Exploring Your Passion – Putting It To Work
(a special workshop for job seekers)

TUES, MAY 27
9 AM - 4 PM at Temple Chai
4645 E. Marilyn Road
Phoenix, AZ 85032-4839

Description

“Do you love what you do?” If you’re one of those “lucky ones” who can answer a resounding “Yes!” to this question, then this seminar is not for you.  But, if you’re not, then you’ve probably asked yourself if there’s a job or career out there that’s a better match than what you’ve experienced - one that can be more satisfying and have more meaning in your life - and how you might go about finding it.

This workshop is designed to help people who have asked themselves those questions. Job seekers often limit themselves to what they “have always done” because it was the career that defined them for many years. They tend to lose sight of their many gifts, interests, strengths, and wealth of skills developed through life experience. This workshop utilizes proven tools to help individuals identify their strengths, talents and preferences - what they’re basically good at and really enjoy doing, and can prove to be useful in opening up job search options.

ANSWER TO INQUIRY

Is identifying job titles that fit particular strengths the objective?

We have shortened the workshop title and refer to it as the Passions workshop. The actual title is Exploring Your Passion – the key word being exploring. This isn’t something you get done in a day. From the feedback received from previous participants it raises new questions and gets people to think and look at the next phase of their life in a different way. This is work that requires thought, reflection, trial and error and honestly, sometimes, just dumb luck!! Identifying job titles that fit particular strengths is not the objective for this workshop.

The purpose and objectives are:

To explore individual desires, strengths, and talents in order to create a vision fueled by passion.
Identify a potential “stuckness”.
Utilize different tools and approaches to identify patterns in our life.
Begin to identify our strengths and talents.
Begin to identify a personal vision.

Presenter

Maria Wojtczak has 20+ years of organization development (OD) experience and worked with a wide range of organizations. She has worked with Chris Vicari, Director of the Scottsdale Job Network, offering the Passions workshop and Job Transition workshops for the last five years.  She currently serves on the SJN Board and is a member of the Curriculum Development committee.  Maria is a graduate of the University of Michigan.  She is also the owner of DrivingMBA, a driver tutoring facility here in the valley http://www.drivingmba.com    

Register via Internet by May 26
Seating is limited to 30 participants and there is a minimum enrollment of 12 participants to run the workshop. Because SJN provides assessment booklets, binder and printed materials, there is a fee of $25 for this event.  To register and make payment:  http://www.eventbrite.com/event/106918797 

Lunch/Snack
Bring a sack lunch and beverages for the day.  If possible bring something to share with the group as a breakfast treat in the morning or a snack in the afternoon.

General Inquiries
Contact:  David Bell, chicagoman419@yahoo.com

The Scottsdale Job Network (SJN) is a non-profit community group of job seekers and others volunteering their time to help them in their career transitions. SJN has applied to the IRS for 501c3 status. 

The group attracts speakers from industry, technology, government, finance, coaching and recruiting to discuss job search fundamentals including how to develop a marketing plan, write a resume, network, interview and manage job offers.

Meetings
Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday mornings, 9:00-11:30 A.M. We meet at and use space donated by Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix, AZ  85032-4839.  Click here for a location map on MapQuest. 

Job seekers are offered the opportunity to network, learn new job seeking skills, and work with people who genuinely care about you and your job search. See our EVENTS CALENDAR for meeting dates and programs scheduled.

Recruiters Are Welcome
We offer recruiting agents and company representatives the opportunity to meet with our professional membership. Join us at our meetings from 9 AM and feel welcome to spend the morning with us.

Resume Reviews
At each meeting, a representative from the Resume Writers Council of Arizona will be available to critique resumes and offer improvement suggestions from 9-9:30 AM.

Yahoo Group
This is our closed online resource allowing members to stay connected 24/7 which is used to request information, post job leads, share relevant articles, read the history of emails, and more.

Web site
Resources are provided online through our website http://www.scottsdalejobnet.com/ including resources for basic needs, links to key job boards, map quest to our meetings, articles that have helped others, a list of volunteer opportunities, a reading list and a place to purchase business cards.

