THE AUGUST GROUP NEWSLETTER

Presented by Greg Taylor, Founder of The August Group - LinkedIn – A job-seekers guide. Making connections with employers, employees and jobs. Want to search for connections in an industry or at a target employer? Seeking to connect with professionals in your field? Trying to connect with former co-workers, classmates or friends? Join in this interactive session that will make this tool work for you in ways unimagined while protecting your privacy.

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Managing Stress, Joanne Sims

Wednesday, Dec. 12th, 9:30 - 10:30 at RochesterWorks

Where: 255 North Goodman - RochesterWorks
Presenter: JoAnne Sims, Career Counselor @ DBM, Adjunct Instructor @ Medaille College and MCC, Employment Specialist @ Lifespan

Topic: Managing Stress

Description: JoAnne has presented numerous times over the years to The August Group offering this interactive session that will you identify your stressors and provide exercises to alleviate and manage stressful situations. The holiday season heightens stress for many on top of the stresses one faces while in job search. Come ready with your questions. Be prepared to learn how you can reduce and better manage stress at this time of year and into the New Year.

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Creating Powerful Marketing Plans – Jumpstart Session

Wednesday , Dec 12th, 11:00 – 1:00 at RochesterWorks

This is the most important piece of paper in your networking arsenal. Much more important than a resume.

Maybe you’ve seen the templates or even started one already, but is it POWERFUL? In this session we go through the different parts of the marketing plan, explain how to make it different from others, how to make it powerful! There are lots of examples that are shared in this session from previous members with various backgrounds to help you get yours set up quickly and get noticed.

Cost: $25/month. Contact John Bayley at jbayley@augustgroup.org for more details.

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TAG Holiday Celebration

Wednesday, December 19th, 5:30 -7:30 at Johnny's Irish Pub

Come listen to the music while you network during this holiday season. Add some 'Jingle to your networking Mingle!

$5.00 donation will get you pizza, beer and/or soda, along with great prizes to be raffled off.

To share in the spirit of the season, bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the ESWA Christmas food drive.

We're looking for member’s current and long term to join in planning this seasonal success as in years past. There will an organizational meeting Wednesday Dec 5th from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM at Bagel Bin Café, 2600 Elmwood Avenue, in Meeting Room.

Volunteers needed to locate raffle donation prizes, set-up, working Registration Table and clean-up. Questions? Call Lynn Eason @ 475-8453.

This is always a special event gathering about 100 members and spouses.

Save the date. See you there!

Contact Tracey Aiello at taiello@augustgroup.org
Contact John Bayley at jbayley@augustgroup.org
Contact Greg Taylor at gtaylor@augustgroup.org

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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

Digital Rochester - Networking - Festivus Celebration
The Date: Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 - 5:30 - 8:00pm
The place: Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Ave
The deal: Festivus! Festivus! A festival for the rest of us!

Further details on the Festivus web page!

We need a volunteer to collect events of interest for all members. We welcome professional events with broad appeal. Events can sent to calendar@augustgroup.org

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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Each week we will post announcements of members comings and goings as submitted on a first come, first served basis, with preference given to new members. All others will remain in queue for future publishing.

We welcome postings from all members, upon joining the group or landing a new job. Entrepreneurs may participate, too, identifying the services they offer and contacts they seek. All announcements are limited to 4 lines.

No new member announcements this week.

If you would like to be announced to the group, send an email to AnnounceMe@augustgroup.org. In the subject line describe your announcement as "Member Announcement," "Now Working," or "Seeking Contacts." The last descriptor is good for entrepreneurs. If you have suggestions for this section, you can submit them to the same email address with "Suggestion" in the Subject Line. We suggest that you include your contact information in your announcement, but it is NOT required that you share your email address or phone number. It’s a matter of personal choice, but if you leave out this information, you are limiting the effectiveness of your announcement.

The following is the recommended format:

Member
Name - thatsme@augustgroup.org, h - 585-000-1234 LinkedIn member Role/Job Title - List roles or job titles and recent previous employers
Former Employers - List prior employer(s)
Target - list job titles, roles, employers or industries sought

If you are member of LinkedIn and wish to make others aware of this, do so and they will see many of the details you share in lines 2 and 3. If you are not a member, consider joining. Visit Linkedin and attend the LinkedIn training offered the last Tuesday of each month. See the August Group calendar for details.

