The purpose of the monthly roundtables, sponsored by the Minnesota Career Development Association, is to make us better career development professionals through meaningful research, shared practice, and discussion. These events are open to students and professionals working in career development.  More about MCDA.

What:  The Good, the Bad, the Ugly and, Oh! the Possibilities:  An Exploration of Networking
Co-Facilitated by: Liz Brenner and Vic Massaglia
When:  October 29, 2009
Time:  6:00 – 7:30
Where:  University of Minnesota Law School Room 471
www.law.umn.edu/contact/directions.html

Please RSVP to victorm@umn.edu NLT October 21, 2009.  We will be serving food at our next meeting, so please RSVP to ensure there is enough for everyone. Also, if you have any food allergies or preferences, include that in your RSVP.

“In most cases, right networking produces right results, which will motivate you to keep networking until you get hired.” – Jeffrey Gitomer

What is “right networking?”

Although online networking is an essential component of one’s career development process, we also need to find new, alternative, and creative ways to expand and deepen their relationships at all stages in our personal and professional development.

This RoundTable will focus a very little on the traditional components of networking but will explore creative and innovative ways to create and implement networking strategies.  Come help us “think outside the box”.  We’ll be rethinking networking and responding to questions like:

• What’s new?
• What’s old – but still works?
• What to do when you’re stuck?
• What do I do when I’ve tapped out my network?
• How to we motivate people to network?
• What resources should I know about?

The following are some resources for your review prior to the session. Please come with other resources you find helpful.

• www.quintcareers.com/networking.html
• Book: Never Eat Alone – Keith Ferrazzi www.keithferrazzi.com/blog/
• www.techcrunch.com/2009/08/24/brazen-careerist-a-professional-network-that-realizes-youre-more-than-just-a-resume/
• Book: Little Black Book of Connections – Jeffrey Gitomer / www.gitomer.com/Jeffrey-Gitomer-Little-Black-Book-of-Connections-pluLBBC.html
• http://unemploymentality.com/2009/01/casual-carpool-a-networking-secret-no-one-will-tell-you-about/

Please RSVP to victorm@umn.edu NLT October 21, 2009.

September’s RoundTable Summary
MCDA welcomed a record breaking crowd of around 30 people to its September RoundTable on Online Social Networking. Not only did we welcome new members to the group, we celebrated our one year anniversary for which Vic and Melody are particularly very proud! Denise Felder and Melody Jennings Kruzic facilitated the session which focused on how career counselors can leverage online social networking tools in our own lives and to better support our clients. Not only did most of us learn new things, we thought of possible topic ideas for future sessions because the area of social networking has so many possibilities. If you weren’t able to attend, please check out the resources Denise put together that provide valuable information on this subject.  www.mcda.net/roundtable_social_networking_handout.pdf