Southwest Job Network - SJN

Volunteer of the Week – Bob Fowler

chrisaminotti — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:35 +0000

From the desk of: Christine Vicari-SJN

Volunteer of the Week: Bob Fowler

Meet Bob Fowler, SJN Alumni, who shares his SJN volunteer story:

When I first was laid off, I started going to SJN meetings, and I was very impressed by the people and the tools that were provided for the job search process. I have always suggested SJN whenever I meet people who are job hunting. Since I had some free time, I felt I could help SJN a little by keeping the Yahoo Group Calendar up to date.

I have continued updating the calendar for the past 18 months while I am working part time with Mesa Community College. I have been collaborating with some former colleagues on a contract from the Department of Labor to upgrade technical skills in Arizona by offering software quality courses through MCC. We have been marketing the courses to attract students from the Valley.

Since SJN has expanded to three sites, I have been working with Dawn Nowatzki, Chris Minotti, and Al Walsh in addition to Chris Vicari. The expansion has not really impacted my workload because we used to add a lot of items to the calendar from other organizations. Now we only add SJN items.

I think that one of the challenges to a successfull organization is getting a lot of people to help a little. By spreading the load, nobody feels burdened. That is why, although my contribution is small, I am happy to keep helping.

I have enjoyed watching SJN expand.

SJN directors and members thank Bob Fowler for his consistent volunteer service.

Christine Vicari

Founder-Executive Director

North Workshop – Don’t Get a Job, Create a Job

chrisaminotti — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:54:20 +0000

Nov, 17 (Tues.) – DON’T GET A JOB, CREATE A JOB!

Don’t Get a Job, Create a Job!

Dick Stover, CEO of Go1099.com

Today’s job market has changed so that new and creative approaches are often required by professionals to connect with employers. Serial entrepreneur Dick Stover will be discussing how professionals can approach employers in different ways to successfully obtain meaningful work. Dick will pull from his own experience as a business owner and as a SCORE counselor for the past 7 years to provide tips on taking an entrepreneurial approach to your job search.

Dick is founder and CEO of Go1099.com, which connects companies and professionals through “1099” assignments. www.Go1099.com

Registration & Details: CLICK HERE

West Workshop – Mock Interviewing

chrisaminotti — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:03:21 +0000

11/23/2009 – Mock Interviewing

Research shows that the more you practice and rehearse your content, the better your delivery. Take advantage of this opportunity to practice your interviewing technique in a safe and supportive environment. This workshop will give you the opportunity to practice your interviewing repeatedly and get feedback.

Registration & Details (after 11/9) – CLICK HERE

Date/Time: Monday, Nov 23rd, 2009, 5:00PM – 8:00PM

Location: Glendale Community College, 6000 W. Olive Ave, Glendale AZ

Building: Student Union, Room 104/Conf Center Meeting
Parking Lot: S1

5:00-6:00 PM – Open Networking

6:00-8:00 PM – Mock Interviewing

Southeast Workshop – Get Wired to Get Hired

chrisaminotti — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:51:24 +0000

11/12 – Workshop: Get Wired to Get Hired

Learn how to make maximum use of the powerful tools available through the internet, with the understanding that the goal is to get you hired. Among other things, you will:

Understand how internet tools fit into each phase of SJN’s Curriculum for the Job Search Process.
Discover free resources that help you reach hiring decision makers.
Learn how to tap into the power of LinkedIn to further your job search.

This Intermediate-level seminar is best for those with basic understanding of and familiarity with LinkedIn and other tools such as Google. SJN representatives are not certified or accredited LinkedIn trainers and are not associated with LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a registered trademark of LinkedIn Corporation.

