Jan 21, 2011

This Friday's OCA meeting.
Kathy Clayton will be on hand to present, "Surviving the malaise of unemployment." Regardless of how long you've been looking for work, a job search can run the gamut from relaxing and rejuvenating to frustrating and downright maddening. One thing that is fairly constant, however, is how unsettling it all can be.

Join us this Friday, 10:30, at the SVC and hear from Kathy - corporate, team and personal coach. www.kathyclayton.com - "Enhancing effectiveness in business and life through awareness, conscious thinking and intentional action for lasting, reproducible results"

Also... Mei Lu, from Jobfully, will also be at our meeting later in the morning, to answer any questions people may have about her 3-month complimentary offer. (see below)

JOB NEWS
Marci Zervizi just landed a contract job with AT&T, where she'll be doing marketing planning for them. And in the spirit of OCA, she got the position through a connection's referral.
Congrats, Marci!!

January 14 2011 - welcome back

This week's meeting:
We're back! and are actually entering our third year. 10:30 am at the SVC. No speaker this week; just good ol' fashioned networking and catching up after the holidays.

Job news!
I'm very happy to announce that Sean Linton has just started a new job as a Sales / Account Manager for Life+Gear, a new consumer-focused company based out of California.
Congrats, Sean!

Upcoming Speakers:
January 21st - Kathy Clayton will talk about "Surviving the Malaise of Unemployment"
February 4th - Michael Surkan will visit us to talk about podcasting as a marketing (and self promotion) tool, as well as blogging. http://surkanstance.blogspot.com/search/label/tales

Notes from 12/3/2010 - volunteering and alumni connections

At our 12/3 OCA meeting, we talked about volunteer opportunities that job seekers can take advantage of - to give back, to widen and sometimes deepen your experience, to network, and to pursue a particular passion - all while you have the time. Every city has a multitude of opportunities where you can provide time or expertise to help others. The city of Seattle's web site provides ideas for ways to contribute around town or in your community, and it also has a calendar of events which can be viewed to show only volunteer opportunities.(Under event types, click 'None', then click 'Volunteer'.)

At our meeting, we also talked about the importance of tapping into your alumni network(s). It's an easy connection to make with someone while networking if they went to the same college and rooted for the same team. As different as they may actually be from you, there's almost an instant connection where they can relate to you from the simple fact that you both chose to attend the same university.

In addition, schools brand themselves by the quality of the alumni they produce. Many companies tout the education of their management team, so why wouldn't a university want to help promote its "leaders of industry" who once walked their halls and campuses? Reach out to the career center of your school to see if they can offer any job search assistance or advice.

One Connection Away is taking a break

The School of Visual Concepts will be closed each Friday until mid-January, giving everyone the opportunity to spend time with their friends and family and maybe have a one-on-one coffee or two.

We'll be back on our regular schedule January 14th. See you then!

November Events

November doesn't just mean stuffing.

Prolango's last mixer of the year. (Tonight)

SMC Seattle (Social Media Club)

Linked:Seattle (A Linkedin Group)

the PSAMA (Puget Sound Chapter of American Marketing Association)

Eastside Networking Group

(Plus more events as I learn of them)


Check out the Calendar at the bottom of the page for area networking events. (you can subscribe to the calendar by clicking on the lower right corner)

Art and Copy hits PBS

I saw this documentary last summer when it played here in Seattle. That night I walked out of the theatre wishing anyone who wasn't sure why I love advertising and the power of brand and messaging could see this film.

Last night the movie showed on PBS' Independent Lens, and I got to enjoy it all over again. For anyone who hadn't caught it before, it's a well-crafted view into the world of advertising, as told by many of the greats who have worked in the field.

Below is a 2 minute trailer. Or watch the full version on the PBS video feed.

Career development from the employer perspective

Click and take a look.