IRS Starts Hiring in Kansas City April 6

I had lunch with a friend of mine who works for the IRS on Friday and she told me that the IRS is having trouble filling many open positions. Unlike other government agencies that have a hiring freeze or even RIFs, the IRS is hiring -- especially for revenue agents.

I received this notice:
IRS to start hiring April 6th - get your profile in their hands now
The IRS budget has been approved and increased. As a result it will be opening hundreds of new positions April 6 and they will be posted on USAJOBS.gov. The IRS advises anyone interested in these new positions to create a MY USAJOBS account now and to build a resume in preparation. To streamline the process the applicants will only need to submit one application per category. Jobs will be available throughout the country. In general the IRS usually requires 30 semester hours of accounting coursework for many of the positions.

I have created an account at USAJOBS and I would advise you to take some time to work on it before you need to apply. It is the government and does take some time.

Kansas City Help With Medical Care

COBRA STIMULUS PACKAGE
The Cobra stimulus package is picking up 65% of COBRA payments for people who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.
To be eligible, annual income cannot exceed $125,000 for a single person and $250,000 for couples.
Subsidies will be available for 9 months. This includes retroactive payment back to September 1, 2008.

JOHNSON COUNTY NACO RX DISCOUNT CARD
The Johnson County NACo Rx discount card program is a benefit that all county residents. The card can be used at almost any pharmacy within the county. The card may provide up to a 20% discount on any prescription that is not covered by insurance. The same card can be used for all family members.
Cards are available at all Johnson County & Olathe Public Libraries, Johnson County Mental Health, Johnson County Public Health, Johnson County Court Services, Johnson County Corrections, Johnson County Human Services & Aging, Johnson County County Manager's Office, Catholic Community Services, Salvation Army and Johnson County Health Partnership.
Julie Marshall, MA Community Social Services Specialist
North Central Multi-Service Center Johnson County Human Services and Aging
12425 W. 87th St. Parkway Lenexa, KS 66215 (913) 715-6656 Julie.Marshall@jocogov.orgMarch 6, 2009

KANSAS CITY'S MEDICINE CABINET
http://www.btllf.org/medicine.html
Families seeking immediate, short-term medical care can get the help they need through Kansas City’s Medicine Cabinet, LLC. – a program of BAPTIST-TRINITY LUTHERAN LEGACY FOUNDATION.
Support of Kansas City’s Medicine Cabinet provides much needed assistance in these main areas:
Dental emergencies: includes dentures
Diabetic supplies
Durable medical goods: includes hearing aids
Prescriptions
Vision Care
Clients must have a pressing need for emergency medical assistance, one time per year. The program does NOT cover Medicare/Medicaid co-pays, emergency room visits, pre-existing medical expenses, routine doctor’s visits and hospitalization.
Who qualifies? Income guideline for each household is 200% of federal poverty level. Example: Single person with income of less than $1733/month. (Coverage mainly applicable to Missouri residents, since Kansas unemployment for single professionals is greater than $1,733/month.)

Free Event March 31 - Women in Career Transition

To register for this FREE Event: call 913 288 7644 or 913 288 7270
Women in Career Transition: Surviving Tough Economic Times
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
8:00 AM—Noon
Performing Arts Center
Kansas City Kansas Community College
7250 State Avenue—Kansas City, KS
Sharon Lockhart
CFP, CDFA, Financial Advisor
Keynote Speaker
Surviving the Financial Uncertainty of Change
Program Schedule
8:00-8:30 Registration & Visit Resource Tables
8:30-845 Welcome
8:45-9:30 Keynote Speaker
9:30-10:30 Panel Presentations and Questions—Making the Career
Change
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-11:45 Panel Presentations and Questions—Conducting a
Successful Career Transition
11:45 Closing Remarks, Evaluation & Door Prizes
This event sponsored by:
United States Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau Region 7
KCKCC Career Center & Community Outreach Counseling Program