The following is the recommended format:

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FEATURE ARTICLES

Lessons Learned as I Journey - Chapter 3

Contributed by Christopher Burns christopher@c-burns.com

I was downsized at the end of the summer. Now that I'm a full-time job-seeker, I wanted to share some insights based on my job-search experiences so far and what I have learned. If you're looking for work, or contemplating a move professionally, read on:

If you aren’t networking actively, you need to be -- no excuses. This can be done formally through participating actively in networking group events, or informally through your other activities (working out, hanging out with friends, etc.). But make sure you have a “60-second elevator speech” prepared- without being stiff, this is the brief but informative answer to the open-ended question, “Tell me about yourself”. By answering this question, someone knows your name, what your professional skills and specialties are, and the specific (or general) positions and companies you’d like to work for.

Need help sharpening such a speech, or need help beginning to think through your job search or next career moves? I cannot offer a high enough recommendation for the resources and people at RochesterWorks. Every interaction I have had with them has been professional, insightful, effective and timely. They offer one-on-one coaching, workshops and seminars, career guidance, and much more. It all starts with an initial consult, which can be done on a walk-in basis, and lasts about an hour. And all their assistance is free to you, paid for by the NYS Department of Labor.

Are you on LinkedIn? If you aren’t, you need to be. LinkedIn is the professional alternative to MySpace, Facebook, or Friendster. You want to make sure that everyone you know is in your network on LinkedIn. Why? As
your network grows to a certain size, you reach the point where it is highly likely that you know someone… who knows someone… who can get you an “in” (or at least some information) at a target company of yours. If you’re currently employed, it is also a great way of establishing contacts for business development and sales. But being on LinkedIn is really important, and is NOT necessarily a sign that you’re looking for a new job, so don’t worry about tipping off your employer.

Other “virtual” networking and job-seeking resources I can suggest include RUNG, a Yahoo group here in Rochester that tends to catch and forward a variety of local opportunities and job postings, including those on PeerNet, geared towards experienced professionals. RUNG stands for the Rochester Unemployed Networking Group.

I also highly recommend The August Group, which is not just for unemployed people. The best time to start connecting with people, learning from their experiences, and exploring your next moves… is while you are still employed!

The August Group offers a variety of meeting times and locations, including morning and evening. Industry-specific groups like Digital Rochester or RAMA (Rochester Chapter of the American Marketing Association) can be very helpful or at least informative, as can be affinity-networking groups like the Association for Women in Computing or Rochester Women’s Network. Talk to people at your fitness club, your apartment building, your work building… networking opportunities are everywhere! Don't be afraid to ask for an "informational interview" to learn more about a company or an industry-- most people like to help others and like to talk about themselves!

... to be continued

If you have a story to share or feedback, send it to newsletter@augustgroup.org

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RECRUITER’S TIPs – Share your Salary Expectations.

Contributed by Gene Voss voss@frontiernet.net

Use the Internet to find job leads but also apply using the old fashion ways.

The fastest way to find jobs on the Internet is by using a search site like www.jobcentral.com.

Enter a job title as the keyword and your zip code. You can sort the results by relevance or date. You will also see on the right, several alternative search sites (i.e. Indeed, Jobster, SimplyHired) and the number of job postings found. Once you find the job, stand out of the crowd and increase your odds by taking the extra step beyond emailing your resume and find the company’s website. The website is where you’ll locate company information and the street address for sending your resume via “snail mail”. It never hurts to have more than one resume come into a company from different sources. Also, don’t neglect the traditional sources of business information and job advertisements like the local newspapers.

Present yourself in a positive and professional manner

Most job seekers have good cover letters, professional resumes and can interview very well during a phone screen. Where job seekers often miss an opportunity is how they present themselves to the company in other communications and during the interview.

Make sure your email address and the outgoing message on your answering machine are professional and business appropriate.
Keep your attire and grooming appropriate for whatever job you are interviewing for. It is better to be overdressed than to be too casually dressed for the interview.
Treat everyone you meet at the prospective company courteously and with respect. The company Receptionist and the Administrative Assistant who escorts you are often excellent judges of character and can be part of the interview process providing input to a recruiter or hiring manager after you’ve left.
Speak positively of your prior managers and employers.

Have a question, you’d like to ask of a recruiter?

Send it to Q&A@augustgroup.org

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Changing Careers - From Corporate to Community Service

Contributed by Tom Lyons

I spent the bulk of my career with a local telecommunications company in various roles from technician to engineer to manager of IS. In 2004, I found myself faced with a decision. Take early retirement or take your chances with pending downsizing. I took early retirement.

That left me on the outside looking in. I was not ready to retire for good so I started on the job search. I was a dismal failure. I was filling out application after application and not getting any interviews. I needed a different strategy.

