• Group: pdxMindShare – Portland’s Career Community
• Subject: Special Joint December PdxMindShare Networking Event

HUGE Networking & Food Drive Party Wed. 12/16 @ Paddys

Joint Party between PDX Mindshare and PDX Connect!!! Feed the Hungry . . . Land a job!
Networking starts with giving

WHAT: The premier networking party and food drive of 2009 co-sponsored by PDX Mindshare and PDX Connect, so you can get your schmooze on and help feed Oregon’s hungry.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 4PM to ??

WHERE: Paddy’s Bar and Grill, 65 SW Yamhill St, Portland, OR 97204, (503) 224-5626

COST: No cover/no host bar and food, of course. But please, please bring a can/box of food and donate $5 or $10 to the Oregon Food Bank (“OFB”). OFB recently reported on 11/16 that Oregon’s hunger rate is on the rise again. (see http://www.oregonfoodbank.org/news/news_releases/view.html?id=240 ). $10 fills an emergency food box to feed a family for 3 to 5 days. Bring lots of biz cards too.

PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD. LET’S SEE WHAT OREGON SOCIAL MEDIA CAN DO TO HELP OREGON’S HUNGRY. PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR CAN/BOX FOOD AND/OR $10 DONATION

Posted By Yael Livneh

Posted by Dr. Sean Harry

Let’s be clear, “being creative” does NOT “mean making stuff up.” Never EVER lie or exaggerate on your resume! Those “little lies” almost always get found out. They will completely ruin your chances of getting the job, and they could ruin your reputation as well.

That being said, it is important to be creative and “think outside of the box” when conducting a job search. Thinking out of the Box (better known as creative thinking) seeks to create something new from a few basic elements that are already in place. Being an out of the box thinker can be a rewarding experience for the job seeker. If the herd is going to the right, you go to the left.

For job seekers, thinking outside of the box may mean trying a different approach to the job search. We recently saw a marketing professional standing in the town square with a 6 foot balloon that read, “Creative marketing professional looking for a job.” Now THAT’S out-of-the-box thinking, and we understand that he got several calls that evening! While that approach may not be the right approach for everyone, it apparently worked for this guy. What would it mean to think out-of-the-box in your job search?

Happy Hunting!

Sean Harry

——————————Related Posts—

• How to “stay cool” on the job search.
• Monday Staff Meeting – One More Reason To Use Twitter For Your Job Search
• Monday Staff Meeting: Who is to blame for the recession?
• Monday Staff Meeting: A real life networking success story. . .
• Monday Staff Meeting: The BEST Job Boards to Use In Your Job Search
• Monday Staff Meeting: The Hiring Game
• Monday Staff Meeting: Getting the MOST Out of a Job Fair

_______________________________________
Dr. Sean Harry has more than 20 years of experience in training and motivating people to achieve their goals and reach their highest potential. He has helped accomplish this as a Career Coach, as a University professor, as a Pastor, and as a Motivational Speaker.
You can find him on twitter: @sharrypdx, and @careers20

From Nemo’s last Tweet

• 
  NEMOHQ: Last chance to sign up for the “Who Killed Social Media” panel at #nemoHQ. http://bit.ly/WKiWW #whokilledsm Pre-reg closes Wednesday!

From the Press Release:

Portland, Oregon-based integrated marketing agency Nemo today announced their partnership with group Y of Carlsbad, California, to host a panel discussion in Portland on the evening of June 4th, 2009. The discussion will focus on incorporating and effectively implementing social web strategies in the marketing mix.

The June 4th panel marks the first nationally-produced event for group Y. All the details are here at the pre-reg page. You can track the conversation at #WhoKilledSM

Included on the panel are Tony Welch, Web, Community and Social Media strategist from Hewlett Packard; action sports industry veteran Lee Crane, James Todd of Twine, Lead Information Architect at K2 Sports and creator of Ridertech, Matt Savarino, and Nemo’s own Dave Allen, founder of the music site Pampelmoose.com, Director of Insights and Digital Media and Community Director at Nemo and founding member of the band Gang of Four.

The moderator Marshall Kirkpatrick, Vice President of Content Development, and lead writer for ReadWriteWeb, will navigate the panelists through the world of the Social Web as it is today, and where it will lead in the near future.

