The COVID-19 pandemic and how we can all help. Starting a YouTube channel for ideas and resources.

With the growth of the corona virus and the impact on the entire world, Kelly (my sister and co-moderator) and I have been trying to think of ways we can help.

We thought we could tap into our wonderful KIT List community since it is filled with so many talented, compassionate and resourceful people and we can join together as a force for good!

We created a YouTube channel as a place to share ideas and resources with each other. Since the Yahoo Groups platform has become such a problem (all replies and responses now spam the entire list. Argh!) we need to keep the email list for jobs only.

Please take a few minutes (six to be exact!) to watch our first video on how we can turn the power of the tremendous people of the KIT List and our networks to help our communities in the midst of this unprecedented time.

The video is home grown and filmed at my kitchen table, but it shares the basic idea!

Watch our video

With so many people losing their jobs, and the challenges as the infection rate increases, we can all do so much by helping neighbors, friends, and those in need. In the face of the uncertainty, fears and concerns, let’s tap into the positive power of this special community!

Other ways to share ideas and resources are in the comments sections of the KIT List Facebook page or the video.

I truly believe that we will emerge stronger and better in the fact of this historic challenge and opportunity.

Wishing you and your families health and protection. We’re all in this together!

Sue and Kelly Connelly

sue@kitlist.org

kelly@kitlist.org

 

Join us for free panel on “How to Get a Promotion” on 2/10 in Santa Clara

Hello Everyone,

The Northside Branch of the Santa Clara Library is a great spot where we’ve had some KIT List panels. The library hosts a wide array of interesting and useful events, and I’ve been asked to join a panel of career experts who will share their advice and strategies for advancing in your job by getting a promotion.

Please join me, along with some expert career leaders, for a lively panel discussion next Monday night!

You must register using EventBrite in order to attend. Please see the Library posting below for details. I hope to see you there!

Warmly, 

Sue 

“How to Get a Promotion” Panel
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Monday, 2/10

Santa Clara City Library – Northside Branch
695 Moreland Way | Santa Clara, CA 95054

Register here

Eventbrite registration is required.*

Employment is at an all time high and now it is time to think about moving up in your career. We’ve assembled an all-star career panel (line up subject to change) that will share tips, strategies, and actionable items to get you to the next level!

Sue Connelly, Founder and Moderator of The KIT List

Sue is a Silicon Valley legend! Thousands of technology professionals have found jobs through her Keep-In-Touch List that she founded in 1997. She has over 72,000 subscribers from all over the world who rely on her list to get their next job opportunity or promotion.

Jane Fan

Human Resources Recruiter

Jane is a seasoned Human Resources professional with firm background in the full-cycle recruiting process: prescreen/interview, offer, negotiate, and place candidates for assigned requisitions.

Oscar Garcia

Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of Aspira

Oscar is an introvert turned international speaker. Oscar has given over 300 seminars and trained over 10,000 professionals. His clients range from startup incubators, to educational institutions, and brands like Aruba Networks, Palo Alto Networks, McKesson, Genentech, Wells Fargo, the US Embassy, the University of California Berkeley and Stanford University. 

René Shimada Siegel

CEO of Connext

For two decades, René has made life easier for hundreds of technology clients with specialized contractors ranging from recent grads to senior strategists. Current clients include Adobe, Google, LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Workday. René is a member of the Forbes Communications Council and currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Lucas College of Business at San Jose State University.

* A ticket does not guarantee entry to the program if you do not arrive on time. Any leftover seats will be given away to the waiting list after the doors open. Doors will close ten minutes after the event begins or after the event reaches capacity. 

* Your attendance to this program grants permission to the City of Santa Clara to take your photograph and/or your child’s photograph for marketing purposes.

An Important Way to Share Your Talents for Social Good!

Hi Everyone,

I’ve heard from so many incredibly talented professionals that although they’ve dedicated their careers to doing great work for wonderful companies, they feel something is missing.

They want their work to have more intrinsic value — to make a positive difference in the world in a more direct way.

You can do just that through Encore!

I want to share this important organization with our KIT List community. Please also pass this on to friends and colleagues!

This is an excellent opportunity for mid- to late-career professionals looking to contribute their skills to the social impact sector of non-profits and government organizations.

There are Encore Fellowships that match seasoned professionals with high-impact, paid assignments.

Encore Fellowships provide a match to an organization needing your talent.

Fellows provide capacity-building expertise to non-profits to strengthen their organizations.

Some of the Many Benefits:

• Explore the social impact sector, learn how to transfer your skills to a new career path. 

• Earn a paid stipend of $25,000 for 1,000 hours of work, typically part-time for a year.

• Receive education, establish new contacts and create a personal network, and join a cohort of peers.

