Laid Off? Looking for a Career Change?
Now What?

Top Floor Learning will host an important event this summer — you can't afford to miss this if you are laid off, unemployed, underemployed, looking for a first job, interested in career change, or if you want to go to college or return to college.

The opening event will be a panel discussion with local employers, followed by a series of workshops where you will learn essential skills to help with your job search.

Come and find out what you, as a potential employee, need to know:

• Learn what employers are really looking for from you - find out what turns them off as well as on during the interview.
• Learn from the experts how to really improve your chances of landing a good job.
• Soft skills - just as important as hard skills - find out what they are.
• Ask questions and get direct answers from some of our most successful local business owners and human resources professionals
• Learn the steps you need to take if you want to change careers, or return to college

Pre-registration is required, call 413 283 2329 to register. All workshops are held at the Top Floor Learning office, on the 3rd level at the Palmer Public Library

OPENING EVENT: Monday July 20, 2009. 5.30-7.30 pm.

Panel Discussion: Representatives from local businesses will briefly talk about employment opportunities in their own industries, and will take questions from the audience. This is your opportunity to have your burning employment questions answered by the experts.

Panel Members:

• Edward Maxwell, (Sales) President, Eastern States Associates
• Linda Mitchell, (Manufacturing) Vice President of Administration, Sanderson MacLeod
• Priscilla Tassinari, (Building) Office Manager, H & L Tassinari Builders Inc.
• Stacy Gilmour, (Manufacturing) Vice President of Human Resources, Quabbin Wire & Cable
• Peggy Carr, (Banking) Human Resources, North Brookfield Savings Bank
• Ken White, (Higher Education) Dean of Community Services, Holyoke Community College
• Jim Phaneuf, (Insurance) President, Bell & Hudson
• Marianne Halpern, (Precision Manufacturing) President, Halpern Titanium (nationally-certified woman-owned business)
• Bill Lachenmeyer, (Precision Manufacturing) Vice President of Human Resources, Smith & Wesson
• Jan Callahan, (Construction) President, Palmer Paving
• Steven Hicks, (Manufacturing) General Manager, Thorn Industries

WORKSHOPS: Every Tuesday and Thursday,
July 21 to August 20, 2009

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Click here to see the full calendar listings for TFL

7/21/09: 5.30-7.30 p.m. Career Change, How to get started. Ken White, Holyoke Community College. If you are interested in entering college or returning to college, Ken White will walk you through the steps you need to take. He will talk about the growth areas in the economy and how to access them through the college system.

7/23/09: 1 - 3 p.m. Expectations of an Employer. Peggy Carr, North Brookfield Savings Bank. Employers are looking for a certain combination of qualities in potential employees. Find out what they are and how you can maximize your chances of employment.

7/28/09: 1-3 p.m. File Management and Basic Computer Skills. Margaret Boyko, Top Floor Learning. Have you ever wondered where documents go after you hit "Save?" Did you remember to name the document? Do you know how to find documents on your hard drive? The Windows filing system is just like a physical filing cabinet. Once you've unlocked its secrets, you will gain confidence and be more in control of your work, plus you will have a deeper understanding of the Windows environment. You will also learn how to do email attachments - useful for electronically sending your resume to employers.

7/30/09: 1-3 p.m. A Career in Sales. Ed Maxwell, Eastern States Associates. Sales is an exciting career, but what do you need to be successful? Ed will give you the benefit of his wide experience in this field.

8/4/09: 1-3 p.m. Resume and Letter Writing. Jan Callahan, Palmer Paving. A strong resume is your first opportunity to impress an employer. Learn how to create your own resume, cover letter, and thank you letter. Jan will help you with writing etiquette, grammar and layout so that your written job application materials make you stand out from the crowd.

8/6/09: 1-3 p.m. Mock Interviews. Stacy Gilmour, Quabbin Wire & Cable. The hands-on experience is worth a thousand words. Stacy will walk you through the important steps in successfully handling an interview and other entrance requirements. You will learn how to represent yourself and your value as they relate to an employer's needs. The competition for good jobs can be tough - learn how to maximize your potential for being hired.

8/11/09: 1-3 p.m. Developing Your Soft Skills. Linda Mitchell, Sanderson MacLeod and Priscilla Tassinari, Tassinari Builders. Learn from the Human Resource professionals what these elusive yet vital skills are. How you look, communicate, listen, manage your time, and work in a team are all as important as your hard skills. Come and polish yourself.

8/13/09: 1-3 p.m. Take Charge of Your Hard-Earned Money. Marianne Halpern, Halpern Titanium. $1.00 + $1.00 ? $3.00. Check your Facts! This workshop will be geared to the newly employed or anyone trying to improve skills in managing money. Be prepared to take an honest look at your earnings and expenses. Discuss budgeting techniques and ways to reduce expenses. Become more skilled at taking charge of your hard-earned money

8/18/09 Precision machining - a growth area. Bill Lachenmeyer, Smith & Wesson and Steven Hicks, Thorn Industries. Learn the requirements for a career in this exciting and competitive growth industry. Bill is the Vice President of Human Resources at Smith & Wesson, one of the most long-established and respected companies in our region and has a wealth of knowledge to share.

8/20/09: 1-3 p.m. Skills, Strengths and Values. Lee, Hecht, Harrison. A representative from this talent solutions company will teach you how to create a competitive advantage for yourself. Learn how to identify and evaluate your strengths and apply this knowledge to your career search.

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS FREE EVENT: call 413 283 2329