2020

 

The year began like any other with New Years' celebrations and a strong outlook for the job market with a very low unemployment rate. North Coast Job Seekers had a strong lineup of programs and speakers lined up for the coming months to help those in job and career transition. Those plans were short-lived, however, as all of our lives were changed by the global pandemic. In mid-March, our NCJS Advisory Board took the retrospectively wise step of cancelling our scheduled meetings.

 

We all know how the rest of 2020 turned out, with many of our members and families being personally touched by the ravages of the COVID-19 virus. At the same time, layoffs and business closings were widespread. The services of NCJS were needed, so we turned to technologies that would soon be embraced by virtually everyone -- online meetings. While not the same as being in person, we quickly learned how to leverage these virtual meetings to achieve our goals and help our members. At first we had only "Networking" meetings, but returned to having speakers and presentations by August.

Previous NCJS Meetings

2020

 

These are previous topics, speakers, and resources North Coast Job Seekers provided for its members. The first meeting of each month (on the Second Monday) is ordinarily a Networking Meeting.  The other monthly meeting involves a speaker and presentation. Join us in future meetings to sharpen your job seeking skills, interact with well-connected professionals, and learn from some of the North Coast's best job skill leaders.

Networking Meetings

Second Monday of Each Month

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

NETWORKING AND JOB SEARCH ISSUES

 

Job seekers are invited to join with other NCJS members and leaders for constructive networking, job search troubleshooting, sharing what's going well and what is not, and collaborating on job leads.

Networking is part of "Job Search 101," yet many job seekers lack the actual network of "people with connections" during a time of job transition. Networking is one of the cornerstones of North Coast Job Seekers and we are very intentional about providing face-to-face time to explore connections, be introduced to new contacts, discover new opportunities, and share the people resources that YOU have to help another job seeker.  Join with other NCJS members for this face-to-face time of constructive networking, job leads, and issue sharing.

Monday, January 27, 2020

7:30 – 9:00pm

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting
"The 10 Second Resume"
& "Marketing Yourself Like a Pro"

Speaker:  Jim Folger

Jim Folger will be giving TWO presentations at this meeting.  The first is called "The 10 Second Resume" and shares perspectives about what is important from a recruiter's perspective to quickly communicate the key things in your resume.  These techniques have helped many job seekers get jobs over the years.

 

The second presentation is called "Marketing Yourself Like a Pro" and will show job seekers how to expand their list of target companies and network their way in.  Jim will share a few tricks to help you get what you need off the internet without using expensive tools.  The meeting will start promptly at 7:30pm to make sure we get through all of the information and have time for Q&A.

 

Jim Folger is a recruiter, and the President of One Source Technical. Inc., a national search firm that partners with small to medium sized companies to help them recruit for positions ranging from Engineering and other professional positions, to all levels of Management, to Sales and other customer facing roles.  They have multiple ways that they can work with clients.  Their flagship service, which they call their Premier Staffing Program, is optimized for high visibility positions in the company, and utilizes behavioral sciences to assess fit to help avoid expensive mis-hires in these important roles.

 

Jim is an Engineer with two decades of industry experience in Engineering, management, and customer facing roles prior to founding OneSource Technical.  Jim's background as a hiring manager, and as a recruiter provides a unique perspective that encompasses both sides of the hiring desk.  Jim is on the Advisory Board of North Coast Job Seekers and has been volunteering his time with various job seeker help groups for more than 20 years to help people in career transition.  Jim can be a valuable resource to reach out to should you be at a crossroad in your career and need to brainstorm ideas.  Job seekers are also welcome to Search Jobs in the company's network of nearly 1,000 recruiters.

Monday, February 24, 2020

7:30 – 9:00pm

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting
"Attracting Awesome Job Opportunities with LinkedIn"

Speaker:  Kristen McLaughlin

 

Presentation slides available in our NCJS Online Resource Library
CLICK HERE

 

"Are you on LinkedIn?"  How many times have you heard this recently? Professionals are often encouraged to "go on LinkedIn" when searching for a new job. So you create a LinkedIn profile... and then what?

 

Ready for some good news?  LinkedIn can be easy to use, and help you see results in a short period of time.

 

In this presentation, you'll learn:

  • The 2 most important things you must do to see results from LinkedIn.
  • An exercise that conveys the hidden power of LinkedIn to simplify your networking efforts.
  • Tricks for using LinkedIn that strengthen professional connections and identify hot new job opportunities.

 

Kristen McLaughlin works with motivated professionals who feel stuck in their career and want an awesome job that makes them excited to go to work every day.  She is passionate about helping others meet their career goals and successfully navigate the job search process.  Clients from a variety of industries and stages of their career have seen success in working with Kristen.