Registration & Details (after 10/31) – CLICK HERE

Date/Time: Thursday, November 12^th, 2009, 3:00PM – 7:00PM

Location: Mesa Community College

Building: Building 35, Kirk Student Center, Navajo Room

3:00-4:30 PM – ** Specialty Support Groups (networking within the same specialty)

4:00-4:30 PM – * New Member Orientation

4:30-5:00 PM – Open Networking

4:30-5:00 PM – Resume Review
5:00-7:00 PM – Workshop

North SJN – WORKSHOP: MOCK INTERVIEWING

chrisaminotti — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:04:25 +0000

Nov 3, 2009, (Tues.) – WORKSHOP – MOCK INTERVIEWING

Mock Interviewing

Registration & Details: CLICK HERE

Fees
Voluntary donations are appreciated to assist in funding ongoing operating costs for the Southwest Job Network. Customary meeting donation is $5.

Volunteers of the Week: Resume Reviewers

chrisaminotti — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:03:06 +0000

From the Desk of Christine Vicari
SJN Founder-Executive Director

Volunteers of the Week: SJN Resume Reviewers

One of the most popular services offered through Southwest Job Network is resume review available at all locations preceding the regular meetings. A solid resume is a cornerstone of the job search process. Hiring managers and human resource professionals alike agree that a poorly constructed resume can derail even the most talented individual’s search. Our volunteer team of resume reviewers consists of experienced hiring managers and HR professionals, eager to help guide you through the construction of that job winning resume.

THANK YOU to these professionals who have been regular reviewers at SJN meetings:

North: Mary Henry, Al Walsh, Martha Rockwell, Bill Markham, Diane Raml, Jessica Mattewson, Betty Davies, Paul Quinn

West: Holly Adkins, Carol Ross, Gina Nelson, Mary Henry, Michelle Keller, Rick Gould, Karen England

Southeast: Paul Quinn, Michelle Keller, Martha Rockwell, Sara Klug, Tony Darin, Kathi Wentzel

SJN welcomes volunteers who are willing to share their diverse experiences as resume reviewers. Interested volunteers should contact:

North: Mary Henry MGHenry44133@aol.com

West: Al Walsh alwalsh@aol.com

Southeast: Dawn Nowatzki dnowatzki@cox.net

. . . and best wishes from the SJN team of resume reviewers to our members searching for that next great position!

Volunteer of the Week – Al Walsh

chrisaminotti — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:34:58 +0000

From the Desk of Chris Vicari

SJN Volunteer of the Week: AL WALSH
Events Coordinator, SJN Programs in the West Valley
alwalsh@aol.com

Meet Al Walsh, an affable guy who joined SJN as a recruiter-resource in 2007. This year, Al partnered with SJN Board Members to lead the strategic planning to launch SJN in the West Valley.

To support this expansion, Al established a relationship and formed a partnership with the Glendale Community College Director of Career Services. Working with college representatives, he coordinated room availability, equipment and other logistical tasks to execute successful events at the school.

To staff the expansion, Al recruited, trained and managed a team of 25 volunteers to provide support before, during and after events. He cross-trained volunteers to fulfill complex assignments. This ensured consistent delivery and provided for succession planning. He also coordinated with SJN Board members and other event coordinators to maintain consistent processes at all three SJN locations.

SJN is very proud of Al’s contribution—and throughout all our encounters with him he has been professional, upbeat, dedicated and committed to the success of the endeavors he undertakes and the members he serves. Many thanks, Al.

Christine Vicari

Founder-Executive Director
SOUTHWEST JOB NETWORK

P.O. Box 25674 ~ Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(v) 480 513-1491 – (e) info@southwestjobnet.com
(w) http://www.southwestjobnet.com/

SJN benefits when you order business cards and printing from VistaPrint
online at our website http://www.southwestjobnet.com/business-cards/

Volunteer of the Week – Lori Stang

chrisaminotti — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:01:37 +0000

From the Desk of Chris Vicari:

Members,

I would like to recognize LORI STANG as the Volunteer of the Week. Lori has been an SJN member since June, and regularly attends the Southeast meetings. She has a marketing background, specializing in product launches and brand awareness.

For any SJN members who have attended the SJN Southeast meetings, you are aware that SJN Southeast meets at various campus and room locations at both Mesa and Chandler-Gilbert Community Colleges.