 

Close to 60% of Encore Fellows continue in their host organization full- or part-time, 8% continued with consulting within the social sector, with another 8% serving on a board after their fellowship ends.

Since 2009, thousands of Encore Fellows have provided over 2 million hours of service, at a fraction of their market value, contributing the equivalent of more than $200 million to not-for-profit organizations in over 50 metropolitan areas.

A Few Examples of Experts Needed

The Silicon Valley region has some of the following needs from host organizations. New positions are constantly added and skills in IT, operations, finance, marketing and HR are all needed, so be sure to check their website!

• A CFO-level professional to work with a CEO of a large, youth-serving organization on presenting the right financial data in meaningful ways to stakeholders.

• A seasoned marketing professional for an education organization.

• An IT executive to work with a large community foundation on new systems to implement for a transaction processing environment.

• A director-level finance professional to work on analyzing the profits and losses of services and products from a large community foundation.

• Someone to create a business model for a non-profit focused on media and community access from existing products and services.

• A finance/operations professional to develop and manage a streamlined process for internal and external grant reporting; and best use Salesforce to manage donors, grant reporting, and operational effectiveness for a housing organization.

The Process:

Fellow candidates apply to the program. Once they have applied, they will be contacted to discuss their interests and fit. Matching can take several weeks to months, depending on applicant skills, interests and geographical preferences and host needs. If you’re interested, learn more and apply here!

If you want to put your deep expertise and talents to work for a great cause, consider an Encore Fellowship!

Warmly,

Sue

Take the WIC Consultant (and contractor) Survey and get a copy of the report! Survey closes 6/10.

Hello Everyone,

If you are working as a consultant, or on a contractor status, please participate in this annual survey by June 10th to provide important data — and you will also get a copy of this very insightful report as well!

Each year, our KIT List community has been a key part of providing data by participating the WIC Annual Best Practices Survey. 

The more people who complete the survey, the better the results. Please pass this invitation along to other consultants and contractors you know!

WIC (Women In Consulting, which is open to men and women!) gets rave reviews about how this survey inspires and guides consultants in their businesses, gives them insights into the latest consulting trends, and helps them benchmark their consulting practices against those of top consultants nationwide.

Everyone who participates receives a copy of the results, and entered into a drawing for a 1-year Basic Women In Consulting membership, or one of four vouchers to access a WIC webinar recording. 

All consultants are invited to participate – regardless of gender, area of focus, length of time as a consultant, etc.

Whether your business expanded, experienced a slowdown or turnaround, or was consistent with prior years, WIC wants to hear about your experiences. 

Take the WIC Survey now!

https://wiconsult.org/BPS2019

The survey closes on June 10th.  

Important Details:

– The survey takes ~10 minutes to complete.

– Information collected during the survey is confidential and anonymous.

– All participants who complete the survey receive the results (normally a members-only benefit!) and are entered into a drawing to win one of five prizes (whether or not they are Women In Consulting members): a 1-year Basic Women In Consulting membership (1 winner) or a voucher for one recorded webinar (4 winners).

– Participants will also have exclusive access to LI and FB Groups with personal case study information, the complete report and video overview of the results and recommendations.

– The survey asks some specific questions about your business. You will complete it more quickly if you have access to your accounting and compensation reports.

Contact admin@womeninconsulting.org if you have any questions or encounter any problems.

Thank you for participating. WIC appreciates your time and values your input!

Warmly, 

Sue 

About Women In Consulting 

Women In Consulting offers consultants and small business owners a vibrant, diverse, and powerful community to help them build strong businesses. Its collaborative culture enables members and community subscribers to connect and share experiences and best practices with like-minded professionals. To find out more or to attend an event go to www.womeninconsulting.org 

You’re invited to two events! Job Strategies Expert Panel on 5/20 and Salary Negotiations on 5/21.

Hi Everyone,

I’ll be on a panel along with some savvy industry experts on how to land your dream job (or get a promotion!) on Monday, May 20th.

The second event the following evening will cover Salary Negotiations.

Both events are free and you are welcome to come — and to share this invitation with friends and colleagues. Due to space limits, you must register first!


Job and Career Panel Sponsored by LinkedIn Local
Monday, May 20th
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Northside Branch of the Santa Clara Library
695 Moreland Way, Santa Clara, CA

Join us for a lively and informative panel discussion sprinkled with important tips that could make the difference in nailing your next job, with some great stories as examples — and a few laughs as well!

Hear from the expert panel:

• Oscar Garcia, the ever-engaging and inspiring Linkedin and networking expert and founder of Aspira
• Sue Connelly, the founder of The KIT List
• Krista Mollion, our LinkedInLocal Bay Area Host
• Albert Qian, the founder of Albert’s List
• Connie Brock, the former Program Manager at ProMatch (which has been an excellent resource for many KIT List members!)