Workplace Kansas City Job Fair April 15

Workplace-Kansas City
Job Fair
*Visit with area employers
*Fill out applications
*Free - Open to the Public
This event is sponsored by the Career Center, Kansas City
Kansas Community College
Fore more information, call 913-288-7644
Wednesday,
April 15, 2009
10 AM—2 PM
Field House
Kansas City Kansas
Community College
7250 State—KCK

Learn More about Linked In

Learn more about Linked In at this career transition group meeting:

Career Transition Group Meets March 30th; Discusses LinkedIn & Social Networking Guest Speakers: Chris Gould and Toby Troug
Join us Monday, March 30th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm at the Kauffman Foundation, 4801 Rockhill Road, for our next Career Transition Support Group meeting. Chris Gould and Toby Troug will join us to discuss LinkedIn and Social Networking.

Kansas City Area Job Clubs

List compliments of Community Career Services, Johnson County Community College
To obtain an updated list, go to www.jccc.edu/jobclubs

ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH  Asbury Job Club
Location
5400 W. 75th Street  Prairie Village, Kansas  Room 208
Contacts
Susan Ashley  ashleyad@earthlink.net  913.522.1315
Date/Time
Second Monday evening  7:00 p.m.
MISSION
Support group for people who have lost their job or are anticipating a career change.


Center for Spirit at Work  Career Transitions Group
Location
Kauffman Foundation  4801 Rockhill Road  KCMO  www.centerforspiritatwork.org
Contacts
Patrick Hosty  816.268.1078  info@centerforspiritatwork.org  Cory Unrein
Date/Time
last Monday 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. LAST Monday may fall on the 4th OR 5th week of any given month
MISSION
Supporting persons out of work, underutilized, considering a job transition or seeking a new direction.

Church of the Nativity Catholic Church  Career Transitions Support Group
Location
3800 West 119th Street  Leawood, Kansas  Parish Hall, west side entrance  Adult Education Room, lower level
Contacts
Bill Eckert  Onsite Support Group Leader  wdeckert@gmail.com  913.322.9177 x205
Date/Time
Friday mornings  7:45 a.m.  does not meet the Friday before a holiday
MISSION
Providing informal support and networking to anyone seeking employment.

Church of the Resurrection United Methodist  Employment Transition Support Group
Location
13720 Roe Avenue  Leawood, Kansas  Room 220  East Building  www.cor.org
Contacts
Bob Noelle  913.851.4690  rlnbby@kc.rr.com & Christine Smith  816.694.1778  chsmith8581@yahoo.com & Deanne Sheets  913.491.0421  dsheets@everestkc.net
Date/Time
Third Thursday evening  6:30 – 7:00 p.m. Informal Networking  7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Speaker/Presentation

MISSION
Guest speakers to discuss topics such as interviewing, resume preparation, networking and entrepreneurship.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF RAYTOWN  Job-Links Networking Group
Location
10500 East 350 Hwy.  Raytown, Missouri  Fellowship Hall
Contacts
Glenda Hammond  glenda.hammond@kcpl.com
Date/Time
Second Monday evening  7:00 p.m.
MISSION
Providing support to individuals seeking employment.

Grace UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 
Location
11485 Ridgeview Road Olathe, Kansas
Contacts
Mike Kohler & Quentin Dale  913-393-1646  qbdale@sbcglobal.net
Date/Time
Second and fourth Saturday mornings  8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
MISSION
Providing support to job seekers with each meeting having an educational section and occasional guest speakers.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church  Job Loss Support Group
Location
119th Street/Lowell  Overland Park, Kansas  Conference Room  913.491.8022
Contacts
Steve Robertson  913.381.1285  srobertson17@kc.rr.com
Date/Time
Second and fourth Monday mornings  9:00 a.m.
MISSION
Providing support to individuals who are unemployed.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church  Career Transition Ministry (CTM) Group
Location
13520 West 92nd Street  Lenexa, Kansas  http://www.htlenexa.org/
Contacts
Judy Ambler  913.894.8125  judy.ambler@epcgconsulting.com & Stan Nill  913.895.0605  913.888.2770  snill@htlenexa.org
Date/Time
Second Wednesday  11:30am – 1:30 p.m.  Café @ Father Quigley Center, second floor  9201 Summit
Fourth Thursday evening  6:45 – 9:00 p.m.  Church Social Room
MISSION
Providing an opportunity for networking and hosting guest speakers and employers who have open positions.

