Maryland resouce for unemployed professionals

This comes from 40Plus Board Member Bob Guldin.
 
I just learned, thru fellow 40Plus member Nolu Crockett-Ntonga, about a good resource in Columbia, Maryland. It’s called the Professional Outplacement Assistance Center, run by the Md. Dept. of Labor, and I believe its services are free.
 
Among the workshops it offers is one on how to get a federal job. (The next one is April 28, and you should call to sign up in advance for it.) Nolu said she took it and it was good.  It also has general training and help on job search skills. I’m not sure if they will work with non-Md. residents.
 
But check out their Web site: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/poac/poacprograms.shtml

Free networking event for consultants

The Institute of Management Consultants National Capital Region Chapter is hosting a FREE event for consultants and those considering becoming consultants.   Here is the basic information: Tuesday, February 24th from 2-7 p.m. (come anytime) at Argosy University, 1550 Wilson Blvd., Suite 600, Arlington  (Metro stop: Rosslyn)
 
There will be a series of speakers as well as plenty of time for networking.  Seminar sessions include:
The Future of Consulting in a Technological World
The Realities of Consulting during Challenging Economies
How Consultants Balance Work and Home
Globalization of Consulting

A Few Tips to Impress The Interviewer

Washington Post February 15, 2008

Brentwood: What is one thing to do or say when interviewing for a new job that impresses the interviewer?

Beverly Langford: Demonstrate that you know about the company and the requirements of the job, and come to the interview prepared to ask insightful questions and make substantial comments. Convey to the hiring manager that you want this job, not just a job. Ask what constitutes exceptional performance in that position and how the company measures that performance. The hiring process costs companies a great deal of money. They want to see a significant return on their investment.

Chester, Va.: Which is preferred: A follow-up e-mail, phone call or handwritten note?

You are always safe with a handwritten note, since it’s more traditional. However, if the corporate culture in the company where you interviewed is more casual or technology driven, an e-mail is appropriate. A phone call would be my last choice because it can come across as an intrusion. Sometimes I will send a quick e-mail immediately and follow up with a more formal written note. Overkill perhaps, but people like to be appreciated.

Arlington: Is a résumé considered more professional or less if it is written in the third person? I have always shied away from using “I” in my résumés — and so far it seems to have served me well. But I am still unsure if there is a preferred standard for pronouns. What do you think?

Most résumés still appear in third person, using “telegraphic” sentences, which don’t have a subject. For example, “Led a team that cut operating costs by 20 percent.” Start with an action verb that focuses on outcomes and accomplishments. If you write in full sentences using the personal pronoun, the résumé is too full of “I’s.”

“Adapted from a recent washingtonpost.com online chat with Beverly Langford, author of “The Etiquette Edge: The Unspoken Rules for Business Success.”"

Happy Hour and Networking Event — March 12

All 40Plus Group members and friends are invited to spend some face to face quality time with the 40Plus community. The place is the Panache Restaurant 1725 DeSales St NW 202.293.7760 Time 4 to 7.

Digital survival skills for job seekers

 40Plus members enjoyed an engaging Monday morning session Feb. 2 with Chaos to Clarity Principals Jo Golden and Tracey Holinka leading a lively discussion about Digital Survival.

 Jo and Tracey have offered to present a more in-depth 3-hour workshop session, and we hope to have something scheduled with them soon.  Stayed tuned.  In the meantime, here’s a great list of useful links they sent as a follow-up to the Feb. 2 meeting: 

Social Networking in Plain English: http://twurl.nl/d3i6fc
On Networking Sites, Learning How Not to Share: http://twurl.nl/j6w2so

Twitter: http://twitter.com/
How To Set Up a Twitter Account: http://twurl.nl/1gq3fw
Twitter in Plain English: http://twurl.nl/2715sy
9 Tools for Finding People to Follow on Twitter http://twurl.cc/f7u
How to: Build Community on Twitter http://twurl.cc/f7y
How Not To: Build Your Twitter Community http://twurl.cc/f7x 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/
What is LinkedIn?: http://twurl.nl/0g64ut
10 Ways to Use LinkedIn http://twurl.cc/f81

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
How to Friend Mom, Dad, and the Boos on Facebook…Safely: http://twurl.nl/q28u5h
Using Facebook for Business: http://twurl.nl/gjan6z
12 Ways to Use FaceBook Professionally http://twurl.cc/f82

Washington Metro Green Job Fair

The Virginia Sustainable Building Network and the Green Careers Center are organizing a Green Job Fair, Friday, Feb. 27, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Westin Arlington Gateway, 801 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA, near the Ballston Metro.  Event sponsor is the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW).

Job seekers from a range of fields and experience are encouraged to attend — including the building design, engineering, and construction areas; new graduates in environmental and technical fields; green product and consulting representatives; others interested in new green business opportunities.

40Plus and LinkedIn

It’s become increasingly clear that LinkedIn is the cornerstone of professional online networking and an important tool for efficiently targeting your job search.  Like any Web 2.0 application, start slowly.  The first step if you’re new to LinkedIn is to explore the site and become familiar with some of its functions, enter a basic profile, search for and join a group (40Plus of Greater Washington, for example), and start adding connections among your professional colleagues and friends.

Our friend Gabe Goldberg recently passed along these website links for more useful information: LinkedIn Learning Center and the LinkedIn Blog.

Finally, we recently purchased a couple of new books about LinkedIn (one of the “Dummies” books, for example) stored in the library that members can review at the office (please do not remove).

See you online.