Open Invitation!
Anyone interested in the support we provide is welcome. We do not require membership dues or meeting fees to allow everyone who is in job transition to be able to participate. Since our program is unfunded, we suggest that participants make a voluntary donation of $5 per meeting. When we have an all-day workshop, we do need to pass the costs along to participants.

Business Cards: a tool for your job search

Do you have a business card to use while networking? People who meet you will want to know how to contact you. Presenting them with a professional business card will do the trick!

Don’t use business cards from a previous employer. Instead, job seekers should supply themselves with a professional business card that contains the following:

Name
E-mail Address
Telephone No.
Your website address
Your job function or title, or 2-3 core competencies

Business Cards can be purchased from a variety of places around Phoenix including printers, office supply stores, mailbox service stores and many more.

Recently, SJN became an affiliate of Vista Print where you can get 250 business cards free with the cost of shipping.

Scottsdale Job Network is paid a small fee by Vista Print for all business cards ordered through our website, whether they are the free business cards or upgraded premium business cards.

You can check out their selection by clicking below:

Thank you for considering this option when you shop for business cards!

SJN JOB SEARCH PROCESS CURRICULUM

The SJN Curriculum on the Job Search Process has been designed to provide the training and practice that job seekers need to be successful.  Job seekers can start at the beginning of the Curriculum and work their way through the entire process or come to programs of particular interest.

The new program started on February 5, 2008 and is being beta-tested and facilitated by experts in the training and career transition fields.  The training areas are:

Understanding the Emotions of a Career Change

Creating Your Vision and Personal Marketing Plan

Developing Your Resume

Creating Leads, Networking

Interviewing Skills, Part I

Interviewing Skills, Part II

Managing the Offer

See the EVENTS CALENDAR  on this website for the schedule of programs.  The current Curriculum program will end on May 20 and will start again on September 2.  In the summer months, SJN will offer other speakers and subjects of value to job seekers.

At SJN, we do not require membership dues or meeting fees.  However, participants are asked to support this program by making a voluntary donation of $5 per meeting.  Recently the small dollar donations of our job seekers and other members have mounted to enough for us to purchase a projector for our meetings.

Dear Neighbors and Friends of Scottsdale Job Network - SJN:

Since February 2006, SJN has been offering our service to the community free of membership dues and meeting fees. We are all volunteers and no one connected with the program is paid for their services.  This group is open to anyone in the greater Phoenix area who is interested in the career transition support we offer.

In February 2008, SJN launched a Curriculum on the Job Search Process. A group of phenomenal experts in the field have donated their time and talent to develop this program which we share with job seekers.

Our current need is for financial support from the community to cover necessary operating expenses.

Scottsdale Job Network operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, and donations are tax deductible on Federal income tax returns. 

Checks or money orders are payable to Scottsdale Job Network and can be mailed to:

Scottsdale Job Network (please don’t use “SJN” on the envelope)
PO Box 25674
Scottsdale, AZ 85255-2755

PAYPAL:
There’s a link on the top left of SJN’s website for making donations via PayPal.

BUSINESS CARDS: 

You can also help us by purchasing your business cards from VistaPrint through our website

  http://www.scottsdalejobnet.com/business-cards/

Many thanks for enabling us to support the job seekers in our community.

The group initially held its meetings at Mountain Valley Church in Scottsdale.  But when that space became unavailable, Temple Chai, a synagogue, offered to donate its premises, Vicari said. The larger space was desirable because the group’s attendance for its bimonthly meetings has doubled to about 30 people, she added.Starting March 6, the Scottsdale Job Network meets at 9:30 a.m. the first and third Tuesdays at Temple Chai.

Details: (480) 513-1491 or www.scottsdalejobnet.com.

* * * * * * * * * *

Scottsdale Job Network
 www.scottsdalejobnet.com 

Contact: Chris Vicari, Director and Founder
Office: 480-513-1491 or Mobile: 480-600-7721
info@scottsdalejobnet.com

SCOTTSDALE JOB NETWORK EXPANDS FOR JOB SEEKERS

SJN is the premier Scottsdale Networking Group for job seekers and strives to be the premier career transition support group in the Valley of the Sun.

