Blog: Patty Revis

The room was abuzz with excitement as the 2009 Pinnacle Awards, sponsored by ADP, were announced during a luncheon at the SHRM Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. Each year, the Pinnacle Awards recognize outstanding projects designed and implemented by SHRM chapters and state councils. Each award carries a $1,000 prize for the chapter/council as well as a special Pinnacle lapel pin. Projects are judged by an internal SHRM staff committee and an external committee made up of SHRM members. This year saw entries from 45 chapters and eight state councils. A total of nine awards were presented—seven to chapters and two to state councils.

Winners of the 2009 Pinnacle Awards are:

Evansville-Area Human Resource Association (Indiana)

Human Resources Management Association of New Orleans (Lousiana)

Human Resources Management Association of New Mexico (Albuquerque)

Susquehanna Human Resource Management Association (Pennsylvania)

Austin Human Resource Management Association (Texas)

Mid-Cities Human Resource Association (Texas)

Raleigh-Wake Human Resource Management Association and Triangle SHRM (North Carolina)

New Hampshire SHRM State Council

Garden State Council – SHRM, Inc.

North Texas: Wide Open for Sustainability & Growth!
Profit! People! Planet!

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: The University of Texas at Arlington, Riverbend Campus,
7300 Jack Newell Boulevard, S., Fort Worth, TX 76118

Growing the Texas economy is a priority for Governor Rick Perry.
 
As an expression of that commitment, the governor's office is sponsoring a complimentary one-day event on November 18, 2009. The event is organized by the Small Business Development Center for Enterprise Excellence headquartered at UTA's Riverbend/ARRI campus in NE Fort Worth (www.arri.uta.edu ). 
 
The goal of this conference is to provide North Texas business owners and entrepreneurs with new skills, ideas and examples to grow profitable, sustainable businesses. The keynote speeches and workshops throughout the day focus on the wide-open opportunities to achieve the 3 Ps: Profit, Planet & People which translates to growing your business, sustaining your business & our global community as well as advancing your company culture to enhance your best resource – your people!

Click here for More Information or to Register! 
Growing the Texas economy is a priority for Governor Rick Perry.
 
As an expression of that commitment, the governor's office is sponsoring a complimentary one-day event on November 18, 2009. The event is organized by the Small Business Development Center for Enterprise Excellence headquartered at UTA's Riverbend/ARRI campus in NE Fort Worth (www.arri.uta.edu ). 
 
The goal of this conference is to provide North Texas business owners and entrepreneurs with new skills, ideas and examples to grow profitable, sustainable businesses. The keynote speeches and workshops throughout the day focus on the wide-open opportunities to achieve the 3 Ps: Profit, Planet & People which translates to growing your business, sustaining your business & our global community as well as advancing your company culture to enhance your best resource – your people!

Keynote speakers include:

·        Richard Greene, former regional administrator for the EPA, discussing climate change and its accompanying business opportunities and challenges.
·        David Vinjamuri, author of the popular book “Accidental Branding” (www.accidentalbranding.com) shares stories of how entrepreneurs accidentally created companies like Burt's Bees, Baby Einstein and Craigslist.
 
Workshops focus on the Profit, Planet & People:

·        Profit 101 teaches you how to grow sales profitably.
·        Go Green to See More Green demonstrates waste reduction methods with case studies and tips for your business.
·        Creating a Culture for Improvement teaches the principles of Servant Leadership used successfully by Southwest Airlines and other local companies.
 
This event is the perfect way to prepare your company for wide open sustainable growth in 2010!
 
Register Now

Jobing.com is proud to announce a newly formed state wide resource and partnership for returning Veterans who are entering the workforce.

Operation Job Match is a collaborative effort between the Society for Human Resource Management (TXSHRM) State Council, Harrington Strategies in San Antonio, Intelligent Compensation in Austin, Jobing.com along with a variety of local workforce agency partners. The entire site is devoted to putting our returning armed forces in Texas back to work and it offically launces today. 

There are thousands of military veterans in the State of Texas currently seeking employment. Part of the problem in getting veterans hired is that there is a significant gap between Military Employers and many U.S. Employers concerning workforce readiness assessment, skill defiintion, job requirement relevancy, and the use of a common language to communicate and bridge relevant qualifications.

