Tuesday, February 17, 2009

NOTES From Meeting #4 - Feb 13 (Montlake Library)

- 7 people attended, and we welcomed 2 new people:
Kelly Randall (advertising - production/project mgt/acct mgt)
Casey Lynn (advertising - interactive art director)
- Good discussion on the role of account management within an agency.
- Job leads: Wunderman (account supervisor role), Marchex (marketing manager).
- Sue shared tips on the "30-second intro" from her most recent outplacement sessions. This needs to be practiced (daily) until it feels natural.
1) Intro - name, where from, education
2) Most recent position with at least 2 key accomplishments. (have 6 to pull from and interchange based on situation, job applying for, etc.)
3) Reason for current search (laid off, new challenge, etc.)
4) Objective - what it is I'm looking for now.
- We talked about having guest speakers, and everyone seemed up for it.

ACTION ITEMS:
- Casey is going to share info on limiting public access to Facebook and LinkedIn profiles.
- Sue will have information from her "Interviews" outplacement session this> week.
- Kelly will follow up with securing guest speakers for future meetings.

PLEASE NOTE:
I need a volunteer for someone to own this week's meeting finding a venue and moderating the discussion. I may be out for most of Friday with a volunteer opportunity (Addy awards show judging stuff.)
If you're interested, please let me know. Thanks!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

NOTES from Meeting #3 - Feb 6 (University Zoka)

- Largest meeting to date, with 9 of us there.
- 1st off, CONGRATS to Keri for landing the job w/ the YWCA! She starts Monday. We wish her luck and will continue to cc: her on these, as she requested.
- We also welcomed new 'member' Kathleen Goepferd, a marketing writer. And Nicole was able to join us for the 1st time.
- Sue provided a very detailed and informative sample of an interviewing guide. THANKS!
- We brainstormed companies that might be fun/good to work for while job searching. Initial ideas: Trader Joe's, Home Depot, Crate & Barrel, REI, PCC market...
- It was determined to create a Facebook group that we can use to post links, info, etc.
- Sue mentioned that the company Happy Baby is looking for part-time marketing work.
- Kelly mentioned that the Friday's Seattle Times front page article was about unemployment and the stimulus package.

- Word on the street is that there's an opening at Washington Dental.
- Good news: most of us are interviewing, and we've got a LOT of connections within the community.

ACTION ITEMS:
- Nicole will look at creating a Facebook group for us to post links and info we've gathered along the way.
- Kelly will scout out possible next location: Grateful Bread (7001 35th Ave NE).
- Sue is having lunch with Kass Sells (Wunderman) and will check on position salary ranges for Nicole.
- Ariella to share reading list for getting up to speed on Interactive. (she just sent it out.)

Monday, February 2, 2009

NOTES From Meeting #2 - Jan 30 (Aster Coffee Lounge)

- 7 of us got together at Aster Coffee Lounge in Ballard.
- Great discussion on several topics, including: job boards we're searching, thoughts on headhunters/placement agencies, interview preparation, and leveraging LinkedIn. And of course, we traded info on job leads and recent postings.
- It was decided to host the next meeting (Friday, 2/6, 1pm) near U-Village.

ACTION ITEMS:
- Sue to check out coffee shop in the U-Village area for this Friday's meeting.
- Keri to send Kenna a list of non-profit links.
- Kelly to connect Ariella with Garrigan Lyman's HR rep for Web Producer role.
- Sue to follow up with her connection at Calidora.
- Sue to bring list of interview questions to next meeting.
- Kelly to provide list of placement agencies, job boards.

In addition to Miller's 1-second "HIGH LIFE!" ad, Alec Baldwin for Hulu, and the E*Trade baby's golf ad, my favorite Super Bowl spot (ironically) was for CareerBuilder:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79tMMFja-Fw