I was fortunate enough to find The August Group. I learned the importance of networking and informational meetings (thank you Greg Taylor and John Bayley). This was way beyond my comfort zone but you do what you have to do.

When I started my job search with my contact list from when I left my previous employer, it was only 125 records including family members. Over the 1½ years I searched for work my contact list grew to over 600 entries and is continuing to grow today. Forcing myself to embrace the informational meeting strategy I went from two meetings in my first eight months of job search to over 125 meetings during the next 7 months. I was on a roll.

I landed a job as a project manager with another local telecommunications company and worked there for about 7 very hectic months when I received an e-mail from a friend telling me that a local not for profit was looking for someone to run their computer remanufacturing center refurbishing computers to give away. As the founder of Micrecycle, another not for profit that recycles computers, I was very familiar with the computer recycling business so I looked into it.

Here was a job that allowed me to give back to the community while doing something I truly believed in, conquering the “digital divide” by giving people in need free computers.

CommuniTech is part of The Academy for Career Development. The Academy was established in 1992, and is both a not-for-profit Charitable Organization and a Licensed Vocational School. It was founded with the sole purpose of providing high quality education programs for disabled and disadvantaged children, youth, and adults.

CommuniTech was established to supply the participants of the Academy’s various educational programs with computers as a way of rewarding them for their accomplishments and also as an enabler in their quest to learn technology

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Have a story, book review or workshop experience to share or something similar to contribute? Send it to newsletter@augustgroup.org

JOB POSTINGS

New job postings this week

Part Time Baby Sales Reps

OUR365 currently has openings for Representatives to work weekends @ Unity, RGH, & Highland Hospitals.

You will photograph newborn babies & sell photo packages to new mothers! Sales experience preferred; photo experience not necessary, paid training provided!

Must be comfortable handling newborn babies!

PT hrs, 2-3 mornings per week, primarily weekends, 9 am - 3pm.

Please note this is a long-term part-time position.

Inquire Online at:
www.our365.com/opportunities/

Local contact:
Paul German 
District Manager, Hospital Operations 
T (585) 709-5220 | F (866) 284-1713

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Web Application Developer / Analyst

Company: VanDamme Associates
Description: Job Purpose:

Enhances user capabilities and satisfaction by planning, developing,
and testing web-based applications.

Duties:

Confirms site objectives by analyzing and validating user
requirements; identifying new features and functionality and the
streamlining and upgrading of existing features.
Plans Web applications by evaluating user specifications; analyzing
existing and proposed systems; creating requirements documents
including set-up, scripts, hardware, network, database development,
security, server management, and installation; identifying constraints
and technical issues; preparing systems development life cycle plan.
Develops Web applications by studying existing technology
architecture; analyzing browser compatibility techniques; evaluating
solution alternatives; developing prototypes; building n-tier,
scalable, and multimedia applications; programming objects, events,
functions, error trapping, data verification, animations, interactions,
and dynamic updating; designing and configuring databases; completing
documentation.
Develops user interfaces by preparing a workflow chart and diagram
based on subject matter, human factors, and logic; writing queries
involving table alterations, views, selects, inner and outer joins, and
optimized queries.
Integrates applications by studying and establishing connectivity
with network systems, databases, search engines, and information
servers.
Confirms Web applications by planning and conducting tests; modifying
program sequence and/or debugging codes; resolving problems.
Maintains team accomplishments by communicating essential
information; coordinating actions; obtaining expert input; reviewing
open issues and action items; contributing information to team meetings
and reports.
Reduces costs and improves serviceability by preparing reusable
component design.
Updates job knowledge by researching new web technologies;
participating in educational opportunities; reading professional
publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in
professional organizations.
Accomplishes organization goals by accepting ownership for
accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to
add value to job accomplishments.

Skills/Qualifications:

Analyzing Information.
Problem Solving.
Customer Focus, Customer Service.
Web User Interface Design.
Functional and Technical Skills.
Quality Focus.
Web Programming Skills.
Written Communication
Verbal Communication.

1. Problem solving skills - ability to craft solutions
2. Customer service
3. Strong development skills
4. Strong ASP, ASP.NET, c#,java_script, and AJAX knowledge
5. Strong MS SQL knowledge
6. Experience with Ektron content manager or other content managers a plus.

For more information on VanDamme, please see www.vandamme.com.
Tell them you learned you about this opportunity through The August Group

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Human Resources Manager

Purpose: The Human Resources Manager is responsible for providing strategy and
direction in addition to performing day to day tasks in the Human Resources
department. Reports to Vice President of Operations.

