Putting America Back to Work

A Career Networking Seminar August 18, 2009

Getting a job is where it begins, NOT where it ends!

• Managing your own career is a critical skill• Two critical aspects of managing your career

– Your reputation (your brand)– Your network (your delivery)

• must be practiced frequently• is about managing relationships

• Your brand is about you– Professionally– Personally

• Know the risks

• How do you know you have created an effective network?– Network comes to you– Interviewing frequently (formally and informally)– You are not caught off guard

Social Networking

• Simple Techniques:– One-on-one (networking)

• Strength of “weak ties”• Build your network as it happens• When colleagues/managers move on to other companies or divisions

– One to many (broadcasting) • Create your very own personal broadcasting medium

– Find and follow the experts • “birds of a feather”

• Create an online presence– Update/customize your resume & register with job boards– Create online accounts

• Linkedin.com• Facebook.com• Twitter.com

– Know what is personal & what is professional– Consider a “consulting gig”– Practice your networking skills

• Reconnect with past colleagues• Seek out both formal & informal interviews

– Create an online presence– Update/customize your resume & register with job boards

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Developing A Dynamic Resume

Overview:• What a Resume Should So for You

– Showcase your core skills and competencies and highlight career accomplishments/successes/goals.– Contain your relevant work history, document relevant training and educational background.– Show you are qualified candidate and prompt a potential employer to contact you for more

information.

• Getting Started– The resume is a first impression of you, so it must be an effective marketing tool.– Determine the job you want to target and research their responsibilities and qualifications.– Make a list of your skills/abilities that are relevant to the jobs you are targeting.– Identify experiences/accomplishments that show your proficiency in the skills required for job.– Summarize your abilities, accomplishments and skills into a brief, concise document.

• Parts of a Resume– Personal Information: name, address, contact numbers and email address.– Objective Statement: a brief description of who you are and what you want to do.– Summary of Qualifications/Specialized Skills: a brief statement (1-3 sentences) that gives a quick

impression of you and your overall qualifications for the job. The statement should be followed by 4-6 strengths or areas of expertise that support your objective.

– Significant Work Experience & Accomplishments: start with most current employer, list 2-4 accomplishments – and should be written in an “action results” format, underscoring your key role in the success.

– Education, Specialized Training and Professional Memberships/Organizational Affiliations: list any specialized courses, certifications or awards.

As the market place for jobs continues to grow and become more and more competitive, talent has to leverage the resources available to stand out amongst the pack. Search engine technology is at the forefront of helping talent gain access the right company, the right position and most importantly the right career. Our goal is to share with everyone the value behind using the internet and search to find that next great opportunity. Our focus will be in a few key areas:• The Misconception about the job market today.• Why on-line really does work if you leverage it.• The “how to” on registering, searching and the technology that drives it.• Understand what employers are doing to get your attention and how they are reviewing you.• Resources you can utilize to put yourself in front of the right opportunity• Managing your career is an ongoing process. Knowing where to start, taking advantage of all the tools at your disposal and remembering to brand yourself is what will keep you marketable and finding success.

Careerbuilder.com

Know Thyself… and write down your discoveries

• Document development goals and career aspirations– Past vs Future– Vertical Depth vs Horizontal Breath – Specialist vs Generalist – Personal vs Professional

• Identify what you value most about specific roles /activities• Identify what you value least about specific roles/activities• Know your preferred learning style and look for development opportunities that match

your style. – Conceptual (can you read about it and get a picture in your mind)– Experiential (hands on)– Visual (watch how others do it)

• Look for opportunities to stretch and demonstrate your learning agility. – A person’s openness to new ideas and situations and ability to learn quickly

A person’s perception of a product, service, experience or organization.

Branding is an ART and a SCIENCE.

Exactly, What Is A Brand?

Interbrand l Creating and managing brand value

What Are the Components of Brand Identity?

Interbrand l Creating and managing brand value

What Is Your Personal Brand?

How do you dress?What’s on your web site?

How do you speak in conversation?What’s on your answering machine?

How do you look on paper?What does your email address say about you?

What is your “trademark phrase”?

Insight •The insight is an accepted consumer belief that drives their needs, wants, feelings

Benefit •The singular focus that addresses the consumer insight

•Describes the core essence of the brand

Reasons to Believe;“Why YOU?”