A variety of other networking groups exist in Scottsdale which strive to become well known, efficient and productive Scottsdale networking groups. In order to help those other groups and to help our job seekers, we provide links to a number of these other groups below. Most of these groups are not geared toward job seekers and some are not in Scottsdale Arizona but this list provides a valuable starting point for job seekers to find locations and events to help them grow their networks and improve their networking skills.

Scottsdale Networking Groups

St Patrick’s Employment Support Ministry
Bi-weekly Scottsdale networking group meeting of job seekers, alumni and community supporters. The objective is for every member to walk away from each meeting with at least one new contact or idea useful to progressing their job search

Arizona Executives
Networking group for management-level jobs.

Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce

Phoenix Business Journal Events

LinkedIn Live Networking Events

What is an Elevator Speech?

An Elevator Speech (ES) is a clear, concise bit of communication that can be delivered in the time it takes folks to ride from the top to the bottom of a building in an elevator. As it relates to the job search process, it communicates who you are, what you’re looking for and how you can benefit a company or organization. It does not dwell on the past! An Elevator Speech is a forward thinking statement about who you are and what you bring to the party. When delivering your ES to a group, please stand up.

Basic Components of a Job Search Elevator Speech:
1. Who are you? Introduce yourself.

2. What field or industry are you in or what field are you interested in getting into? State your goals. Be specific—don’t just say “Sales” or “Management” or “IT”.

3. What kind of a position are you seeking? In what capacity do you function best? Be specific — do you have a niche?

4. What is your USP (Unique Selling Proposition)? What makes you different from the competition? Develop a statement of the primary differentiation of yourself. The differentiation is the single most important thing that sets you apart from the competition.

5. What Companies are you interested in? Company size? Private or Public? Non-Profit?

6. Willing to relocate? If so, where?

7. What benefits can employers derive from your skills, based on your proven accomplishments?
An Elevator speech should answer the question, “Why should I, or any employer, hire you and/or why should I give you information that may help you?” Read the attached article for more insight .

Quintessential Careers:
Elevator Speech Do’s and Don’ts

by Katharine Hansen   Be sure to read our articles The Elevator Speech is the Swiss Army Knife of Job-Search Tools and Fantastic Formulas for Composing Elevator Speeches. Here are the keys to successfully developing and using an elevator speech in your job-search. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success with this important tool of job-hunting.

• Do make your Elevator Speech sound effortless, conversational, and natural.
• Do make it memorable and sincere. Open a window to your personality.
• Do write and rewrite your speech, sharpening its focus and eliminating unnecessary words and awkward constructions.
• Do avoid an Elevator Speech that will leave the listener mentally asking “So what?”
• Do consider including a compelling “hook,” an intriguing aspect that will engage the listener, prompt him or her to ask questions, and keep the conversation going.
• Don’t let your speech sound canned or stilted.
• Do practice your speech. Experts disagree about whether you should memorize it, but you should know your speech well enough so you express your key points without sounding as though the speech was memorized. Let it become an organic part of you. Many experts suggest practicing in front of mirrors and role-playing with friends. Certified Professional Virtual Assistant Jean Hanson advises practicing in the car on the way to networking events.
• Don’t ramble. Familiarizing yourself as much as possible with your speech will help keep you from getting off track.
• Do be warm, friendly, confident, and enthusiastic. A smile is often the best way to show friendliness and enthusiasm, while a strong, firm voice the best way to express confidence.
• Do take it slowly. Don’t rush through the speech, and do pause briefly between sentences. Breathe.
• Do project your passion for what you do.
• Do maintain eye contact with your listener.
• Don’t get bogged down with industry jargon or acronyms that your listener may not comprehend.
• Do be prepared to wrap up earlier than you were planning if you see the listener’s eyes glazing over or interest waning.
• Don’t hesitate to develop different versions of your Elevator Speech for different situations and audiences.
• When developing an Elevator Speech for a specific employer you’ve targeted, do research the organization and incorporate that knowledge into your speech. See our Guide to Researching Companies, Industries, and Countries.
• If you’re cold-calling a hiring manager and get his or her voicemail don’t be afraid to leave your Elevator Speech as a voice message. You may be even more successful getting action from the speech than if you had talked to the manager personally.
• Do incorporate examples and stories to help support your points. Provide examples of successful outcomes of deploying your skills. Stories make your speech memorable.
• Don’t focus just on yourself, an approach that will almost assure a “so what?” reaction.
• Do focus on how you can benefit employers and help them solve their problems. Remember as you deliver your Elevator Speech that the listener may be mentally asking, “What’s in it for me (or my company)?” Author Carole Kanchier especially suggests that your benefits include how you can save an employer time and money, help people feel good, or expand markets.
• Do use concrete, listener-friendly language, but at the same time, don’t be afraid to paint vivid word pictures.
• Don’t forget to include your competitive advantage also known as your Unique Selling Proposition (USP); in other words. how you can perform better than anyone else.
• Do end with an action request, such as asking for a business card or interview appointment.
• Don’t forget to update your speech as your situation changes.
• If you are uncomfortable with the kind of speaking that the Elevator Speech entails, do consider joining a group such as Toastmasters to boost your confidence.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker’s Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms. Katharine Hansen is a former speechwriter and college instructor who provides content for Quintessential Careers, edits QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for jobseekers, and prepares job-search correspondence as chief writer for Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters. She is author of Dynamic Cover Letter for New Graduates; A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market; and, with Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., Dynamic Cover Letters and Write Your Way to a Higher GPA, all published by Ten Speed Press. She can be reached by e-mail at kathy@quintcareers.com.