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE  Career Investment Groups
Location
12345 College Blvd  Overland Park, Kansas  Community Career Resource Center  Room 229  Carlsen Center
Contacts
Laura Johannesmeyer  Community Career Services  ljohanne@jccc.edu  913.469.3839
Date/Time
Two job club meetings - same mission and format  Tuesdays  12:30 – 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
MISSION
Both groups provide job seekers and career transitioners an environment of support and an opportunity for networking.

Presbyterian Church of Stanley  Job Search Support Group
Location
14895 Antioch Road  Overland Park, Kansas  Church Library  www.stanleypres.org
Contacts
Larry Lee  913.681.8180  contactus@stanleypres.org
Date/Time
Thursdays  10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
MISSION
Provides opportunity to share job search techniques and experiences, as well as support one another during job transition.

Prince of Peace Catholic Church  St. Joseph’s Career Transitions
Location
16000 West 143rd Street  Olathe, Kansas  Parish Center Basement, St. Mark / St. Luke Room
Contacts
Fred Fosnacht  jobs@mycatholicvoice.com  mailto:fosnacht@everestkc.net
Date/Time
Wednesday mornings  7:00 – 8:15 a.m.
MISSION
Provides job search coaching, networking and career transition support in an atmosphere of personal spiritual enrichment.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church  Sacred Heart (Shawnee) Job Clubs
Location
Johnson Drive & Monticello  Shawnee, KS  Church Mtg Rm 2 (or Rm 103)  www.shoj.org/jobclub.htm
Contacts
Maureen Reintjes  913.422.5700 x250  maureen.reintjes@shoj.org & Ralph Clevinger  ralphclevinger@yahoo.com
Date/Time
Onsite: Friday mornings  8:30 – 9:30 a.m.  does not meet Friday before a holiday, after Thanksgiving and on Good Friday
Online: Kansas City Metro Networking Job Club  http://sacredheartjobclub.ning.com.
MISSION
Provides an onsite, as well as an online networking group for all job seekers and facilitators in the KC metro area.

Trinity Lutheran Church · Support Group/Job Club
Location
5601 W 62nd St w Mission, KS (SM Parkway & Nall w Office Conference Room
Contacts
Tony Whitter w tony@tlcms.org w 913.432.5441 and Rachel DeGarmo w racheldegarmo@gmail.com
Date/Time
Monday evenings w 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
MISSION
Support Group for those negatively impacted by the economy


WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE  North Star Job Club
Location
William Jewell College  500 College Hill  Liberty, MO  Gano Assembly  Gano Assembly meeting room  Gano Chapel
Contacts
Cole Wrisinger  816.522.2703  wrisingerw@william.jewell.edu & Debbie Scarfino  scarfinod@wiiliam.jewell.edu
Date/Time
First and third Monday evenings  6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
MISSION
Provides support and opportunity to those in career transition and placement.


WOODS CHAPEL CROSSROADS  Crossroads Career Network
Location
4725 NE Lakewood Way  Lee’s Summit, Missouri  Room 301  www.crossroadscareer.org
Contact
David Templeman  david.templeman@gmail.com  913.220.8326
DATE/TIME
Wednesday evenings  6:30– 7:30 p.m.
MISSION
The WCC Career Ministry assists people with career transitions by through networking, knowledge and faith.