 

Born and raised in Cleveland, Kristen earned her Executive Coaching Certificate from Case Western Reserve University and is a Board Certified Coach.  She earned business degrees from John Carroll University and Case Western Reserve University. 

 

Kristen is a member of several professional organizations, including International Coach Federation (ICF) – Cleveland Chapter and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).

NCJS IN-PERSON GROUP MEETINGS
CANCELLED

 

NO MEETINGS FOR REMAINDER OF MARCH, POSSIBLY APRIL
WE WILL KEEP MEMBERS INFORMED VIA WEB, EMAIL, LINKEDIN

NCJS MEETINGS RETURN! 

Monday, April 27, 2020

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Virtual Networking Meeting

Networking & Job Search Issues

Using the secure video conferencing tools, we are continuing our most important NCJS services: Meeting "face-to-face" for networking, job search support, and presentations to assist professionals in transition.  While not the same as "being there" with the group, these virtual meetings are a helpful time of connecting and networking.  They also serve as good training ground for virtual interviews!

 

Networking is one of the cornerstones of North Coast Job Seekers and we are very intentional about providing face-to-face time to explore connections, be introduced to new contacts, discover new opportunities, and share the people resources that YOU have to help another job seeker.  Join with other NCJS members for this face-to-face time of constructive networking, job leads, and issue sharing.

All NCJS meetings in April, May, June, and July were Networking meetings. In August we returned to our normal schedule of speakers on 4th Monday of each month

Monday, August 24, 2020

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Virtual Presentation:
"Learning to Thrive During Uncertain Times"
Speaker: Amy Salapski

 

When faced with uncertainty, we have an opportunity to learn from the challenges and strengthen our resiliency.  Those with greater resilience are better able to manage stress and conflict, and to increase their overall effectiveness.   Resilience also helps us to maintain balance in our lives during difficult or stressful periods. During this highly interactive program we will explore some of the key traits of resiliency and apply hands-on practice with tools for further developing those traits.

 

By the end of the session, the participants will be able to:

  • Provide a simple definition of resilience
  • List 3 or more traits of emotional resilience
  • Apply 3 or more tools to develop emotional resilience

Amy Salapski is the Managing Partner of Cambium Development Group.  With over 25 years of experience specializing in Organizational and Talent Development, she consults with clients and facilitates programs on topics of leadership development, employee onboarding, change management, high potential development, employee engagement, and women in leadership.

 

Amy has held multiple management and executive roles in the HR function for public, private and government organizations.  In her most recent executive role, she led the organizational development function responsible for company-wide leadership and professional development programs, high potential programs, internal coaching, employee onboarding, talent assessment, succession planning, and employee engagement.  A skilled practitioner of Appreciative Inquiry, Amy has designed full-scale summits and integrated AI into smaller-scale applications. She is also a Board Certified Coach and uses Emotional Intelligence tools as a core foundation to developing others.

Monday, September 28, 2020

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Virtual Presentation:
"How to Conduct an Effective Job Search
in the Midst of This Pandemic"

Speaker: Jeremy Short

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the job market.  With high unemployment and limited opportunities, it can be overwhelming to stay in the job search.  Jeremy Short, a Human Resources expert and someone who "gets it" with job seekers, will offer advice specific to job seeking during this pandemic.  Have your notebook by your computer to capture expert strategies, tips, and hints as this is going to be an extremely valuable presentation.

 

Jeremy Short is a Public Speaker, Career Coach, and Leadership Strategist.  In his spare time, he works as Director of Talent Management and Development at MetroHealth and is a former HR Leader at Sherwin Williams.  He is also on the adjunct faculty of Baldwin Wallace University teaching Human Resources courses in their Business program.

Monday, October 26, 2020

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Virtual Presentation:
"Are You On the Right Path?"

Speaker: Jim Folger

Are You On the Right Path?

 

Jim has been using behavioral sciences to help clients make better hiring decisions by aligning the right people with the right jobs for almost 2 decades. In Jim’s volunteer work with job seekers he has also used these tools to help job seekers understand whether they are pursuing the right jobs. You will be given an opportunity to take a self assessment tool to provide insights into your behavioral style, the things that motivate you, and the development levels of 25 soft skills that the instrument looks at. In a group presentation Jim will give an overview of how these relate to our jobs.

 

In This Session You Will:

  • Receive a FREE online instrument utilizing 3 sciences:  Behaviors, Motivations, and Skills (a $350 value).

  • Gain a better understanding of yourself, how you interact with others, why you do what you do, and how your behaviors, motivations, and skills  align with your career.

