Chapters

WMACCA Chapter

Career Development ››

In these challenging economic times, WMACCA is placing even greater emphasis on assisting its members with career development -- whether it's managing an in-transition period, finding that next great job, or improving or broadening your skill set.  In addition to our incomparable continuing education offerings, WMACCA is also providing monthly programming and other services to assist members in having the best possible in-house career and life.

The main facets of our career development services are:

  • Programs:  The Forum regularly presents substantive programs on a variety of career topics. 
  • Monthly Informal In-Transition Meetings:  On the second Friday of every month, the Career Development Forum holds an informal meeting for active job seekers at the Starbucks located at 8381 Leesburg Pike (Pike 7 Plaza in Tysons Corner) (or, sometimes, by teleconference call).  These informal meetings are a great opportunity to talk with others who are actively seeking a new position. 
  • Yahoo! Community Group:  This is an online community/bulletin board through which subscribers receive and can post emails about job opportunities, networking events, career seminars, and other career-related information.  Membership in this group is by invitation only so you should not receive solicitations and other junk email. You will need to create a free Yahoo! account (if you don't already have one) to join the group and you can direct the emails to the email account of your choice. To subscribe, send an email by clicking here (or cut and paste:  WMACCA_Career_Development_Forum-subscribe@yahoogroups.com) and please introduce yourself so you don’t appear to be an interloper trying to gain access to the group for solicitation purposes.

  • LinkedIn:  WMACCA now has a very well-subscribed LinkedIn Group for chapter members on that popular professional networking Web site. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can join our group.  (If you don't have a profile yet, you can create one now - they are free - and then join our group.)  Simply go to http://www.linkedin.com/groupsDirectory and search for WMACCA.  Then click on "Join This Group." We can use this site to host discussions and enhance networking among our members.


Here are some job search tips that we have collected from previous programs:

Take advantage of your membership in WMACCA and the Association of Corporate Counsel:

  • Keep your contact information up to date – you want to continue to get communications from WMACCA and ACC.

  • If you are in-transition, you can continue your membership at no cost for one year (write membership@acc.com).

  • Register and regularly check the In House Jobline at  http://jobline.acc.com/search.cfm for new postings.

  • Review the WMACCA directory updates that are included in our weekly e-newsletter and contact members who have recently transitioned into new positions for their job hunting tips.  Don't hesitate to use your directory to reach out to other members and see what or who they know, or may have heard.

  • Network, network, network……

 

General:

  • Keep your resume up to date, let others critique it.  Develop numerous versions.  If you are sending it in response to a particular opening, make sure it aligns with what the position is seeking.

  • Develop a catchy “elevator speech” (one to two minutes) that explains what you have done and what you are looking for.

  • Structure your days.  Designate times for job-hunting, and times for other activities (to keep you fresh, since job hunting can be draining).

  • Don’t be shy – let all your friends, family and other contacts know you are searching and what you are searching for.

  • Make a list of career websites that you want to check regularly.

  • Be seen – attend CLEs, attend other bar association functions, attend social functions – you never know who you may meet.

  • Pro Bono/Volunteer – people are needed to feed the hungry, clean up schools, counsel people on mortgage problems – it will lift your spirit!

  • Network, network, network……



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