Lori overheard several SJN first-timers mention upon their arrival at a campus location being used for the first time that they had difficulty finding the meeting room, even with their campus maps that had been provided.

At the next SJN Southeast meeting, Lori arrived early, with a full set of laminated SJN signs. There were directional signs for the outside doors and hallways (to include semi-attached black arrows that could be changed to point the proper way depending upon the campus location). In addition, Lori brought a set of various Registration Table signs to direct members to the proper table for event check-in.

This is another example of a member who offered to put her energy behind her ideas, and made a positive impact. THANK YOU to Lori.

I ask members to continue to think about ideas of things that SJN could do or services SJN could provide. Ask yourself, “Is there something I can do with my time, talent and ideas to make an impact on the organization and my job seeker peers?” I bet you can!

Blessings and good weekend,

Christine Vicari

Founder-Executive Director

Train-The-Trainer Sessions

chrisaminotti — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:43:01 +0000

Greetings SJN Members,

Have you ever wanted to share your talents as a speaker or trainer with others from Southwest Job Network (SJN)? Want to lead the crowd? If so, then consider being a trainer on the SJN curriculum on the job search process.

SJN is planning Train-the-Trainer session to enable trainers to get the deep understanding to be able to co-lead one of the SJN Modules at one of our three valley-wide locations. This is a volunteer position and trainers are scheduled as their time permits.

Training sessions will be held at Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85032.

Monday, October 5 9 AM -12 N Emotions and Vision
1 PM -4 PM Marketing Plan and Tools

Thursday, October 8 9 AM -12 N Leads and Networking
1 AM – 4 PM Interviews and Offers

In addition to trainees, we are also looking for 2-3 people to lead the training sessions. If you have lead a module or been through the TTT for that module and want to help out by leading, please contact:

Daniel McCrobie
dan.mccrobie@gmail.com
480.335.0927

Please RSVP by Sept 30^th, 2009, to my email address, dan.mccrobie@gmail.com, so that I can finalize the details for each session.

Volunteers of the Week – Karen Zeller & Maryanna Levenson

Chris — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:15:08 +0000

As SJN followers know, this is an all-volunteer organization–and we operate on volunteer services.

SJN volunteers are the best. Read about the contributions of two of them.

KAREN ZELLER offered to photograph SJN members and provide digital images for their profiles, blogs, etc for a $5 fee. Karen conducted the photo shoot this week at Temple Chai where we had our regular meeting. This worked out very well—as Karen patiently took photos until each subject was satisfied with the results. She donated her time and talent and the money she collected to SJN, $130. Thanks, Karen!

Thanks also go to the team of administrative volunteers who managed the flow of people being photographed, took the money, etc. One volunteer offered his jacket and tie to another member who came unprepared for the shoot, but took advantage of it when there was time for Karen to photograph him. That’s the spirit that won the West–neighbors helping neighbors! We love it.

The second volunteer I want to recognize is MARYANNA LEVENSON who approached Einstein Bros (where we’ve been purchasing bagels for some time) to see if they would donate the bagels to SJN. Maryanna couldn’t get anyone to return her calls.

Maryanna took the further initiative to talk to Chompie’s. While the deal isn’t “signed,” it appears that Chompie’s is willing to consider this donation, and I have just sent the required evidence of our nonprofit status along with a letter explaining what SJN does in the communit. Fingers crossed!

These are two examples of members who offered to put energy behind their ideas—and each made a significant impact.

THANK YOU Karen and Maryanna.

I ask supporters and members of SJN to think about KAREN and MARYANNA when you have ideas of things that SJN could do or services SJN could provide. Remembering we operate entirely on donated services. Ask yourself, “Is there something I can do with my time, talent and ideas to make an impact on the organization and my job seeker peers?” I bet you can!

Blessings and good weekend,

Chris Vicari-SJN
Founder-Executive Director
Chris.Vicari@southwestjobnet.com