Spread the word and check out the site!
 
http://www.operationjobmatch.com/ 

One of the most useful things you can do is develop relevant and timely questions for the job interview. Asking a nice balance of questions about the company, its culture, the position and the interviewer's background is a great way to leave a lasting impression. Whatever you do, don't ask a goofball question that has no real "umph" to it.
 
Tonight we are talking about questions that job seekers should ask during a job interview. Not just at the end, but the things that information you should lead with. Often there may be a statement rather than a question too.
 
Questions such as:
 
How did this position become available?
What qualifications did you see on my resume that you liked and what are some that you feel I lack?
I'm interested in a long-term career here, where can I move up to from this position?
(If this is not a brand new position) What are some areas that need improvement by the next person in this role?
(If this is a brand new position) What occurred that created a need for this new position?
What is the retention rate in this organization?
What are your expectations of a new person in this role?
(If this is a public company) What is the stock doing today? (but be careful on this one)
Where do you see the growth of this company in the next 10 years?
 
Statments such as:
 
Tell me about the culture of the company.
Please share with me how you got your job here and what you like most about it.
Tell me about the business philosophy of the executive leadership at this company.
Share with me what you see as your number one challenge in a day.
Tell me why someone would want to join your organization.
Tell me why you enjoy working and what gets you excited.

As we take a day on Wednesday, 11/11 to celebrate Veteran's Day, I wanted to take a moment to thank all the Vet's in North Texas. If you are a Vet returning to work after active duty, remember that there are many sources to support you in your job searche. Of course here on Jobing. However in adition, mMany Workforce Centers in Tarrant, Dallas and North Central Texas have specialists who can assist as well. For a list of them, check out our Community Resources Page.

Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military veterans. Both a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, it is usually observed on November 11. However, if it occurs on a Sunday then the following Monday is designated for holiday leave, and if it occurs Saturday then either Saturday or Friday may be so designated. It is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.*

*According to Wikipedia.

Stalled in your Job Search? We'll give you some enhanced information to re-energize you search by providing information that is not readily available in the DFW area. This event will feature advanced lectures on relationship building, understanding advanced resume technologies, the importance of personal branding and expanding your digital footprint, as well as other timely and relevant topics for the savy job seeker. You are not alone. We are here to help.

Saturday, October 31
8:30am - 1:00pm
Trinity Vineyard Fellowship Church
1401 W. 5th Street
Fort Worth, 76012

Registration is required. To register go to www.careersearchnetwork.org and click on the Seminars/workshops page.

International Business Coach, Scott Carley, and Nationally recognized Real Estate and Motivational Speaker, Chad Goldwasser have announced that they have scheduled a stop in the metroplex for their next supercharged event. It will be held at the Arlington Convention Center, 1200 Ballpark Way on Thursday, November 12. The all-day event will provide an excellent training opportunity for emerging and seasoned sales professionals alike.

In addition to motivational topics, the pair will cover the mind set of the sales person, how time thieves arrest your productivity, tools, tips and techniques that apply to supercharging your sales career and answer the age-old question of "what does netWORKING really mean?"

For more information and a registration form, go to www.highovoltagesalestour.com.

What does it mean to “sell yourself”? It’s ensuring that your resume makes it to the top of the stack, or that your name is on the short list of preferred candidates. Sure it starts with a good cover letter. But does it really start there? It’s having confidence in yourself and your abilities in order to convince others that you are the perfect person for that incredible job that you really want.

In order to be the best, you have to know that you’re the best, and that means you have to do your homework. That’s right, education. There are many jobs out there but you may not have the right background. Well get it. You may be busy with a job that you don’t really want, but it pays the bills. Or you may be collecting unemployment for the time being, but that won’t last forever. Take a big tug on those bootstraps and earn the education that you need to better position yourself, professionally.

Going back to school… the idea is quite inspiring, really. But where will you find the time? You have it… you just need to carve it out of your schedule. The good news is that you live in the day-in-age of the Internet and what an awesome tool that is. Because of its widespread access, there are some really great online education options out there that offer you the opportunity to study wherever and whenever you want. The fact of the matter is, online education is booming right now and because of the competition, you have some excellent options.