Register* (for adults ONLY) at:
https://nslinkedinlocalmay2019.eventbrite.com

NOTE: Registration does not guarantee entry if you’re not on time for the program and the doors close. 

Santa Clara City Library has teamed up with LinkedInLocal Bay Area to provide potential job seekers tools to increase their network. We have assembled an all-star job and career panel that will help you get to your next promotion or job opportunity.

About LinkedInLocal:
LinkedInLocal is a community driven initiative, of super-keen LinkedIn users, not affliated with Linkedin company, to take online connections offline, by hosting local professional networking events worldwide. In just one year, it has really taken off and at last count has 20,000 members in 61 countries, with almost 650 hosts and co-hosts. Read more here and about the SF Bay Area group  here.

 

Salary Negotiation Seminar
Tuesday, May 21st
7:00 – 8:00 PM
Northside Branch Library
695 Moreland Way, Santa Clara, CA

Salary negotiation is one of the most difficult skills for job seekers to master. According to Monster.com, 43% of workers think they are underpaid. Learn how to get paid adequately negotiate your salary!

Learn how to:

• Effectively research your position’s peak compensation.
• Figure out your opening job offer.
• Advocate for your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Decide when to accept or decline a salary… and do it gracefully without scaring your future employer.

Register* (for adults ONLY) here: https://nssalarymay2019.eventbrite.com

*A ticket does not guarantee entry to the program if you do not arrive on time. Any leftover seats will be given away to the waitlist after the doors open. Doors will close immediately after the event begins or after the event reaches capacity. Your attendance to this program grants permission to the City of Santa Clara to take your photograph and/or your child’s photograph for marketing purposes.

 

See you next Monday at the panel event! And you’re also welcome to sign up for the Salary Negotiations event the next evening.

Here’s to finding a job that you’ll love!

Sue

 

3 Tips for Building a Healthy Network

By René Siegel, CEO, Connext

Hello Everyone! I asked René Siegel, a long-time supporter of the KIT List who hires consultants for high tech clients, to share her best tips on job networking. René has also generously shared her time, wisdom and wit at a KIT List event on a panel of hiring experts. Read on and try these out!
– Sue

Building your personal network sounds as simple as finding people you like or with whom you have something in common. We think of them as our posse, our community, our peeps. Perhaps people who inspire us.

But here’s what people don’t tell you about networking. Your circle can also be a cage. You can surround yourself with the same people, for years and years, without making sure they’re the right people for you, right now.

Here are three tips for building a healthy network:

1. More is not better.
You may assume the more connections and opportunities you have the better. I have thousands of connections but only a few dozen are truly my dearest colleagues, the ones I rely on to inspire me and always have my back. It’s like weeding your garden. You need to keep pulling the weeds or they will overtake and ruin your garden. Working with people you already trust increases your chances of success and reduces headaches. You don’t have to delete them, but, you can say no (no, thank you) to bad business and bad people as you carefully build your brand.

2. Take me or leave me.
Many people only come around when they want something from you—like the ever popular “Can I pick your brain?” request. Be selective with whom you share your expertise. Sometimes it can lead to a lucrative opportunity, but mostly you’re just adding coins to the karma bucket and that’s okay, too. Delete those who drain your mojo. And if you’re going to be generous with your time and expertise, don’t be afraid to ask for something in return like a referral or recommendation.

3. The more diverse, the better.
No matter the stage of your career, you need to proactively meet people who are different than you. Different ages, different industries, different expertise, different backgrounds. After a 20-year career working with lots of 20-year veteran colleagues, I started speaking to university classes. That led to a part-time teaching role that re-energized my business model! You’ll be far more marketable if you’re surrounded by diverse people who challenge what you know with their ideas and experience.

Everyone in your circle might not be in your corner. It’s your responsibility to attract the right people and repel the wrong ones. Be picky about the people you invest your time with and go the extra mile for.

There are bad clients and crazy bosses who may want to take advantage of you. People can suck the life out of you—if you let them.

You should be picky about the people you invest your time with and go the extra mile for. Not everyone deserves that from you.

 

 About the Author

René Shimada Siegel is extremely passionate about empowering colleagues and advocating for the next generation of communicators. She is the CEO of Connext, Silicon Valley’s marketing and communications consultancy. For two decades, her company has made life easier for hundreds of technology clients with specialized contractors ranging from recent grads to senior strategists. Current clients include Adobe, LinkedIn, Google, and Salesforce. René also passes on her real-world experience to students as an adjunct public relations professor at San Jose State University.