Posted by Dr. Sean Harry

Monday Staff Meeting – One More Reason To Use Twitter For Your Job Search

Did you read the article in yesterday’s New York Times about how companies are turning to Social Media tools to find good candidates? The basic gist of the article is that companies are inundated with an excessive number of applications for every job posting. In fact, companies are getting way too many resumes, which makes the recruiting process untenable.

In response, they are looking for ways to cut the numbers of applicants down to a manageable number. The way they are going about this is to give a cash incentive for current employees to recommend qualified candidates. If your friend works at one of these companies they can submit your resume, and if you get the job they will pay your friend $500 to $1000. Sort of a “finder’s fee.”

This is a GREAT deal for all involved. You get your resume sent to the top of the pile. The company doesn’t have to sort through thousands of resumes looking for a needle in a haystack. Your friend gets some cash for recommending you. It’s a win-win-win situation, indeed!

The key to making this work on your end is to have a clear professional summary of what you can do for the company, with a catchy tag line. That way, your friend will know how and when to submit your name or notify you of an opening. You need a clear statement of how you are the BEST option for the job – what we call a Unique Selling Proposition (or USP).

Following that, your resume must be focused to give proof that you can really do what you say you can do. To achieve this, your resume needs to show accomplishments from your past work experience. Good accomplishment statements are one sentence long and will give examples of what you have done, for whom, and what the results were. If you are changing positions or careers, your accomplishment statements will need to showcase your transferable skills – skills that you have used in a different position that will help your next company achieve its business goals.

Over the next couple of weeks we will discuss the best ways to go about creating a compelling USP and give tips for developing clear accomplishment statements. In the meantime, read the NY Times article and begin to develop a list of friends, co-workers and acquaintances that work for companies with an employee referral program.

Happy Hunting!

Sean Harry

——————————Related Posts—

• How to “stay cool” on the job search.
• Monday Staff Meeting: Who is to blame for the recession?
• Monday Staff Meeting: A real life networking success story. . .
• Monday Staff Meeting: The BEST Job Boards to Use In Your Job Search
• Monday Staff Meeting: The Hiring Game
• Monday Staff Meeting: Getting the MOST Out of a Job Fair

_______________________________________
Dr. Sean Harry has more than 20 years of experience in training and motivating people to achieve their goals and reach their highest potential. He has helped accomplish this as a Career Coach, as a University professor, as a Pastor, and as a Motivational Speaker.
You can find him on twitter: @sharrypdx, and @careers20

Posted by Dr. Sean Harry

A reader recently sent us this question: “Any tips on recognizing job postings that are not real? Posting to make Co. look good seems to be popular these days…”

For those of you who are not familiar with this practice, sometimes companies post a position for which they already have a strong candidate “in the bag.” They are 90% certain of who they will hire, but they are under some obligation (internal or external) to post the opening to the wider public. It’s possible that some exemplary candidate will come along in the process and that they will choose to hire that person instead of the one they are leaning towards, but it’s not very likely.

We may think it’s not fair. It feels like a “bait and switch” or a waste of time, but who cares what we think? The job is the companies, not ours. They are free to hire anyone they see fit. People hire people they know and trust, so it only makes sense that they will go with their first choice most of the time.

The only way to determine if you are applying for one of these “phantom” job openings is to ask the person (or company) who posts it. Even then, you might not get a straight answer. So what can you do? Well, there are at least three things you CAN do in a situation like this:

1. Be the exceptional candidate. Do your homework and find out exactly what the position requires. Apply, get an interview, and wow them into changing their minds.
2. Don’t apply. OR
3. BE the 90% “in the bag” candidate.

Most people will find their job through some form of networking. By understanding the company and having an inside lead on their needs, you can place yourself as the one in the position others envy. It isn’t easy, but it’s more effective than complaining about the “fairness” of the posting.

Networking is the key. My dad used to say, “it’s not WHAT you know, its WHO you know.” That advice is more important now than ever! Network your way into a job interview, and you will be the person other job seekers envy. YOU can be the one they complain about who has the “unfair advantage.”

Happy Hunting!