Kansas City Job Opening - Supervisor, Patient Financial Assistance

To apply, go to www.tevaneuroscience.com
The Supervisor, Patient Financial Assistance develops, coordinates, and manages the various programs providing patient financial support, including free product, private co-pay assistance, and assistance for publicly insured patients. This includes supervision of internal staff as well as contract management for third party administrators responsible for various programs. This position reports to the Senior Director, Patient Services and Support.
• Coordinates with Marketing, Sales and Account Management to develop and execute patient product access strategy. • Prepares and manages operating budgets / forecasts and analyzes variances. (Responsible for $40mm+ program budget.) • Manages contracts and activities associated with third party providers of administrative activities for the various programs. • Manages identification, development and performance of Patient Assistance and Medicare staff. • Coordinates with Call Center management staff, particularly the Benefits Investigation and Enrollment Supervisor to coordinate benefit plans and access and processes/ procedures to facilitate Compliance and Adherence during utilization of financial assistance programs. • Coordinates with Accounting / Legal to assess program alternatives and proper reporting. • Models financial impact of various scenarios. • Presents to external audiences (primarily healthcare providers and insurers). Education Required: BA in finance / accounting Experience Required: 5-7 years experience in finance / accounting or equivalent business related experience Experience Preferred: Supervisory experience, process redesign experience, oversight of third party contract performance
Kelly PatersonHR Corporate RecruiterTeva NeurosciencePhone: 816/508-8422Fax: 1-866-550-0615

Kansas Job Openings - Banking Professionals

Banking Professionals Needed
SolomonEdwardsGroup is looking for experience banking professionals who are unemployed and open to travel. We are currently networking with candidates that have 5+ years experience working for a financial institution. Candidates with backgrounds in asset management, banking operations, accounting (in banking), trust management, branch management, or internal audit (or CFE). Ideal candidates will have experience working for the FDIC, DRR, or RTC. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please email me at mivers@ solomonedwards.com or call me at 913-491-2860. These positions are paid hourly and includes paid travel expenses.
Melissa Ivers
Manager - Interim Resources, SolomonEdwardsGroup

Who is the person in your resume?

Bob (not his real name) was looking for a new career as in equipment sales. He'd already had an illustrious career as an airline pilot but was looking for a career that would reduce his time away from home and increase his job security. But his impressive professional resume wasn't getting him in the door.

Then a friend pointed out where he was going wrong. He told Bob "People perceive a pilot as someone who is literally and figuratively 'above it all', someone who doesn't get his hands dirty." The hiring managers who saw his resume didn't see him as someone who could relate to customers of heavy machinery. "That's not you," his friend told him. Bob's resume wasn't giving potential employers a good picture of who he was and what he had to offer.

So Bob did a radical revision of his resume and concentrated on two areas. He broke two resume rules to present a better picture of himself to hiring managers:

• In professional experience, Bob emphasized his experience in home building and rebuilding, a career he had tried after leaving the airline. It hadn't been a successful career but it did let hiring managers know that he knew how to work with equipment and with his hands in manual labor.
• He added a section for related experience to include jobs when he was young and hobbies he'd pursued including working on race cars and with large equipment.

Within two weeks after sending out his new resume, he had two job offers in his new career. And what did the interviews focus on? "All the interviewers wanted to talk about was experience I had just added," Bob said.

Ask someone you trust to look over your resume. Ask them what kind of person do they picture when they read what you have written. How does that person match up with what hiring managers are looking for in your chosen career?

In general, we are told to focus on presenting our best professional accomplishments in our resume and downplaying unsuccessful efforts and leaving out outdated experience and hobbies. But accomplishments that present the wrong picture of us may not be as important to hiring managers as valuable experience even if it didn't result in impressive success or professional recognition.

Make certain that the person in your resume presents what you truly have to offer to the employers in your career path.

March 18 EPA Job Fair in Kansas City

The EPA is hosting a Career Expo Wednesday, March 18, 1PM - 3PM at their offices at
901 N. 5TH ST., KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

They are targeting the following occupations and there are job openings in these occupations:

• Engineer (environmental, civil, nuclear, chemical)
• Life Scientist (biologist, natural science and resource management)
• Physical Scientist (chemist, geologist, physics, hydrologist)
• Environmental Protection Specialist

For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/region7/employment/career_expo_flier2009.pdf

April 2 - Career Development / Job Fair in Kansas City

I've heard from Dave Templeman that First Baptist Church of Raytown will be hosting a Career Development / Job Fair on April 2nd, 2009 from 10:00am – 2:00pm. (Free lunch will be provided).

