Download Is the Professional Different?

Dislocated & Discouraged: What One
WDB is Doing to Support its
Professional Unemployed Workers
2008
The Year Everything Changed
for Charlotte
Why divert limit resources
toward professionals?
• Business Attraction
• High paying jobs supports others
• Needed help
Is the Professional Different?
• High Expectations of service
• Low expectations of government
• They know how government operates
• Highly educated and experienced
Why not just send them to a
JobLink?
• Social services feeling
• Lack of peers
• Lack of services
ProNet was born…
• We needed a new brand
• Services delivered in “familiar” setting
• Relevant programs and services
• Ownership… we needed stockholders!
So what do Professionals Need?
We asked them: We created advisory groups of
users, recruiters/employers and alumni (the recently
employed)
• Market Intelligence
• Branding
• Accountability
• Networking
Market Intelligence
• What are the jobs or industries of the
future?
• When will the economy improve?
• Taking raw economic data and turning it
into market intelligence
Branding
• What “Value” you bring an employer
• Social Media
• The Resume
• The elevator speech
Accountability
The Job Team
• Weekly meetings
• Share leads
• Member accountability
Networking
• How?
• Peer to Peer
• Employers
• Community organizations
Other Services
• Interview workshops
• How to negotiate salary and benefits
• Office space – a place to go!
• Resources for ProNet Alumni
What Makes ProNet Successful?
• Business Community Involvement
• Volunteers
• Use of technology
• Passionate Staff
What’s Next?
• Growing social media and awareness
• Online training
• Innovative new programs
Contact Information
Steve Partridge
Managing Director
Charlotte Regional Economic & Workforce Recovery Initiative
[email protected]