——————————Related Posts—

• How to “stay cool” on the job search.
• Monday Staff Meeting: Who is to blame for the recession?
• Monday Staff Meeting: A real life networking success story. . .
• Monday Staff Meeting: The BEST Job Boards to Use In Your Job Search
• Monday Staff Meeting: The Hiring Game
• Monday Staff Meeting: Getting the MOST Out of a Job Fair

_______________________________________
Dr. Sean Harry has more than 20 years of experience in training and motivating people to achieve their goals and reach their highest potential. He has helped accomplish this as a Career Coach, as a University professor, as a Pastor, and as a Motivational Speaker.
You can find him on twitter: @sharrypdx, and @careers20

• How to “stay cool” on the job search.
• The BEST Job Boards to Use In Your Job Search
• The Hiring Game
• Getting the MOST Out of a Job Fair

From Press Release:

Oregon Marketing Association Connects New Grads with Hiring Managers from Starbucks to Nike at June 3 Conference in Portland

Prizes include personal brand development and interview coaching sessions

PORTLAND, Ore. – Thursday, May 21, 2009 – This June, new graduates from universities across the state will attempt to enter the workforce and flock to Portland in search of entry-level employment.  These new grads – as well as other Portland metro area jobseekers – face some alarming statistics, including last year’s loss of 3,400 marketing, business and creative services jobs (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), and the Oregon Employment Department report that the state has a 10.8 percent unemployment rate (as of February 2009).

The Placement Project, part of the Oregon Chapter American Marketing Association’s (AMA) annual Forward conference, will provide new graduates and jobseekers with actionable advice on how to define, protect and market their personal brand in a world where an applicant’s Facebook profile is evaluated as carefully as their resume.

Speakers at the Placement Project have also donated their services for prizes that give new graduates and job seekers informational interviews with influential hiring managers, one-on-one resume and interview coaching sessions – and for one lucky winner – his or her very own personal brand strategy.

Event Details
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Time: 1:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: The Governor Hotel, 614 SW 11th Ave., Portland
Price: $45 (register online at forwardama.com)

About the Placement Project

Presented by Forward ’09: Brandologie, the latest in a series of annual professional development conferences held each spring in Portland, Ore., by the American Marketing Association, the Placement Project is a complementary event that includes two sessions dedicated to jobseekers, young professionals, recent college grads and students.  For more information, please visit forwardama.com.

About AMA Oregon

Established in 1959 with 12 core members, the Oregon chapter won the National Chapter Excellence Award in 1964 and the Overall Excellence Award in 1993. The Oregon chapter covers the geographical area of Portland and SW Washington. Today, it boasts over 400 members representing diverse industries, companies and marketing functions.

Posted by Dr. Sean Harry

How to “stay cool” on the job search.

In the spirit of the terrific summer weather we’ve been having, I thought I’d write this post on “staying cool during the job search.” However, in this post I’m not talking about the weather. I’m talking about staying calm, cool and collected. I’m talking about outwardly appearing as if “not having a job is alright, because I’m waiting for the right fit to come along”, while inside you are thinking, “OMG! I NEED A JOB! ANY JOB, AND I NEED IT NOW!!”

When you are dating you want to play a little hard to get. If you come across as needy you probably won’t get a second date. You don’t want to scare off your prospective lover, so playing it cool is a good option.

The same is true of the job search. If you look or act desperate you won’t get many interviews. Now I’m not suggesting that you should act as if you aren’t interested. If you really want the job you need to express your desire and abilities to do the job well. If you really want the job you should ask for it – close the deal. What I’m saying is that you should “stay cool” — act more like a Consultant than a desperate job seeker.

Here are the 5 steps I recommend you do to “stay cool” in your job search.

1. Show Up – Woody Allen once said, “80% of success is just showing up.” You would be surprised how many job seekers don’t show up, or show up late to interviews and important meetings. Be there. On time. Every time. (Where do you need to show up today?)

2. Pay Attention – Look around. What do you see? There may an opportunity for you or someone in your network. By paying attention you will be able to see what that is. (To what do you need to pay attention today?)

3. Breath – Sometimes job seekers get so caught up in their job search that they forget to take any time for themselves. How would breathing help you right now? Try it. (When will you breath today?)

4. Speak the Truth – There’s no need to embellish your resume or fib on details. Besides, that kind of activity will always come around to bite you in the end. (What opportunities can you find to speak the truth today?)

5. Let Go The Outcome – We often worry about things over which we have no control. Work on the pieces you can (your elevator pitch, your resume, interviewing skills, networking, etc.), and leave the rest to fate. (What do you need to let go of today?)

If you feel like the job search is heating up, I recommend you try following these 5 steps. They will help you stay cool, which is a good thing in the job search!

Happy hunting!