•The product attributes that support the benefit and make it believable to consumers

Attribute Experience (see attached resume for further details)

Accomplished

Comfortable

Confident

Grounded

Collaborative

Inquisitive

Urban/Urbane

Enthusiastic

Further describes the Reasons to Believe YOUR brand

Key Takeaways

Know your audience

Know yourself

Understand the competition

Effectively promote your brand, taking appropriate risks

Recommended Reading:Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Successby Dan Schawbel

Development Framework/Personal Assessment

Obtain ongoing feedback:• Review feedback from formal processes

– Performance Plans – past 5 years– Assessments- past 10 years– Development Programs

• Incorporate feedback from informal processes – Coaching sessions – Development conversations– Peer/Mentor feedback– Personal reflection and insight– Input from others that know you well and see you in action

Align Strengths, Interests, and Values:• Document the skills/competencies used in your past jobs and capabilities needed for

future roles• Look for High Importance skills and Low Proficiency assessment of your skills to focus

on the core 1 or 2 to developIdentify Opportunities of focus:• Document your assessment of your strengths and weaknesses• Be brutally honest with yourselfTake Action on Your Development:• Focus your career development on 1 to 2 critical areas of focus• Look to outside resources and programs to address your development gaps and

opportunities• Prepare to review with a mentor or coach and validate others perceptions

Establishing Your Core Value System Brand

Your personal brand is made up of the core values you stand for:

• You need to be authentic and consistent with your core values

• What are your personal values by which you operate daily?

• Understand that your values are hard to re-establish once they have been

compromised

• Some questions to ask yourself:

– How do you demonstrate your core values in interviews?

– Are you interviewing with companies who exhibit the same core values as you do?

– Do you exhibit the same core values in your personal and professional life?

My Core Value System consists of: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I Stand For: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Identify your own “Board of Directors”• Identify a list of key stakeholders and other interested parties with a vested interest in YOU, inc. • Consider a broad set of directors who know you well and will see you in various settings• Create your “board” and key stakeholder network

– Friends, Neighbors, Relatives, Suppliers/Customers– Co-workers, Business/Professional Associates – Alumni, Religious Affiliation Contacts – Community Political Contacts, – Personal Business (Banker, Broker, Agents)– Organizations, Spouse / Partner Network

• Make contact with them regarding your goals and expectations… share with them your development focus and career aspirations.

– Over communicate to your network… but don’t over do it– Use technology but hand written notes still have more meaning

• Establish a Mentor relationship– Someone who has an expertise in your area of interest or who has been successful with their

career – Someone you trust and respect– Meet on a regular basis to learn from his/her experiences

• Where to find a mentor– Former teachers– Friends and former colleagues – Managers and executives – People in your field– Subject Matter Experts – Use your Network to research other industries and potential mentors

• Focus your relationship with your Mentor on your key development need such as:– Build your knowledgebase and learn a new core area of expertise– More variety in background and experience– More composure under stress– Broader, better interpersonal skills– Becoming more problem focused and results oriented

Appendix

• Template for Development Preparation• Template for Your Current Network/Mentors/Key Stakeholders• References and Self Guided Sites• Job Boards and Posting Websites

Template for Development Preparation

Development Goals & Career Aspirations Past vs Future Vertical Depth vs Horizontal Breath Specialist vs Generalist Personal vs Professional

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Development Progress and Timing ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Identify what you value most about specific roles /activities________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Identify what you value least about specific roles/activities ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Development Activities and Opportunities _________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Development Activity Progress and Timing ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Formal and Informal Feedback Received Strengths and Weaknesses _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Skills and Competencies Assessed High Importance and Low Proficiency ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Template for Your Current Network/ Key Stakeholders/Mentors

Friends______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Neighbors______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Relatives______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Suppliers/Customers ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Co-Workers______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Business/Professional Associates______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alumni/Alumnae_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Religious Affiliation Contacts____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Community/Political Contacts_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Personal Business (Banker, Broker; Agents)_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Organizations________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Spouse/Partner Network______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

References and Self Guided Sites

• www.careerplanning.About.com- – Find a job; blogs; online self help; tips;

• www.slideshare.net/jpiekos/job-hunting-in-a-web-20-world-presentation - – ‘Job Hunting in a Web 2.0 World’, John Piekos, 2009 online slideshow

• www.rileyguide.com – The Riley Guide has been named “Best Job-Hunt Tutorial” by Yahoo!

Internet Life for three years running. Margaret Riley Dikel provides tons of information about a variety of job-search-related subjects.

• http://www.chrisbrogan.com/img/socialwebforwork.pdf – Using the Social Web to Find Work: Chris Brogan

• Highly Effective Networking: Meet the Right People and Get a Great Job by Orville Pierson Career Press © 2009 (256 pages) Citation

Job Boards (posting websites)

•careerbuilder.com - partnered newspapers across the country•charlotte.craigslist.org - local classifieds and forums for more

than 550 cities in over 50 countries worldwide - community moderated, and largely free

•indeed.com - "Simply a one-stop shop for job seekers.“•Dice.com - the original technology job board•Flipdog.com - job listings from company Web sites•hotjobs.yahoo.com - this site allows users to view job listings from

direct employers, only staffing firms, or both•vault.com - provides in-depth company profiles, including The

Electronic Watercooler™, which provides inside information about what it’s really like to work for companies.

