Unemployed Member Support George F. McClure Region 3 PACE

Role of Section PACE Chair Collect data – who is unemployed? Categorize by skills and industries Put a box in the newsletter or Web site: “Call this number in the event of a downsizing” Maintain a home phone/ list – office list is kaput

Organize/Publicize Local Resources Local job listing services Job Fairs Business networks Connections mixers (see business section of paper) Referral organizations Job search seminars (local gov’t., non- profit)

A Get-Ready Meeting Topics include resume preparation – Functions, not programs – Getting past the buzz-word scanners Preparing for an interview Conducting the interview [3 PowerPoint modules available, prepared by Employment & Career Services Committee]

Build Section PACE Library How-to books, pamphlets, articles, clippings (local papers, WSJ weekly tips) Invest in other good references (IEEE-USA et al.) Publicize/display at section meetings, Web May donate to local public library, with section bookplates for credit

Early Retirement Offer? How to evaluate it? Contact financial planners for pro bono assistance – Fee-only lack bias – Brokerage types easier to find – American Express building this business now The carrot: they may get a fee to help with redeploying 401(k) assets, or other matters

Adviser’s Credentials Questions to ask? See board.org/cons_main.html Request free resource kit at board.org/consumer/nd_cons_kit.asp 7600 firms audited by SEC? See Overview in USA Today, Nov. 15, 2002, “Check financial adviser’s qualifications”

Push for Business Cards Unemployed members need them for mixers, referrals, to leave with contacts Home phone, cell phone, address, , nearest available fax Titles? Be careful with “engineer” unless P.E. in some states; ‘consultant’, ‘analyst’ or ’designer’ usually okay

Schedule Support Meetings Informal, swap information, lend moral support Cross between a Consultants’ Network meeting and a AA meeting Members can look out for each other, pass along opportunities, tips that don’t suit them See job search as a business – get organized

Web Links Link the section’s Web site to IEEE-USA resources for unemployed members Insurance packages for those cut off from corporate fringe benefits at Financial Advantage Web site (working on a special link now)

Pick Other Brains Try to schedule a speaker from the American Society for Training & Development Maybe Institute for Human Resources Management or SCORE Local recruiters or headhunters (they may find someone in your group to fill a commission they have or could get with a candidate in mind)

Target Your Opposite Number Compile a list – Local firms employing engineers – Their engineering managers – Hiring managers Include name, phone number, and fax if available Call the engineering managers, describe the talent available

Try a M-PAC Arrange a Member Professional Awareness Conference for your section, with emphasis on the unemployed As a PACE project, funding shared with region PACE. 3-4 speakers; maybe a box lunch if a dinner is too pricey, but dinner also gets meeting space – MUST have some fee for value perception

Encourage the Job Seekers To Network continually- – Call old friends, acquaintances met at technical conferences, college placement office – Attend all section and chapter meetings – Always have a copy of your resume and business card handy – Feed your Palm Pilot or Rolodex To Visit a Toastmasters Club for both networking and public speaking tips