——————————Related Posts—

• Monday Staff Meeting: Who is to blame for the recession?
• Monday Staff Meeting: A real life networking success story. . .
• Monday Staff Meeting: The BEST Job Boards to Use In Your Job Search
• Monday Staff Meeting: The Hiring Game
• Monday Staff Meeting: Getting the MOST Out of a Job Fair

_______________________________________
Dr. Sean Harry has more than 20 years of experience in training and motivating people to achieve their goals and reach their highest potential. He has helped accomplish this as a Career Coach, as a University professor, as a Pastor, and as a Motivational Speaker.
You can find him on twitter: @sharrypdx, and @careers20

Posted by Dr. Sean Harry

Filling in the gaps – professional and personal development for job seekers.

At the beginning of your job search you have very likely been conducting an assessment of your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Assessment is about helping you determine what you are capable of and willing to do in your next position.

At this point you have, no doubt, found an area or two where you have some gaps. You may need an additional degree, or some specific training. Maybe a professional certification is in order. Well, before you shell out the big bucks to go back to school or enroll in a course of study, there are some important things you should know:

• If you are receiving unemployment benefits you need to talk to your caseworker to see how going back to school will affect you. In the state of Oregon you must be willing and able to accept work in order to receive your weekly benefits. Enrolling in school can make you ineligible, so you better ask first.

• The state employment department MAY offer the courses you need. As part of NAFTA and other trade agreements, states receive money to retrain workers whose jobs have been shipped offshore. See if you qualify for any of these funds under the Dislocated Workers or Trade Adjustment Acts.

• Be sure the degree or certification you are seeking will fill the bill for potential employers. The best way to do this is to conduct informational interviews with people who would likely hire you for the new position. Schools may counsel you to join their program, but they aren’t always on top of the latest requirements for specific jobs. Afterall, their job is to “get butts in seats” for their programs.

• Check the Internet for free training. Some of the best schools in the country allow you to take their courses online for FREE. Of course, you don’t get academic credit from their institution unless you are officially enrolled. But if you are seeking to enhance you skill or knowledge base, you may not need the actual credit. Check out http://see.stanford.edu/see/courses.aspx (Stanford), http://oyc.yale.edu/ (Yale), and http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm (MIT) to get started.

• Look into Community College options. They are usually less expensive than enrolling in a University, and you can take one or two classes without being officially accepted to the school.

• Think of volunteer or internship opportunities. One of the challenges we all face when going into a new field is that the employer wants both formal training and work experience. If you have the training, but not the experience, you can sometimes pick it up by giving your time to a worthy organization. You have the time, and they need to volunteers. Win. Win.

Being unemployed and looking for work can be a good time to fill in the gaps by getting more training. Just remember to check out ALL the options before you spend the money, you’ll be glad you did.

——————————Related Posts—

• Monday Staff Meeting: Who is to blame for the recession?
• Monday Staff Meeting: A real life networking success story. . .
• Monday Staff Meeting: The BEST Job Boards to Use In Your Job Search
• Monday Staff Meeting: The Hiring Game
• Monday Staff Meeting: Getting the MOST Out of a Job Fair

_______________________________________
Dr. Sean Harry has more than 20 years of experience in training and motivating people to achieve their goals and reach their highest potential. He has helped accomplish this as a Career Coach, as a University professor, as a Pastor, and as a Motivational Speaker.
You can find him on twitter: @sharrypdx, and @careers20

]]> http://portlandtwitterjobs.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/monday-staff-meeting-professional-and-personal-development-for-job-seekers/feed/ 0 pdxjobs http://portlandtwitterjobs.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/bolywelch-and-ypops-pink-slip-networking-party-backspace-may-19/ http://portlandtwitterjobs.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/bolywelch-and-ypops-pink-slip-networking-party-backspace-may-19/#comments Thu, 07 May 2009 03:38:42 +0000 pdxjobs http://portlandtwitterjobs.wordpress.com/?p=110 ]]> Message from the YPOP about how this can help you:

What’s cool is that some employers who work with Boly Welch will be wanting to meet some unemployed tech folks who they may potentially hire at this event.

From YPOP Press Release:

Our community has been hit hard by the recession and the tech crowd has seen the impact first-hand. However, there remains massive energy around Portland’s technology scene that doesn’t always find its way to the companies and individuals who can most benefit from its vitality.

We believe strongly that the metro area possesses the resources and the will to take care of its own. Boly:Welch and YPOP invite you to meet our most innovative local talent at the first ever Pink Slip Party.

The Sponsors: Boly:Welch Recruiting and Young Professionals of
Portland at Backspace!