So here’s the drill: finish your bachelors, get your masters, differentiate yourself with a specialized certificate in an up-and-coming field like Sustainability Leadership, Software Engineering and Networking, or go global with an international business doctorate. Do your homework. Research your options. You may be surprised at the educational opportunities that exist today within our pivotal global economy.

Sell yourself with confidence, knowing you have the right education. Research your educational opportunities at JobingEducation or learn more about one of our sponsored schools, UC Irvine - Extension (http://dallas.jobing.com/companyprofile.asp?i=127019) (online certificate programs) or California Intercontinental University (http://dallas.jobing.com/company_profile.asp?i=127036)  (CalU – online master’s and doctorate degrees). Use your time wisely to better your life and let the bidding begin!

Imagine this scenario, you have always been paid by the hour and all the sudden you are faced with an opportunity but the offer is given to you in salary numbers. Or, you have always earned an annual salary and the offer is made in an hourly wage. Conversion is super easy!

Generally speaking and on average, if you double the hourly wage on a full-time position and 50 weeks per year, you will get the annual wage. Conversely, if you split the annual salary amount in half, you get the hourly wage.

For example:

$8.00 per hour X 40 hours per week = $320 per week
$320 per week X 50 weeks in a year = $16,000 per year
Thus doubling $8.00 per hour would be $16,000.

Now, naturally this is a ball park. Unless you can do exact quick math in your head, this is a great tip to get you a quick pay range and you'll know where to start negotiations.

Whether you are going to interview for a c-level position or a welding position, you need to dress for success for the meeting. 

The job interview is your chance to shine. Even if your job will require you to wear a uniform or if you will be able to wear jeans, it would be in your best interest to wear your "Sunday best" when meeting a potential employer.

What this means is certainly a suit if  you have one. Either a pant suit or skirt suit for ladies and suit for men. If you don't happen to own a suit and can't borrow one, then slacks and a shirt for men and something similar for ladies. DO NOT wear shorts OR open toed shoes. Certainly no tank tops.

Keep your nails neatly trimmed and your hair groomed. Keep jewelry to an absolute minimum. Ask yourself this question: "Would I hire me?" And then be honest with yourself and act accordingly.

Need help finding a job in the tough, competitive market? Are you hitting brick walls when job hunting? Then join us for a great seminar to help you sharpen, polish and refine your job-hunting skills. Find out first-hand what it takes to get your resume noticed by the employer, build YOUR brand and provide insight for behaviorial interviewing techniques that many employers are utilizing.

Saturday, October 24
8:30am - 12:30pm
Prairie Paws Adoption Center
222 W. Warrior Trail
Grand Prairie

Cost: $40.00

For More Information, go to: www.agcfallseminar.eventsbot.com

Reprinted from the Fort Worth Business PressBY Banks Dishmon October 19, 2009

FORT WORTH, TX (October 19, 2009) – Several organizations are joining forces to support Keystone Community Outreach Church by hosting a community fair for over 700 residents from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2009, in the Cavile Housing Development located on 5020 East Rosedale Fort Worth, TX. This Saturday is nationally recognized as Make a Difference Day.

Local nonprofit organizations will set-up booths to raise community awareness about their causes, conduct workshops on health and financial literacy, and provide family-centered entertainment such as a three-on-three basketball tournament and a talent show for residents.

Event partners include Partners for Sacred Places, Volunteer Center of North Texas (VCNT), Citigroup, KHVN and Jack and Jill, Inc. of Arlington, TX. 

“The goal of the event is to connect this community with resources in their area while also providing hope and encouragement for the residents in the Cavile Housing Development,” said Froswa Booker-Drew, Director of the Texas Office of Partners of Sacred Places. “We are so excited to partner with wonderful nonprofit and for-profit organizations to demonstrate our unified commitment to bettering this community. This is the perfect example of neighbors helping neighbors.

In the spirit of Make a Difference Day, a national day of neighbors helping neighbors, volunteers are asked to sign-up to assist with event set-up, running the basketball tournament, and directing community residents to workshops. According to the Make a Difference Day website, in 2008, more than three million American citizens participated throughout the country. The day of service is always held the fourth Saturday in October.