They already have committments from the following companies: Hallmark, Cerner, Edward Jones, and Foodland.

They are planning workshops, seminars, networking & mentoring opportunities.

Their website is http://www.firstbaptistraytown.com/ministry/joblinks.htm

I don't see info on the website yet but if you contact them you can probably find out more.

March 10 Speed Networking Event

There are too few networking events on the east side of Kansas City, so I was happy to see this one in Lee's Summit at Braata Caribbean restaurant:

Speed Business Networking
Exciting new monthly tradition at Braata; Get together with other professionals and get your business some exposure. This is not a high-pressure referal group! There are no monthly or yearly fees! Together with Writing On the Wall Grafix, we are hosting a night of fast friends, and quick connections! The 2nd Tuesdays Speed Networking Group starts at 6pm! There is no cost to attend, just a one-drink minimum! (soda-pop is OK) Second Tuesday of Every Month!email WoW Grafix to get on the LIST!! (or just show up!)6:00 pmat Braata. Bring your business cards!

For directions to Braata:

http://www.braatals.com/contact.html

Research Before You Relocate

Thinking of moving to another area of the country because you're having a difficult time finding a job in Kansas City or wherever you live? Or are you just curious about other locations, maybe even your current location?

I just heard about a great website that helps you find information about areas you may be considering for relocation.

The site is called Homefair at http://www.homefair.com I'm not considering relocating myself but I found the reports very interesting. Some of the reports you can get for free:
1. Salary calculator by city and job title
2. School report for individual schools in your chosen area including student-teacher ratio, whether there are after-school programs, etc.
3. City report by zip code-- this report was particularly fascinating with demographics (marital status, income, type of jobs), home information (rentals vs. own, average house sale, climate, crime risk, transportation, etc.
4. Cost of living comparison - Also interesting. Just at random, I compared Kansas City to Tuscon and discovered I would have $197 more disposable income in Tuscon. Hmmm....

FedEx Offers Free Resume Printing March 10

On March 10, FedEx Office (Formerly FedEx Kinko's) is offering to print 25 copies of your resume for free.

For more info see http://news.van.fedex.com/freeresumeprinting

Here is the news release:
DALLAS, March 4, 2009—FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s), an operating company of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), today announced plans to offer its printing services in an effort to help job seekers across the nation. The company will host “FedEx Office Free Resume Printing Day” on March 10, 2009, offering to print up to 25 copies of each customer’s resume for free.
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent and the number of unemployed persons increased to 11.6 million in January 2009. With so many people looking to get their printed resumes in the hands of recruiters and hiring managers, FedEx Office is prepared to help.
The company invites customers to take advantage of this one-day event by visiting any of its 1,600+ FedEx Office Print and Ship Centers in the United States during regular business hours. This offer is good for 25 black-and-white resume copies per customer and is only valid for orders placed and picked up in-store. Customers may place orders by submitting their resume in printed format or as a digital file, and the copies will be printed single-sided on resume-quality paper.
“We understand that the economy has affected many people in a very profound way, and we want to help,” said Brian Philips, president and CEO of FedEx Office. “Printing resumes is one small way we can use our resources to help those who need it.”
To find the nearest FedEx Office Print and Ship Center, visit www.fedex.com or call 1-800-Go-FedEx (1-800-463-3339).

