After a long break, I’m back.  I’ve had some temporary short term contract work which has kept me busy for a while.

I’m writing this to let everyone know that I’ve added a new feature to the site, a networking calendar that can be found by clicking the networking calendar tab at the top of the page, or for those of you subscribed to my feed, by clicking this link: Networking Calendar.  It gets updated from a personal calendar I have online, and will be updated pretty regularly as I move forward.

During my job search I have been to many different types of networking events from a one on one get together, to business mixers, to faith based support groups, to what is called a SST or Self Support Team. The list goes on.

I found out about the SST through Southwest Job Network, it’s an idea of a small group of 6-8 people meeting to discuss employment trends in different jobs and functional areas, specific job opportunities, share successes, ask advice, and get feedback on various areas of the job search process and networking.

I plan on posting events I will attend, or have attended and been to in the past that are repeating events, and will make a note of it in the calendar entry if it is an event I will actually be attending or if it is just one I’ve been to before that I found helpful in my job search.  There are some events on there now, and I will be adding more in the near future.

If you have been to an event I’ve listed, please e-mail me or comment on my blog about it, and let me know your thoughts, what has worked for you, what hasn’t, what you liked or disliked about a particulr event, and if there is an event you would like to have listed, let me know and I will post it for you.

Happy Reading!

They have been renamed Southwest Job Network to better position themselves and be recognized as the premier valley wide resource for those in the community who are  in a job search or career transition or for anyone considering a change in careers during these challenging economic times.

During the month of June they have held events in other parts of the valley, on the west side of the valley in Glendale for their kickoff event at co-sponsor Glendale Community College a workshop entitled “Get Wired to Get Hired”  held on 6/4/09.

They also held an event at Chandler-Gilbert Community College on 6/11/09 for the start of their six part job search curriculum, with part one titled, “Understanding the Emotions of a Career Change”.

I attended both of these events as a supporter for SJN and one of the things I remember Eric Walton saying in his presentation at the Chandler event was something like “We are not a job service, and won’t get you a job, but will teach you to fish.”  That is a big part of what I like about SJN, and why I will continue to volunteer my time after I’ve landed my next position. People helping people, is what it’s all about.

SJN is staffed entirely by volunteers, from the founder Chris Vicari, and the other board members, to greeters at events who take new registrations and answer questions, to people who speak at the events, to those behind the scenes providing support in a variety of way including monitoring and approving messages on the Yahoo group, uploading and updating files, responding to information requests, to people who run for refreshments for the meetings, people who review resumes at some events, and people who handle the setup and take-down of audio-visual equipment at meetings, and those that provide technical assistance when needed.

Volunteering for SJN has been a blessing for me, I’ve met many amazing people through this organization.  I started this blog after several conversations with people at SJN including Bill Austin, who answered my questions about blogging, and many other members who I am able to bounce ideas off of to get feedback.

There are many exciting things coming up for SJN, and volunteering and getting involved is one way I know to expand your network, get out and be involved.

Losing a job has many emotional sides to it, and having only moved here a year and a half ago for a job, and only knowing a handful of people which were mainly the people I worked with, SJN and people I’ve met through this organization are there for moral and emotional support, and have been part of my support structure as I move forward in my job search.

As I last posted, I was given the opportunity to speak briefly at a blogging workshop hosted by SJN and was asked to give a job-seekers view on blogging, and how it’s another tool to use in and during your job search.  I likely would not have had that opportunity had I not been involved with and volunteering for SJN at that time.  An article ran in the Arizona Republic a short time after that event and can be found here: Baby Boomers turn to blogs to find jobs

Currently the website for SJN is at Scottsdalejobnet.com but will be transitioning to Southwestjobnet.com soon.

Happy Monday and Happy Reading!