Eric Walton on Networking Strategy

 This presentation was well attended at the Jobing.com Career Expo and Job Fair.

Networking Strategy by Eric Walton

Vision

Scottsdale Job Network (SJN) is the premier career transition support group in the Valley.

Mission

Scottsdale Job Network (SJN) provides job transition training, personal connections, access to resources and moral support for job seekers through a Valley-wide network of passionate volunteers.

WELCOME Job Seekers, Employers and Volunteers

Scottsdale Job Network (SJN) is a non-profit organization of job seekers and others volunteering their time to help them in their career transitions.

SJN also welcomes employers and recruiting agents interested in networking and posting job openings on our Yahoo Group.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Meetings are held on the first and third TUESDAY mornings, from 9:00-11:30 AM. We are a community group that meets at and uses space donated by our neighbor:

Temple Chai
4645 East Marilyn Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85032
Click here for a location map on MapQuest

* * * * * * * *

MEETINGS IN MAY 2008
9 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Temple Chai

     TUES, MAY 6, 2008 - Make Yourself Indispensable at Your Job

     TUES, MAY 20, 2008 - Managing Job Offers

For program details, see EVENTS CALENDAR
Learn about the SJN-Curriculum on the job search process.

- - - - - - - -

WORKSHOPS IN MAY 2008

NETWORKING AS A JOB SEARCH STRATEGY

WED, MAY 14, 2008: 3:30 PM -4:30 PM
Location: Jobing.com EXPO
Cardinals Stadium, Glendale, AZ

For program details, see EVENTS CALENDAR

- - - - - - - -

EXPLORING YOUR PASSION–PUTTING IT TO WORK

Tues, May 27, 2008: 9 AM - 4 PM
Location: Temple Chai

For program details, see EVENTS CALENDAR

Register via Internet by May 26
Seating is limited to 30 participants. Because SJN provides assessment booklets, binder and printed materials, there is a fee of $25 for this event. To register and make payment: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/106918797

* * * * * * * *

SJN is a non-profit community group of business leaders and volunteers. We provide education in the job search process and all attendees have the opportunity to meet and work with people who offer support and guidance during employment transition.  SJN is not a job placement forum. We do not match candidates to openings nor do we send resumes to employers or recruiters. There is no guarantee of employment either directly through this group or as a result of association with SJN.

Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday mornings:

9-9:30 Registration, resume reviews and networking
9:30 Welcome, announcements
10:00 Short break
10:10 Speaker begins
11:25 Speaker ends, feedback collected
Networking continues until 11:45

We meet at and use space provided by Temple Chai, 4645 East Marilyn Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032-4839.
- - - - - - - - - -

TUES, MAY 20, 2008
Meeting: 9 AM - 11:30 AM

MANAGING JOB OFFERS

Linda Baugh, Founder and President, American Career Executives http://www.amcareer.com/ presents this last in a series of seven programs from the SJN Curriculum on the Job Search Process.

