EB PEN FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

(We will be adding to and revising this information as time permits.)

(Revised: 2011-03-05)

Becoming a member:

• How do I join?
  • You will need to attend an Orientation and complete the Core Curriculum.  The combination of Orientation and the New Member Workshops provides a good, personalized foundation for an ongoing, supportive, job-seeking relationship and establishes a positive relationship with other members - your initial networking.
• What is in it for me?
  • Once you join EB PEN, you will have access to these resources:
    • Assistance with defining your career:
      • Peer to Peer Coaching
      • Advanced Videotaped Interviewing Workshops
    • Information to locate your next position:
      • Guest speakers
      • Job listings
      • Resource Center
    • Networking and support opportunities:
      • General Meetings
      • Success Teams
• What's in it for you?
  • This is a member-supported volunteer organization. At its most general, we want your enthusiasm, skills and time.  We believe "You get what you give". 
  • More specifically, we require members to attend two General Meetings and an additional four hours of volunteer service a month (That's one hour a week) to be considered "Active" members. This volunteer service is easy and enjoyable. Members become better acquainted as they work together, and they continually contribute to the content and direction of the program.  As you meet and work with other professionals on projects, you'll help ensure the continued success of this program. Plus, you never know who you'll meet. The person sitting next to you in a workshop could be the connection to your dream job.
  • Members who contribute sixteen or more hours a month will be "Supporting" members and cited on this website.

Orientation:

• Where are orientations held?
  • Orientations will be held at 1212 Broadway, Suite 200.
• When are orientations held?
  • Orientations are held every Thursday from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
• What are orientations all about? Why go through orientation?
  • The purpose of Orientation is to explain what EB PEN has to offer you and discover a bit about what you have to offer EB PEN. 

Core Curriculum:

• What are the Core Curriculum Workshops about?

  • Career Transition and Job Search Strategies

    Jump start your job search with proven strategies to help you access the hidden job market. Learn new ways to network and market yourself through informational interviews and direct employer contacts. Once you've reached hiring managers, we'll prepare you to speak to them from a position of strength.

    Shifting careers? Explore your own unique values, skills, interests, and ideal work environment to find a new direction. Learn how to organize and energize your job search with proactive strategies.

    Rejection-Proof Resumes and Cover Letters

    Learn what thousands of recruiters and EU Oakland alumni say works to get you in the door. Create a professional resume tailored for each position. Discover methods for developing powerful accomplishment statements and compelling cover letters. Resolve resume challenges such as age discrimination, career change, and gaps in work history. Get useful feedback from our trainers on how to improve your resume through small-group resume tuneup sessions.

    Interviewing and Salary Negotiation Techniques That Work

    Identify the tactics recruiters and hiring managers use to weed out candidates, including phone screens, behavioral interviews, and salary questions. Through role play and discussion, develop answers to the tough questions that stump you and learn what questions you should ask. Turn your interviews into conversations instead of interrogations. We'll teach you how to determine your worth, what is negotiable, and how to postpone discussing salary until it's beneficial to you. During role play and modeling sessions, you'll develop the skills you need to ask for more without jeopardizing your job prospects.

Services:

• What services does PEN offer to members?
  • There are three main services for our members:
    • Training - workshops in self-marketing, career management and job searching.
    • Support - Professional level job-listings. Member formed support groups called Success Teams for motivation, encouragement and advice. Peer-to-peer coaching. Professional speakers.
    • Networking - members develop professional contacts through PEN meetings, social networking and community events (such as job fairs and resume critiques)
• What services does PEN offer to the community?
  • EB PEN offers advice and resume critiques at job fairs and other venues through Oakland PIC.

Success Teams:

• What do success team members do?
  • Success Team members provide each other with useful referrals and networking contacts. We motivate each other's job search activities. And keep each other accountable on individual action plans.

• What are the guidelines for a successful success team?

   

  • Facilitation - Choose one or more facilitators from among the regular members of your success team.
  • Open Communication - Discuss your needs and expectations with the other success team members.
  • Mutuality - Reciprocate others' attempts to help you in your job search.
  • Confidentiality - Respect the sensitivity of personal issues that are discussed in your Success Team meetings. Cultivate an atmosphere of trust with the other members of your team by respecting others' confidentiality.
  • Time Management - Make a commitment to attend your team meetings. If you're unable to attend, let your facilitator know. Arrive on time so that everyone's needs can be addressed in the allotted time.
  • Team Size - Experience Unlimited, Oakland, recommends that each team have between five and 10 active members.
  • Action and Results - Concentrate most of your time on setting goals, clarifying issues, and providing a safe meeting place where successful networking, referral, and support activities can take place.