  • Understand how to read others and adapt your style to improve communication effectiveness.

Jim Folger is a recruiter, and the President of OneSource Technical, Inc., a national search firm that partners with small to medium sized companies to help them recruit for a broad range of professional positions.  Jim is an Engineer with 2 decades of industry experience in Engineering, management, and customer facing roles prior to founding OneSource Technical.  Jim’s background as a hiring manager and as a recruiter provides a unique perspective that encompasses both sides of the hiring desk.  Jim can be a valuable resource to reach out to should you be at a crossroad in your career and need to brainstorm ideas.  Job seekers are also welcome to Search Jobs in the company’s network of nearly 1.000 recruiters.  Connect with Jim on LinkedIn and join him in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

Monday, November 9, 2020

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Special Virtual Networking Meeting:
"Zoom Mocktail Meeting"

 

You’re Invited!
A Primer for Mixing Job Seeking and Party Mingling
in the Age of Virtual Gatherings


Remember the "normal" holiday cocktail party where business, recruiting, and networking would mingle  like the well-dressed guests around the room?  Many of those gatherings will still be happening, but with the added awkwardness of being virtual.  It was one thing to balance a glass and a plate of hors d'oeuvres while shaking the hand of the person you've been trying to meet with for a month, but now it will be with the added awkwardness of all-things-virtual.  What should I wear (at least in camera view)?  What about computer/camera placement and audio?  And just how DO I get the introductions I am hoping for?


Join NCJS for a dress rehearsal Zoom Mocktail Meeting.  This year you will need to supply your own appetizers and beverages, but we will practice this new art of virtual meeting and networking.  We'll include tips for working in your elevator speech, how to navigate introductions, and getting yourself noticed without being overbearing – because this is, after all, yet another opportunity for networking.

 

Black Tie Optional

Monday, November 23, 2020

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Virtual Presentation:
"Making the Most of Your LinkedIn Profile"

Speaker: De-de Mulligan

De-de Mulligan is President and Chief Content Specialist of Mulligan Management Group.  De-de leads an energetic team who deliver memorable design and content for websites, blogs and social media posts. She helps clients extend their marketing reach and add more value to the conversation surrounding their business. 

 

De-de is well known for her strong writing skills and ability to tell a compelling business story.  Establishing, conveying, and implementing clients’ vision is what she and her staff do best. Businesses tap her proven record of successfully launching digital marketing initiatives and creating name recognition for clients in highly competitive marketplaces. As a consultant, De-de works closely with major decision-makers to set digital communication goals, plan strategy and build long-term relationships.

 

She is a true professional with diverse experience in marketing, public relations, communications, program development and implementation.

 

De-de is a member and participant in the NCJS LinkedIn Group and her LinkedIn profile can be found at De-de Mulligan.

Monday, December 14, 2020

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Virtual Panel Discussion:
"Coping Techniques to Relieve Stress During the Holidays, Unemployment, and the Pandemic"

 

Panelists:  Monica Ascar & Patrick Gaul

 

Stress, worry, anxiety, and depression are very real aspects of job transition at any time, much less during this COVID-19 pandemic.  These feelings can be compounded with the upcoming holidays.  Have you experienced any of these thoughts or feelings?

  • Loss of identity or sense of purpose, not knowing how to respond to that frequent question, "So, what do you do?"
  • Fear that you may not have the financial resources to keep up with your bills and obligations, and not knowing where to turn for help.
  • Disappointing your family, particularly if children are in the picture, when it comes to holiday gifts and celebrations.
  • Resentful of others who did not lose their job.
  • How long will this go on, and will I make it?

Whether or not these fears represent your experience, the reality is that job transition is fraught with challenges and an emotional rollercoaster, heightened by the pandemic and the holidays ahead.  In order to address some of these realities, we have invited two experts to join us for a virtual panel discussion.  The intent of this conversation is to provide coping techniques, practices, and resources to help manage your stress.

 

MEET OUR PANELISTS

Monica Ascar, MSW, LISW-S

Monica serves as the MSW Coordinator at The University of Akron School of Social Work, Lakewood Campus. Her social work practice has included extensive work within healthcare and child welfare settings. Her specialties include medical social work; child welfare; children, youth, and families; and organizational climate and culture.

Patrick T. Gaul, SHRM SCP

Patrick is Manager of EAP Operations at AllOne Health. His specialties include employee benefits and employee wellness. He uses relationship-based networking and account management to strengthen the workforce, specifically by encouraging employee self-awareness, and providing resources and motivation for self-improvement.

2019 Meetings & Topics

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