		THE SELF-HELP GROUP FOR SUPPORTING JOB-SEEKING MANAGERS & PROFESSIONALS IN WEST BERKSHIRE

Meetings Programme

Our 2009 programme has now finished and there is a gap until our 2010 programme kicks off on Tuesday 5th January. If you are looking for a job, now is a good time to review your situation. See our Using Holidays Productively guide (PDF) for some tips.

Each programme runs as a lifecycle of the job seeking process, from coping with redundancy to succeeding at interviews. However, the timing of redundancies hardly ever coincides with the start of a cycle! Never mind, turn up, and we will brief you on what you have missed. See our FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) for newcomers.

Our weekly meetings take place on Tuesdays from 1.00pm - 4.00pm at the Town Hall, Mansion House Street, Newbury. Scroll down to read more about the meeting format and venue details. A PDF printable version (print on double-sided paper and fold in half) for the programme shown below is available here. It also includes additional information about our services and contacts.

January - April 2010

Note - speakers subject to change. Where two are shown, it may be a double act or an 'either/or'.

*PREPARATION*
Jan 5	Getting Started (Basics) The A-D of getting a job; developing an action plan and marketing yourself Speaker: David Skyrme
Jan 12	Coping with Redundancy Dealing with the practicalities and coping with relationships and stress Speaker: Sonia Willmot / Patrick O'Neill
Jan 19	Preparing Your CV Different formats of CV and how to develop one that's right for you Speaker: David Skinner
Jan 26	Tell Me About Yourself Hone your response to this most frequently asked question asked by agencies and prospective employers Speaker: Bob Cooke / Nigel Henty
Feb 2	Your Other Choices Think about something different using your transferable skills, such as a career change, a portfolio of jobs or starting your own business Speaker: Patrick Fidgen / David Skyrme
*MARKETING YOURSELF*
Feb 9	Responding to Adverts Where to look, how to read between the lines and prepare your response Speaker: John O'Brien / George Athorn
Feb 16	Mentoring Day Opportunities for individual guidance (1-on-1) during the half-term break (must be pre-booked)
Feb 23	How Recruiters Work How to get the best out of employment agencies, head hunters and HR departments Speaker: Hugh Miller
Mar 2	The Hidden Job Market Over 70% of jobs are not advertised; how to tap into this hidden market through personal networking and making direct approaches to employers Speaker: Roger Hunt / David Skyrme
*TAKING ACTION*
Mar 9	The Written Word How to write effective covering letters, and fill in the blank spaces on application forms. How to get your message across when writing speculative letters to employers. Speaker: David Skinner
Mar 16	The Interview Increase your success rate at interviews through preparation, presentation and coping with those awkward questions Speaker: John Newell / Simon Darnton
Mar 23	Hone Your Phone Technique Learn how to plan your calls and hone your scripts - includes a practical session to help you get past the gatekeepers Speaker: Isabela Kerr / George Athorn
Mar 30	What Employers Look For Learn what it's like from the other side and get some tips on how you can make yourself seem the ideal candidate Speaker: Janet Rutherford / Michelle Lucas
Apr 6 & Apr 13	Mentoring Days Opportunities for individual guidance (1-on-1) during the Easter break (must be pre-booked).
*EXTRA: CV MASTERCLASSES*
Feb 18 Mar 18 Apr 8	CV Masterclass An in-depth look at how to improve your CV and bring out the key points that will put you ahead of other applicants. These sessions run on three specific Thursdays. Speaker: Hugh Miller Important note: Since these sessions do not follow our usual format, we have no facilities for registration and therefore only existing members (who have registered and attended an earlier session) can attend.

Format

Each meeting follows roughly the following format:

1:00 pm - Networking and round-table updates
1:30 pm (approx) - Workshop session. Typically this will be a presentation followed by small group (4-6) discussions, and closing with reporting back, review and discussion
3:00 pm (approx) - Informal networking and 1-to-1 sessions with volunteers

There will be light refreshments available 15 minutes before the meeting and for informal networking at the end of the workshop session.

As well as the speaker, each meeting has a chair person (to facilitate the session) and a host (to introduce new members). Quite often additional volunteers are available for the networking and 1-to-1 sessions from 3.30pm.

Venue

All meetings take place in the council chamber in Newbury Town Hall (at the NE corner of the marketplace). Please use the entrance in Mansion House Street, almost opposite 'Phase Eight' (formerly the location of HSBC bank). Click here for a location map.

This page last updated 11th December 2009

Important Notice - The information and advice given on this website or by our volunteers is given in good faith. No responsibility whatsoever shall attach to Careers Springboard West Berkshire or any person acting on its behalf for any actions taken by any person acting on this information or advice.

©2009 Careers Springboard West Berkshire. All rights reserved
Careers Springboard West Berkshire gratefully acknowledge support from our financial and other supporters
Webmaster: David J Skyrme (david@skyrme.com).