You’ve had the interview, done the follow up and received an offer. Good for you! Now, what is expected of you, and how do you react? Issues to be addressed in this presentation will include determining whether to accept or decline the offer, negotiating the best offer without coming across as greedy, dealing with relocation requirements and starting over if you decline the offer.

* * * * * * * * * *

Exploring Your Passion – Putting It To Work

(a special workshop for job seekers)

TUES, MAY 27, 2008

9 AM - 4 PM at Temple Chai

Description

“Do you love what you do?” If you’re one of those “lucky ones” who can answer a resounding “Yes!” to this question, then this seminar is not for you. But, if you’re not, then you’ve probably asked yourself if there’s a job or career out there that’s a better match than what you’ve experienced - one that can be more satisfying and have more meaning in your life - and how you might go about finding it. This workshop is designed to help people who have asked themselves those questions.

Job seekers often limit themselves to what they “have always done” because it was the career that defined them for many years. They tend to lose sight of their many gifts, interests, strengths, and wealth of skills developed through life experience. This workshop utilizes proven tools to help individuals identify their strengths, talents and preferences - what they’re basically good at and really enjoy doing, and can prove to be useful in opening up job search options.

ANSWER TO INQUIRY

Is identifying job titles that fit particular strengths the objective?

We have shortened the workshop title and refer to it as the Passions workshop. The actual title is Exploring Your Passion – the key word being exploring. This isn’t something you get done in a day. From the feedback received from previous participants it raises new questions and gets people to think and look at the next phase of their life in a different way. This is work that requires thought, reflection, trial and error and honestly, sometimes, just dumb luck!! Identifying job titles that fit particular strengths is not the objective for this workshop.

The purpose and objectives are:

To explore individual desires, strengths, and talents in order to create a vision fueled by passion.
Identify a potential “stuckness”.
Utilize different tools and approaches to identify patterns in our life.
Begin to identify our strengths and talents.
Begin to identify a personal vision.

Presenter

Maria Wojtczak has 20+ years of organization development (OD) experience and worked with a wide range of organizations. She has worked with Chris Vicari, Executive Director of the Scottsdale Job Network, offering the Passions workshop and Job Transition workshops for the last five years. She currently serves on the SJN Board and is a member of the Curriculum Development committee. Maria is a graduate of the University of Michigan. She is also the owner of DrivingMBA, a driver tutoring facility here in the valley http://www.drivingmba.com

Workshop location

Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032-4839.

Register via Internet by May 26

Seating is limited to 30 participants and has a minimum enrollment of 12 participants to run the program. Because SJN provides assessment booklets, binder and printed materials, there is a fee of $25 for this event. To register and make payment: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/106918797

Lunch/Snack

Bring a sack lunch and beverages for the day. If possible bring something to share with the group as a breakfast treat in the morning or a snack in the afternoon.

General Inquiries
Contact: David Bell, chicagoman419@yahoo.com
_ _ _ _ _ _

Tues, June 3, 2008
Meeting: 9 AM - 11:30 AM

FINANCIAL DO’S & DON’TS DURING JOB TRANSITION

Guest presenter, Michael Prahl, will address a variety of issues and share information about health insurance, retirement planning, and monthly budgeting. Michael will discuss how to evaluate your own situation, when to seek assistance from an expert and how to find one that has your best interests in mind.

Michael Prahl is Financial Advisor at First Financial Equity Corporation in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is an enthusiastic networker who counsels people in job/career transition. When he’s not assisting clients with their financial needs, Michael spends a fair amount of time helping others through non-profit organizations and associations. We are fortunate that SJN is one of Michael’s favorite non-profit organizations.