Stepping Out

• Now may be the time to follow your dream of starting your own business.

• Some of the nation’s most successful companies were formed during difficult economic times.

• Starting your own business requires passion, lots of hard work, and finding ways to increase likelihood of success.

• Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac programs are designed to help entrepreneurs with skills needed to create, manage, and grow successful businesses.

• Developed by entrepreneurs, facilitated by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs.

• Program begins with the business idea through ten steps to “make it happen”.

• FastTrac in Charlotte begins week of July 6.

– No participation fee– Apply at www.fasttrac.org– Charlotte contact is George

McAllister• (704) 548-1090• gfmcalli@uncc.edu

• National sponsors– Kauffman Foundation– Deluxe Corporation Foundation

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CPCC – Corporate & Continuing Education Programs for Changing Careers

http://www.cpcc.edu/changingcareers

• As a catalyst for economic growth in the region, CPCC works with many community agencies and businesses to identify areas where jobs currently exist or may be in demand in the future.  In turn, the college provides educational programs to help individuals develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in these industries.  

• The US Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook cites an associate degree or higher as the most significant level of postsecondary education or training for 12 of the 20 fastest growing occupations.  As Charlotte-Mecklenburg's community college, CPCC offers over 100 associate degrees, diplomas or certificates; many that prepare individuals for careers in these fast growing industries.  

• Approximately 60% of the students in the Corporate & Continuing Education (CCE) division have graduated from college and are at CPCC to add credentials to their resumes.

• Whether your goal is a degree, a certificate, a job-related skill or a program in our Lifelong Learning Institute, CPCC can help you Get There!

• CPCC has available Short-Term education and training programs.  These programs can be completed in 15-18 months and offer the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively compete for tomorrow's jobs in demand.

• Based on information from our region's economic developers and projections from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the following industries are projected to be among the fastest growing occupations and those with strong job potential in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region: 

• Automotive-Education-Energy-Engineering-Entrepreneurship-Financial Services-Healthcare-Heavy Equipment-Information Technology-Integrated Systems Technology-Office Administration-Personnel  Administration-Process Improvement-Public Safety-Small Businesses-Supply Chain Management-Sustainable Technologies-Technical Careers

• More information is available at http://www.cpcc.edu/changingcareers• All programs and services listed as non-credit are offered through the college's Corporate &

Continuing Education division (CCE).  These courses and certificates start at various times throughout the calendar year and registration is on-going as space is available.  For more information or to register for non-credit programs, please call 704.330.4223 or click the link: http://cce.cpcc.edu/register-now .

• Many of the programs offered by CCE qualify for funding through the Workforce Investment Act. Contact the ESC, Workforce Development Board, JobLink or check the NC STARS website (www.ncstars.org) to see which courses in your area qualify.

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CPCC – Corporate & Continuing Education Programs for Changing Careers

http://www.cpcc.edu/changingcareers

• Leadership, Management and Personal Development (Mona Rabon, Director, 704.330.4654): 

• Process Improvement:– Six Sigma Green Belt Certification– Six Sigma Black Belt Certification– Project Management Certificate Program– Lean Enterprise Certification

• Individual courses that might be of interest:– Process Management– Problem Solving & Decision Making– Lean Office– Essentials of Project Management– 5 S– Value Stream Mapping

• Consulting: – Certified Consulting Professional

• Human Resources:– Human Resources Certificate Program– PHR/SPHR Exam Prep– GPHR Exam Prep– HRCI Approved HR Seminars

• Business Management: – Certified Business Manager Exam Prep

• Supply Chain:– Certified Professional in Supply Management Bridge

Exam Prep– Certified Supply Chain Professional Exam Prep– Certified in Production and Inventory Management

Exam Prep 

• Payroll: Payroll Certification Exam Prep• Sales: Essential Skills for Sales Success• Career Transition Courses:

– 1-day course designed for hourly and contract workers– 2-day course designed for professional administrative

and supervisory employees– 3-day course designed for executive and managerial

employees

• Additional Areas of Interest:– Fundamentals of Event Planning– Notary Public– Blanchard’s Situational Leadership – Business Ethics– Essential Interviewing Skills (for hiring managers)– Behavioral Based Interviewing (for hiring managers)– Basic Coaching Skills– Covey’s Leadership: Great Leaders, Great Teams, Great

Results– Covey’s The 7 Habits Signature Program – Covey’s The 7 Habits for Managers– Covey’s The 4 Disciplines of Execution– Covey’s Focus: Achieving Your Highest Priorities– Managing Different Generations in the Workplace– Business Writing

The following are a selection of CCE programs/courses:

CPCC – Corporate & Continuing Education Programs for Changing Careers

http://www.cpcc.edu/changingcareers• Computer Technology

(Vince Osisek, Director, 704.330.4276)• Certification preparation courses

– CompTIA A+– CompTIA Security+– Oracle OCA– Oracle OCP

• Desktop Publishing– Adobe Photoshop– Adobe Illustrator– Adobe InDesign

• Web Development– HTML 4.01: Web Authoring– Macromedia Dreamweaver– Macromedia Flash

• AutoCAD– AutoCAD Level I– AutoCAD Level II– AutoCAD 3D Drawing & Modeling– AutoCAD Architecture

• Financial Services Institute (Cindy Savage, Director, 704.330.4685)

• Insurance – NC Property Insurance Agent/Adjustor (Pre-licensing)– NC Casualty Insurance Agent/Adjustor (Pre-licensing) – NC Life Insurance Agent  (Pre-licensing)– NC Accident, Sickness & Health Insurance Agent (Pre-

licensing)

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• Financial Services Institute Continued • Certified Financial Planner ®

– Fundamentals of Financial Planning– Insurance Planning – Investment Planning– Tax Planning – Retirement Planning – Estate Planning – Case Studies

• Property Management (IREM A.R.M. & C.P.M.) – Successful Site Management

• Appraisal  – Basic Appraisal Principles – Basic Appraisal Procedures– Market Analysis Highest and Best Use– Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal

Practice • Mortgage Broker

– NC Loan Officer Fundamentals (Pre-licensing) • Real Estate Broker

– NC Real Estate Broker (Pre-licensing)• Securities

– Series 6 & 63 Review – Series 7 Review

• Institute for Entrepreneurship (Renee Hode, Director, 704.330.6832)

• New Ventures Entrepreneurship Certificate Program

• How to Buy and Sell a Business • Home-Based Business

UNC Charlotte Program Overviews & Contacts

Programs• 18 doctoral programs• 62 master’s degree programs• 55 graduate-credit certificate programs (typically take 12-

15 months to complete, enrolled on a part-time basis)• 19 continuing education certificate programs (typically

take 3-4 months to complete)• 90 baccalaureate degree programs

Examples of Graduate Credit Certificates• Health Information Technology (approval pending)• Nonprofit Management• Community Health Promotion• Management of Information Technology• Information Security and Privacy• Gerontology• Technical/Professional Writing• Instructional Systems Technology• Teaching – in many specialty areas

Examples of Continuing Education Programs• Basic Web Design• Search Engine Optimization, Marketing, and Metrics• Project Management and Advanced Project Management• Business Process Management• Business Analysis• Finance and Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager• Human Resource (Generalist and Advanced)• Training and Development (Generalist and Advanced)• Paralegal

New Workforce Development ARRA-funded Initiatives• workforce.uncc.edu • Workforce Development Program Manager (e-mail

workforce@uncc.edu)• Condensed-format delivery of four certificate programs,

with special add-on career module• Graduate-credit certificates in 5-6 months• Continuing Education certificates in 5-6 weeks

For More Information on Graduate Programs• Next General Information Session will be on June 24, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., on the Main Campus• Next MBA/MBA in Sports Marketing and Management

Information Session will be on June 10, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m., at UNC Charlotte Uptown• Or make an appointment to meet with Maryanne Maree-

Sams by contacting her via e-mail at GradCounselor@uncc.edu. She can also be reached by phone at 704-687-7243.

For More Information on Continuing Education Programs

• Contact me, Connie Martin (and, soon, our new Workforce Development Program Manager), at workforce@uncc.edu

• Or call our Continuing Education Office at 704-687-8900

Tapping Into Resources

Presented by Deborah Gibson, Executive Director of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board:

1. Workforce Development Board (a) Mission & Purpose (b) JobLink Career Center System (c) ProNet Charlotte Networking Group (d) ProNet Charlotte Web Portal

2. Employment Security Commission – Unemployment Insurance

3. Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)

Creating Financial Stability

Katherine M. (Kitt) Kirchner (704) 341-5122 Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management katherine_kirchner@ml.com

*Asset allocation, diversification and systematic investment do not assure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market.

• Distribution Options• Keep assets with “old” company

plan• Roll assets to “new” company

plan• Roll assets to an investment firm

IRA

• Access to Funds• All withdrawals treated as

ordinary income• Beware of penalties• Limited penalty-free withdrawal

options available

• Investment Considerations• Asset allocation depends on time

horizon, risk tolerance, and financial goals

• A financial advisor can help you plan

• Investment “Rules”• Invest for the long term• Invest systematically • Don’t try to time the market• Diversify with quality investments• Don’t forget inflation• Become and expert or rely on one

• Professional Management• Customized investment strategies• Investment risk mitigation• Tax consideration• Estate planning services• Insurance analysis• Retirement planning services

Thank you! Thank you!