Strategic Responsibilities:

Provide strategic vision and define HR’s role at BlueTie.
Perform tasks and drive/manage projects that will achieve the strategy.
Implement and interpret HR policies, practices and procedures that further the
mission, values and strategic vision of the business.
Prepare annual budget and strategic plan for HR department.

Day to Day Responsibilities:

Hire outstanding people in support of the business; identify optimal recruiting
strategies, ensuring top quality candidates are hired in reduced cycle times.
Develop training programs.
Proactively identify employee and organizational issues and resolve them in a
professional and positive manner.
Coach employees and managers on employee relations issues, providing leadership
that results in decisions that are fair and equitable to both the employee and the
company.
Ensure all employment regulations are met and minimize potential employment law
liability.
Organize frequent morale and team building events that make BlueTie a fun place
to work.
Manage payroll process and handle payroll issues appropriately.
Maintain online Employee Handbook and Manager Reference Manual.

Knowledge/Skills Required:

BA/BS degree (Masters preferred) with a minimum of four years experience in
Human Resources.
Experience documenting and developing processes and procedures.
Knowledge of federal and state employment laws, benefits, and payroll.
Flexibility to multi-task in a fast paced environment.
Excellent planning, time management, collaboration, decision making and
presentation abilities.
Strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills.
Self-starter possessing high energy with an ability to work in a fast paced
dynamic business environment.

Additional Knowledge/Skills Desired:

Experience recruiting technical people for a high tech company.
Familiarity with software development terminology and concepts.
Knack for improving and automating processes leading to employee self-service
for routine tasks.

It is not posted on the web site yet but will be shortly; please apply online at
www.bluetie.com.

Click on About Us / Careers.

Tell them you heard about the opening through The August Group newsletter.

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IntegraTouch has several permanent positions including the following:

Systems Integration/Release Management Engineer
Oracle DBA/Systems Administrator
Systems Operations Analyst
Infrastructure Manager

The job descriptions and instructions for applying can be found at Integratouch.

Tell them that you learned about the opportunity in The August Group newsletter.

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Web Developer

The web designer will design, produce and update customer and internal web pages. We
are looking for an individual with creativity, a strong design aesthetic and the
technical skills to implement these designs.

Primary Responsibilities:

Create design prototypes, including graphic design, site navigation, and
layout of content.
Ensure that the layout of the content is accessible, logical and usable.
Create visual concepts that match the content and the image needed by
customers.
Ensure that sites are easy to navigate.
Build web pages using technologies that conform to international standards,
are universally accessible, and are easy to maintain and update.
Perform maintenance and updates to existing web pages as necessary.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in computer science, media design, information
technology, or other related discipline.
2-3 years experience in web design including producing HTML,
standards-compliant, cross-browser compatible websites.
Experience with Content Management Systems and theme/template/skin design.
Knowledge and experience with Web design tools including FrontPage and
Dreamweaver.
Knowledge and experience with Dynamic HTML, XHTML, CSS, PHP.
Knowledge and experience with cross-browser and cross-platform issues (IE,
Firefox, Safari, etc.)
Ability to translate designs to valid, CSS-based Web pages/templates.
Expert level skills with graphic design tools such as Photoshop or Fireworks.
Experience working on both Mac and PC platforms.
Knowledge and experience in desktop publishing applications (Photoshop,
Illustrator, InDesign).
Knowledge of current web design trends and techniques as well as a strong
online portfolio are definite assets.

Technologies:

Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Publisher, Access, Outlook,
and Internet Explorer
Asp
HTML
XHTML
CSS
Dreamweaver
FrontPage
Photoshop
PHP
Flash
Asp.net
Database access methods
Familiarity with webservers (IIS, ColdFusion etc.)
Visual Source Safe

If interested, send resumes to jobs@bizwonk.com.

Tell them you learned about the opportunity in The August Group newsletter

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UPCOMING August Group meetings - See the website calendar for details.

Orientations:

Wed., Dev. 12, 9-9:30 at Bagel Bin Café (Brighton)
Thurs., Dev. 13, 9-9:30 at Bagel Bin Café (Brighton)

General Sessions:

MORNINGS every Weds. & Thurs., 9:30 – 11 a.m.
EVENINGS every Thurs., 7 - 8:30 p.m.
sometimes Tues., see the website.

Power Networking Groups:

Singularly the MOST SUCCESSFUL of programs offered by The August Group. Visit the website to learn when and where they meet.

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