“Through the Student Engagement Division at the Volunteer Center of North Texas, it is our goal to recruit as many youth volunteers as possible to participate in this initiative,” said Jonathan Wallace, manager of  Youth Volunteer Corps for VCNT. “We know students can play a major role in improving their communities and we are excited about offering an avenue for them to make a difference right in their own backyard.”

Volunteers from Youth Volunteer Corps of North Texas, a program of the VCNT, will coordinate children’s activities and manage a diaper collection drive, benefitting infants and young children in the housing development.

For more information about Make a Difference Day, visit http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/aboutmadd.html

About the Volunteer Center of North Texas

The Volunteer Center of North Texas (VCNT), founded in 1971, is one of the largest and most active volunteer centers in the country. A primary purpose of VCNT is to recruit volunteers, including individuals, corporations and civic and faith-based groups, to serve nonprofits and their clients throughout the North Texas area. For more information, visit www.vcnt.org.

To learn more about Partners for Sacred Places, a national, nonsectarian nonprofit, visit www.sacredplaces.org.

Learn what employers want you to know! When reality hits - will you be ready? 

This exciting book from Nancy Barry talks about the reality of graduating from college and entering the real world. It is exciting and scary all at the same time. As a student, have you thought about what it's going to take to succeed in your career, beyond the awesome degree you earned? Based on her book, When Reality Hits: What Employers Want Recent College Graduates to Know, Nancy will share the secrets to success. She'll tell you what managers want you to know and don't have the time to tell you. This is one presentation you won't want to miss! To learn more about Nancy, visit www.nancybarry.com and for more information on this great event, call 940-565-3855.

Nancy will be speaking on Thursday, October 22nd at 6pm at the Union Lyceum, 801 N. Texas Blvd., Denton on the UNT campus. Her book will be on sale following this very special event. Sponsored by the University of North Texas, the Professional Leadership Program at UNT, The UNT Career Center, The UNT College of Business, The UNT Student Success Programs, The Center for Leadership and Service, The University Union and Jobing.com.

The Fort Worth Career Search Network is hosting a networking event on Tuesday, October 13th at 6:30pm. The event is open to any professionals in transition and will be held at Posados Cafe, 6770 Fossil Bluff Dr., Fort Worth, 76137.

FWCSN provides support to fellow professional job seekers in the Fort Worth area of the metroplex. We exchange job leads, network, offer useful strategies for a job search, share information on job search workshops, and provide support and encouragement to each other. Their regular meetings are held every Monday at 9am at the North Fort Worth Baptist Church, 5801 North I-35W, 76131.

We keep hearing many people associate seasonal employment to very young candidates looking for part-time work. However, seasonal work provides a ton of great opportunities to all types of job seekers. If you are a job seeker looking for full-time employment, here’s why you should consider these opportunities:
 
Extra MoneyThis is probably the most common reason any candidate accepts a seasonal position. No matter where you are in your job search, a little extra cash can go a long way.
 
Gain ExperienceIf you can find seasonal employment in the industry you are interested in, great! This is another way for you to add to your experience in that field. If you find a seasonal opportunity that isn’t in your field, that’s great too! Regardless of where you are working you are gaining experience and learning new skills. Showcasing these on your resume tells recruiters that you are actively working to better yourself as a candidate.
 
NetworkingWith new opportunity come new people. You have heard me say it time and time again, everyone you know should know you are looking for a job. Companies prefer employee referrals to almost every other means of recruiting. Expanding your network can also help get you in front people who know of opportunities you never knew existed. Use seasonal employment to increase your job search network.
 
Predictable End Date
Seasonal positions are one type of short-term employment most accepted by recruiters. Most seasonal opportunities come with a projected end date or range of dates. This allows you to continue your permanent job search while in a seasonal role. This way you can let recruiters know exactly when you are available to start.
 
Possibility of a Permanent PositionSeasonal employment is also a great way for you to get your foot in the door at a company or within an industry. I have heard numerous stories of part-time positions turning into permanent roles either with that same company, or with a company introduced by the seasonal employer. You never know where an opportunity can take you.