Kristine Marck's blog

Finally, I started work last week after almost a year of searching. Even with twenty plus years in the Managed Care industry, between the unemployment environment and my lack of a under graduate degree I found it impossible to land a job. Even my many industry contacts throughout Northern California could not help me find work. It was extremely frustrating and my confidence withered away. The transition was ACTION. Personally when I'm not in a place of confidence I'm paralyzed to the point of unwillingness to try anything.

Another SacProNet member found work through his high level of focused searching, networking (both on-line and in person), flexibility and commitment. In just a few months, Robert J. not only found a job but actually achieved a promotion with his new position, as Technical Trainer for Bosch Security Systems. He shared this regarding his SacProNet participation: “The most helpful activity I did at SacProNet was the mock panel interview, because that was my biggest fear, facing a panel. And when I did the mock interview, it didn't feel so bad.

After eight months, Catherine B. found employment with Hewlett-Packard.  This August she starts her new role as a business analyst. Catherine confirmed the weekly SacProNet meetings were her motivation, but participating on the Interview Committee was her most valuable SacProNet experience. She benefited from participating in mock interviews.  While she never had the opportunity to participate as the interviewee, she interacted as part of the interviewing panel on numerous occasions.

We are pleased to announce that on May 5, 2011, Sacramento Professional Network (SPN) member Chris Levis began a new job as Western Regional Sales Manager with Bar Harbor Biotechnology. Bar Harbor manufactures kits used in the analysis of DNA for research and clinical product development.

For Chris, the bewilderment of losing a long-held job was greatly eased when he joined SPN.

Julia Acuna, SPN's own Subject Matter Expert on government jobs, invited Marc Blain to present an overview of the state's hiring process, website links, registration guides, exam processes and miscellaneous resources.

The workshop helped to solidify my knowledge of the process, which I was beginning to lose faith in, wondering if I was correctly submitting my application packages.

The keys tips gleaned were:

 Joining Sacramento Professional Network (SPN) has given me tools, support and tasks to aid in my employment search. Prior to joining, my days were spent in front of my computer hunting for job matches to my skills, completing applications, re-crafted resumes and none of my lone attempts resulted in employment.