[jsfg_cinti] Today's Meeting

Once again I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your
President.  Although it was a short tenure, due to your feedback, the
Steering Committee and several other volunteers have taken the
information to heart and are making many of the changes you've
recommended.  The Steering Committee developed and reviewed a "Business
Plan" today and they will keep you up to date on projects and programs.
Of course, volunteers are needed to bring the programs to life.  This is
an opportunity for you to step up to the plate and fill in that "job
gap" on your resume.  This helps you answer the question:  "So what have
you been doing since you've been out of work?"  (Not to mention it gets
you out of a lot of "chores" people think you can handle since you have
so much time on your hands!!!)

The Steering Committee discussed the need to recruit more members for
the team.  We are looking not only to fill the current vacancies
(President, Internal VP, External VP, Office Manager, Marketing
Chairperson and additional Orientation volunteers,) but also to add
"Co"-President, VP, etc. so we have immediate back-ups and extra
assistance needed to ensure JSFG delivers to its members.  Is this YOU?
If so, please email any of the JSFG officers to show your interest.
(Contact information is on the JSFG website, JSG Officers link. You'll
also find the job descriptions there.)

Here's the summary of today's President's Message on hints on scoring an
interview:

IMPROVE INTERVIEW CHANCES
1. In this economy, employers demand immediate productivity from new
hires and are wary to risk a learning curve. That's why there's emphasis
on a candidate having directly relevant experience. Employers expect a
perfect candidate, one that passes their screening criteria 100%. It's
only when an employer gets to really know a potential employee, that
there is any opportunity for requirements to be bent in a candidate's
favor. Also important is whether the candidate fits the corporate
culture. Gaining the employer's trust is key. A personal connection
established through networking is the best way to meet these challenges.

2. Accurate positioning captures employer attention-how you market
yourself, pitch your value, your unique hook that makes you attractive,
even intriguing. Defining your target market and knowing what they need,
that is what solutions you offer potential employers are critical to
success. Once you have their interest, a candidate has to compel them
into wanting more information-to request an interview or telephone call.
The interpersonal connection is crucial and so are the candidate's
skills. Bottom line: Show the employer that you will fit into their
organization and that they can recoup the cost of hiring you. Have a
clear, dollarizable value proposition. 
3. If a candidate knows someone inside an organization, personal
introductions through this contact smoothe the way. To initiate a
networking relationship, identify whom you need to know and find that
critical point of entry into the employer organization. Identify a
common point of reference such as alumni ties, work experience, a
professional affiliation, etc. Researching news headlines, trade data,
company websites, profiles and financial filings are all great ways to
find names of insiders and their responsibilities, even their outside
interests and memberships. A phone call directly to someone mentioned in
an article can kick off a dialogue exploring mutual business interests
and lead to discussing an immediate or future job opportunity. 
4. Make telephone contact with the hiring manager after submitting an
online application. If you don't connect, use this as a chance to get an
email address or fax number from the person you do need to talk with.
Keep trying until you break out of the voice mail maze. Ask if there is
a good time to reach the person you need or if the person you are
talking to will pass an email to them on your behalf. Just sending a
resume in is not enough; some other candidate will get through to the
decision maker or have a personal relationship offering them the
advantage. Interpersonal interaction is key; it makes you stand out. 
5. Tailor your written correspondence to each situation. When someone
reads what you write, you want to be sure that you communicate the
message you want them to hear-don't use a template sounding message.
It's time consuming to do separate letters and emails, but it is more
likely to get a response if you show the courtesy of personalizing your
request and being specific in your content. When emailing, keep it brief
with an eye-catching subject line. Do something different. Instead of
the traditional cover letter and resume combination, try a Resu-letterT
that combines the best features of a cover letter and resume. This
marketing document should introduce you by describing your relevant
background, related career highlights and specific ways you visualize
adding value to a target organization. Using quantitative or measurably
qualitative facts creates a stronger presentation. You don't want to
waste your reader's time (or your own job seeking efforts) with anything
that isn't clear and relevant to their needs. 

Happy job hunting!  Thanks again for allowing me the opportunity to
serve you.  It's been an honor to be involved with leading a group of
very bright and talented individuals.  And a special thanks to all our
volunteers, JSFG partners and the Steering Committee team members.  They
are very committed and passionate about JSFG and its members.

I plan on continuing to volunteer in some capacity while I am in town.
Please let me know if I can help you with anything.


Barbara J. Wilson
President (former)
JSFG
Barbaraj718@xxxxxxxx
513-233-0380




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