to meet potential clients and colleagues you can count on, and as part of your overall marketing plan or career development strategy.
Share your own networking strategies and experiences and practice your new skills in a relaxed setting. Monday morning meetings are free and open to the public.
One of the most honored traditions at 40Plus is the bell-ringing ceremony marking a member’s new job. Monday morning meeting regulars are familiar with the large ship’s bell we have on loan from the Navy.
It has sat silent for awhile, but today, with a robust peal of the bell, Ann Poritsky proudly announced landing an exciting new position doing web analytics for NIH.
We hope to get a posting from Ann providing more of the details. Until then, congrats and good luck.
Page 1 of today’s Washington Post features a story that until recently has largely been overlooked. “Highly Skilled And Out Of Work” tells of the increasing pressure the current job market exerts on middle-income folks — people like us at 40Plus. Be sure to check out the comments section to get a sampling of the anger and anxiety.
All of which underscores the value of being a member of 40Plus of Greater Washington, which offers a supportive environment to jump-start your job search through a training program focused on charging up your resume, presentation, and interview skills.
Stop lurking on the sidelines and job searching in isolation. Drop by a Monday morning speaker meeting to learn more about the best investment you can make toward improving your future job prospects — become a member of 40Plus of Greater Washington.
40Plus members, check out the growing blogroll list of links on the lower right-side column of this page. Eventually, we hope to assemble a comprehensive list of online resources for job seekers. Submit your own suggestions to share with others. Bookmark this blog and visit frequently to use as a base for your online job search.
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weblog archives for January, 2008.
40Plus of Greater Washington offers a proven system of hands-on training, peer support, and networking for professionals in job and career transition. See: www.40plus-dc.org.
Rules: This is a moderated blog for 40Plus members and the interested public. Comments are approved by the administrator. The blog's purpose is to share ideas and information about career transition and job searching.
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