The Crowd: Portland’s technology professionals on the job market or
seeking new opportunities.

The Concept: Connect with other job seekers and employers in this
social networking format

Pink Slip Party
Tuesday May 19, 2009 from 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Backspace
115 NW 5th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97209 Get Directions
Boly:Welch and YPOP are proud to announce Portland’s first Pink Slip Party!

Posted by Dr. Sean Harry

Who is to blame for the recession? Who will bring us out of it? Back in February Mike Neiss wrote a blog post for TomPeters.com in which he blamed my generation (the Baby Boomers) for the recession. That got me thinking…

Then there is this post about a man who turned his job loss into a new life. Very inspiring, and I must admit a bit scary for some of us!

For me, these two posts raise a deeper question about the recession, massive job losses, and the future of work in America. Every economic shift creates change in the way we live and work, but I believe this one is going to fundamentally shift work-life balance. We are seeing a major shift in the tektonic plates deep within the core of the fabric of our work lives. I don’t know what will come of this shift. No one does. However, it will behoove us all to think about permanent changes may take place because of what we are currently experiencing. Here are some of my predictions:

• The impending retirement of millions of Baby Boomers will accelerated. With it comes a whole list of concerns – knowledge transfer, loss of experienced labor, succession planning (and lack thereof), and additional burden on the Social Security system. Companies have been thinking about this for awhile, but this economy is going to make it happen much faster. I am seeing clients in their 50s who are making the decision to begin early retirement now. I watched the interviews about Captain Sully (the pilot who safely landed the plane on the Hudson River in January) and thought, “wow, what would have happened if someone with less experience had tried that stunt?” Unfortunately, today many companies are laying off their “Captain Sullys” in this economy. Chances are that many of these people will opt for retirement. What happens then?
• Many people getting laid off are going to opt for lower paying jobs with fewer responsibilities. Not everyone will leave their corporate job for a $10/hr job at Starbucks, but some will. When they do, these people will enjoy their life more. They will have more time for things that are important to them — family, friends, spirituality, and travel. I’m not naive enough to think that the mountains of corporate greediness will disappear, but I AM hopeful that more people will choose to focus on life goals that are not completely driven by the desire to increase their own personal wealth.
• “Green” and “sustainability” will become mainstream. It has to! This is where the federal government (incidentally the ONLY sector still growing in this economy) will be dumping loads of money. How are you (and your company) preparing to take advantage of this opportunity?
• Recruiting and HR practices will change. I’m not sure in what way, but I believe they will change dramatically. The current focus of many Human Resource departments is on being the watchdog for company lawyers. Too often HR says, “we can’t do that, or we’ll get sued.” They are concerned about “allowing our managers to ‘be human’ by getting ‘too close’ to their workers.” The generations after mine put a ton of emphasis on relationships. They will not tolerate working for a company where they are a faceless, nameless commodity. Our recruiting practices are already seeing a shift in this direction. HR practices will soon follow. Companies that don’t focus on the personal side of their employees will find it difficult to attract and retain good talent. We all know that the number one asset of ANY company is the people who work there!
• Free-Agency will become the normative approach for job seekers. This phenomenon has been on the the horizon for awhile. I believe that this current economic crisis is going to change the way people define themselves in relation to their work. My father held the same position for 40 years. His father worked for the state until the day he died. My father’s grandfather, however, did whatever he needed to in order to put food on the family table. He was a farmer, a logger, built roads, ran a store. . . he was a free agent. With people changing careers in 3-5 year cycles, I believe that my children will live more like my great-grandfather than my dad. They will do whatever is necessary to make a living. They won’t define themselves by their company affiliation. To me, these are good things!

This recession is bringing about some major changes in the way we (and our children) will approach work in the coming years. As with any major change, there is both opportunity and danger involved. What are YOU doing to prepare to capitalize on the opportunities and mitigate the dangers of our current times?

——————————Related Posts—

• Monday Staff Meeting: A real life networking success story. . .
• Monday Staff Meeting: The BEST Job Boards to Use In Your Job Search
• Monday Staff Meeting: The Hiring Game
• Monday Staff Meeting: Getting the MOST Out of a Job Fair

_______________________________________
Dr. Sean Harry has more than 20 years of experience in training and motivating people to achieve their goals and reach their highest potential. He has helped accomplish this as a Career Coach, as a University professor, as a Pastor, and as a Motivational Speaker.
You can find him on twitter: @sharrypdx, and @careers20