_ _ _ _ _ _

Tues, June 17, 2008 - SJN Special Event

PANEL DISCUSSION ON BEING ENTREPRENEURIAL

Three amazing local entrepreneurs share words of wisdom to aspiring entrepreneurs and job seekers at Scottsdale Job Network (SJN) at its regular meeting, Tuesday, June 17, 9A – 11:30 A. Whether you are an entrepreneur or work with one, it’s better to know more on this important topic! Panelists are:

Lon Safko, Arizona’s top entrepreneur and inventor.
http://www.lonsafko.com/

Phil Harrington, successful CEO of ICM Document Solutions.
http://www.icmconv.com/

Tom Herman, area franchise owner, Marco’s Pizza, inductee-ASU’s Business Hall of Fame.
http://www.marcospizza.com/

Doug Bruhnke, CEO of Growth Nation http://www.growthnation.com/ and founder of AZIGG http://www.azigg.com/ will moderate.

Donations to SJN are requested.
No sign-up needed for the event at Temple Chai in North Scottsdale.

I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.  - Edward Everett Hale

GET INVOLVED!

SJN is an all-volunteer program that does not charge membership dues or meeting fees.  We rely on the generosity of volunteers–including job seekers, employers, alumni members (those who have worked with us in the past and are now employed) and others from the community.

We have found that members who engage with us as volunteers have fun while job searching, gain valuable insight and individual support, and make many friendships that they maintain when employed.

SJN Committees:

Curriculum:  Works to develop and improve content of SJN Curriculum of the Job Search Process and present to members at meetings and workshops.

Program:  Works with the Executive Director to develop, schedule and administer SJN meetings and workshops.

Operations:  Ensures efficient and effective bi-monthly meetings by lining up volunteers for hospitality and meeting facilitation, meets and greets participants, picks up the bagels.

Membership:  Attracts new members to SJN, serves as Yahoo Group moderators, and supports alumni initiatives.

Marketing:  Promotes SJN activities within the organization and in the community.  Defines and develops potential alliances that benefit SJN.  Helps us develop and nurture alliances with targeted community groups.

Finance:  Helps to raise funds to support SJN needs.

Contact:           Chris Vicari, Founder-Executive Director
E-mail:              info@scottsdalejobnet.com
Voice mail:       (480) 513-1491
 

Phoenix Jobs can be discovered in a variety of ways.  There are a great variety of jobs available in the Greater Phoenix Metro Area.

Joining Scottsdale Job Network Yahoo Group benefits job seekers and employers. Phoenix Arizona area jobs are sent directly by recruiter- and employer-members to the members of that Yahoo Group. In order to receive job postings and notices from SJN, job seekers need to attend one SJN event and join our Yahoo Group which is only accessible to members.

Many Employment Search Firms and Recruiters participate in the SJN meetings twice a month, sitting at tables in the back of the room so they are easy to identify and approach.  Scottsdale Job Network members are often invited to participate in job fairs and other events that these recruiting companies and a variety of community organizations put on for Phoenix area job searchers.

On the left hand side of the SJN (Scottsdale Job Network) website there is a branded Phoenix Jobs Board provided in partnership with Jobing.com. There job seekers can submit their resumes for free and recruiters and employers can submit their job openings and Phoenix job requirements into the Jobing database for a fee.  The job listings submitted by this mechanism are available to all Phoenix job seekers.

This Phoenix Jobs Board can be accessed by visiting:  Phoenix Jobs

Phoenix Jobs that are actually provided by the City of Phoenix can be found at the city’s website and are also posted on a regular basis to the Mailing List mentioned above.  To get  a more immediate copy of the Phoenix Jobs Mailing List and to learn more about Phoenix Jobs and the working for the City of Phoenix visit the links below:

Current Phoenix Employment Opportunities
Get Phoenix job listings by e-mail
Learn About City of Phoenix Job Benefits
Find a Specific City of Phoenix Job

Local newspapers still have job seeker classified ads listing certain kinds of Arizona jobs and career opportunities in the Phoenix Arizona Area and the Phoenix Business Journal also lists Phoenix Jobs.   Phoenix.Craigslist.org provides areas for posting Jobs in Phoenix and many of the national job boards such as monster, careerbuilder, and hotjobs provide the ability to focus down to see only the Phoenix jobs, Scottsdale jobs, Tempe jobs and other jobs around the Greater Phoenix area and Maricopa County.