Kansas City Job Opening - Security Analyst

Security Analyst
Position Summary
The Security Analyst leads projects and executes tasks in order to implement security policies; evaluates security requirements of new information systems during the design phase and develops recommendations and plans for security; ensures that security systems are integrated effectively with changes in systems, networks and applications software/hardware; develops and maintains a working knowledge of the state of information technology in general and security technology in particular and makes recommendations to management based on that knowledge; develops plans for installation and maintenance of security software and recommends and evaluates security polices-develops and implements procedures necessary to carry out security policies.
Qualifications
Requires a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or any related field and/or at least two years of progressively more responsible information security experience in a medium to large multi-platform environment, including experience with: security software across multiple platforms, authentication and authorization techniques, audit controls and procedures and legal environments of computer security. Also requires at least two years of project management experience, including customer service.
Please apply online at jocogov.org or send resume to tina.zapien@jocogov.org

FastTrac Turning Displaced Workers Into Entrepreneurs

Is your next career move becoming an entrepreneur? Or maybe you see an opportunity to build your resume and bring in income through self-employment while you wait for that regular job?

The Kauffman Foundation is revamping its fantastic FastTrac New Venture program to target displaced workers (that's probably you if you're reading this blog). They are offering a faster FastTrac called Launchpad, and acclerating the sessions from the usual ten weeks. They are targeting areas hit hard by the recession and are including Kansas City, particularly because it's home to the Kauffman Foundation.

I'm a graduate of an accelerated version of the FastTrac New Venture program and I highly recommend it for anyone even considering starting your own business -- including being a consultant. FastTrac takes you through the development of a business plan step by step and you learn a lot about your business concept, entrepreneurship, and yourself. You also make lasting networking relationships with the other proto-entrepreneurs in your group.

And as a bonus you may get to hear me speak about effective website design from my own new venture, www.websitemakeovers.net , since I'm a regular presenter for FastTrac.

Learn more about this great opportunity to explore entrepreneurship

Job Opening in Kansas City - Group Managing Director

Group Managing Director
My client, one of the largest privately owned staffing companies, currently has an opening for a Group Managing Director in their Overland Park, KS office. This is an exciting sales and management position which would provide overall leadership to the branch by focusing on the Company’s targeted anchors for sustainable profitability and market share growth. Specifically, the Managing Director is responsible for selecting and developing internal associates, personally participating in all sales activities, as well as directing sales and staffing activity within the operating unit.
Core fundamental expectations of this position are:
Measures objectives related to market building, new customer prospecting, talent marketing, candidate and client servicing, and team member performance and make changes as needed to ensure that operating unit objectives are met.
Leads regular team meetings to review sales efforts, new prospects, ideal account profiles and increased gross margins. Also utilize the meetings as a forum to communicate client information, discuss team strategy and enhance team rapport as a means to continue branch growth and profitability.
Oversees, and intervenes as necessary, to address talent/customer interests or concerns by actively identifying and resolving potential problems in a timely and cost effective manner.
Maintains and increase the branch’s customer base by completing cold calls, engaging in discovery conversation with hiring managers, and finally by providing long-term value added staffing services to qualified customers.
Ensures that targeted accounts are identified, qualified, and consistently developed.
Coordinates sales activities with Business Development Manager and personally conduct sales visits.
Ensures that departments within targeted customers are contacted at least once per quarter and in-person visits are conducted at least twice per year.
Establishes appropriate networking relationships in order to enhance sales referral opportunities.
Mentors Business Development Manager on the use of consultative selling strategies to capture existing market opportunities and create new market opportunities.
To qualify for this position, two years of staffing experience, including one year of management or supervisory experience. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain business/client relationships within the field through effective communication, persuasion, and negotiation. Working knowledge of business strategy, industry practices, and local market conditions.
This company offers an outstanding rewards & incentives package that not only includes the standard health and welfare benefits of medical, dental, life, disability and comprehensive time-off but also a selection of other incentives to include a 401k plan that with competitive match, tuition reimbursement and a fitness discount program.
At this company, we believe that when you love what you do, it shows. And, when you love whom you work for, you can partner to create a successful relationship that will last a lifetime. My client is an Equal Opportunity Employer and fosters a diversity driven workplace.
Contact:
Eberle Morgan
eberlemorgan@gmail.comoffice: 612-721-1454