As an entrepreneur, René’s been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Working Mother, Newsweek Japan, CNBC, and Dan Pink’s Free Agent Nation, among others. She’s also been a regular columnist for Inc.com and a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship, career strategies, and personal branding.

Anyone interested in learning more about Connext can reach René at rene@connextme.com.

 

Join us for the “FriendWorking” Networking Event on 8/15

Hello Everyone,

I am speaking at an event next week on how to network in a more personal and authentic way, with the idea of helping others first. I call the idea “FriendWorking” since it taps into the magic of friends helping friends.

Though I’ve hosted KIT List FriendWorking events over the years, I’m actually the guest speaker for this event hosted by the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals (ASAP).

Now that that the ASAP has already invited their members —  I can now invite our KIT List people! But there is a limit of 40 spots, so the event will close soon.

This is also open to anyone who would like to network in a much more effective and enjoyable way!

Join us for this special evening of FriendWorking to grow and deepen your network by connecting in more meaningful ways. 
I will be teaching the same techniques that I share at the KIT List events — and have everyone mix and meet through some fun and very informative exercises!

Grow Your Network Under the Summer Sun (“FriendWorking” Event)

Wednesday, 8/15

6:00 – 8:00 PM

Workspan

950 Tower Lane, Suite 1975

Foster City, CA

Please register here by 8/14

NOTE: There is a $30 charge for this event since it is hosted by the Association of Strategic Alliance Partners, and it is not a KIT List event.

Just remember, a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet! It’s worth it to make the effort to get out and meet new people and see what magic unfolds…

I hope to see you there!

Sue

Holidays are GREAT for Job Networking! Learn from a LinkedIn Expert on 12/11

Hi Everyone,

Many articles have just come out saying that January is one of the biggest hiring times of the year!

How do you kick off your new year with your dream job?

It might just be through a friend or new acquaintance you see at event during the Christmas and holiday season!

Learn from LinkedIn expert, Oscar Garcia (who was also on our expert panel at a KIT List a few months ago) and get some smart ideas and discover ways to have the holiday festivities give a special boost to your job search!

‘Tis the Season for Networking

Monday, December 11th

7:00 – 8:30 PM

Northside Branch

Space is tight so you must register for this free event to reserve a spot:

https://www.aspirabiz.com/events/2017/12/11/northside-tis-the-season-for-networking-adults-only

Note: Arrive early so you can get a seat since many events at the Library are standing room only. Don’t arrive late since they close the doors at the start of the talk.  

Many companies take breaks over the holidays, but this does not mean that you need to take a break from your work and career. Festive parties and business networking events are abundant during the holidays and you need to take advantage of these opportunities.

Learn from networking pro, Oscar Garcia, who worked at LinkedIn prior to starting his own business, Aspira, how to revive your network, catch up with colleagues, and activate your network for your next job opportunity or promotion.

This is the perfect time to think about the New Year and possibly your new career.

Give YOURSELF a present during this holidays and get a job you love!

Don’t forget, too, the importance of the spirit of paying it forward. So, when you interact with friends and new people you meet, be sure to look out for ways you can help THEM! That creates the real magic!

Warmly,

Sue

Learn How to Create an Effective Video Resume on 10/2, in Santa Clara

Hi everyone,

I want to share another great free event to help you learn how to master video resumes!

I love what Cheryl Lee, branch Manager of the Santa Clara Library does for job seekers and for the community. In fact, she hosted our KIT List expert recruiter panel a few months ago.

Don’t miss this free event — and get the edge for your job search!

Video resumes are allowing hiring managers and recruiters to select the right candidates.

Warmly,

Sue

Learn How to Make Your own Video Resume

Monday, October 2

7:00 – 8:30 PM

Northside Branch Library in Santa Clara

The event is free, but space is limited, so be sure to register!

Register now at: https://nsvideocareer.eventbrite.com

Global Career Summit and Job Fair this Saturday in San Francisco

Hello everyone,

I’m sharing word about a free Career Summit that is hosted by my friend, Nyna Caputi, the founder of The Expat Woman. This event is open to everyone!

Global Career Summit

Saturday, Sept. 30th

At Galvanize, San Francisco

– A FREE Career Fair with some of the hottest companies in the Silicon Valley. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect and hear from executives working at some of the leading tech companies including Microsoft, Facebook, AirBnB, Twitter, Netflix, Paypal, LinkedIn, Dropbox, Yelp and many more at the event.

– A conference with TED-style talks and panel discussions with 40+ speakers

– A Hackathon creating amazing solutions to career challenges (there is a charge, but use the discount code below).

Use this promo code GCSVIPSPL to get 20% off on your tickets. Note: The Career Fair is FREE.

https://goo.gl/uniKoE