Top 10 Kansas City Businesses

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce announced the small businesses it has named the best small businesses of 2009. Several of these business are hiring and it would be a good bet that a business with this honor is one of the best places to work in Kansas City.

A.L. Huber general contractor; Overland Park, KansasWith a reputation as the area’s premier construction contractor, A.L. Huber general contractor’s projects include corporate offices, financial institutions, warehouses, historical sites, and manufacturing education and alternative fuel facilities.

Athletic & Rehabilitation Center; Overland Park, KansasAthletic & Rehabilitation Center redefines excellence in health care by combining innovative technology with experienced and caring physicians, providing physical and occupational therapy, rehabilitation and sports performance training. Hiring: http://www.arckc.com/employment.htm

Canterbury Schools; Overland Park, Kansas Canterbury Schools focuses on the future through Montessori principles in childcare, pre-school and elementary school education. Canterbury has five locations, offering a curriculum of self-direction and experiential education.

ColorMark, Inc.; Kansas City, Missouri Nineteen years ago, ColorMark, Inc. found a niche in the printing industry. Offering their signature two- and four-color rapid, high quality printing, this company prides itself on its product, precision and superior customer service.

EMR, Inc.; Lawrence, Kansas EMR is an 8(a) Native-American, women-owned company with more than 130 employees in offices across the U.S. An engineering firm headquartered in Kansas , this company specializes in environmental (studies, design, emergency response, investigations, etc) and construction projects. Careers: http://www.emr-inc.com/?q=node/15

HiSonic, Inc.; Olathe, Kansas Established in 1959, HiSonic manufactures transformers, inductors, and filters used in airborne communication, navigation, entertainment equipment, satellites, and even space shuttles.

Kansas City Internal Medicine; Kansas City, MissouriWith a pri mar y office in Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City Internal Medicine provides clients and employees with superb health care services all over Greater Kansas City.

Martin, Leigh, Laws & Fritzlen, P.C.; Kansas City, Missouri Martin, Leigh, Laws & Fritzlen, P.C. provides top-notch legal services and extended insurance services through MoKan Title Services, LLC.

Sound Products, Inc.; Lenexa, Kansas Silence is not golden at Sound Products, Inc. Providing audio, video, and security systems across the metro area, this company is ideal for creating a “vibe,” energizing your workplace or next presentation.

Worldwide Clinical Research, Inc.; Overland Park, Kansas Worldwide Clinical Research, Inc. is a women-owned business that helps to make the world a healthier place by managing clinical research studies for biotech and pharmaceutical clients through their local office and global partnerships. Careers page: http://wwcr-cro.com/index.php?/employment/

On Thursday, May 7 at the Kansas City Downtown Marriott, get the inside story on these successful Top 10 Small Business CEOs at The Chamber’s Top 10 Breakfast. Find out how a down economy is no match for the hardiest of companies. Not only are they surviving, they’re thriving! Hear their business strategies and advice to others trying to build and grow.We’ll culminate the largest celebration recognizing the economic impact of small businesses in our area on Wednesday, May 20 at the 2009 Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency. Our theme: Growing the Future of Greater Kansas City! One of the Top 10 Small Businesses will be named 2009 Small Business of the Year and take home the coveted Mr. K Award, named for famed entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Kauffman.

Changing my mind about networking

After a networking event recently, I received a phone call and an email from an attendee I didn't know who was pushing to sell me something. He hadn't even bothered to take five minutes to introduce himself at the event but he thought just because he had my card and we were at the same event that I would want to do business with him.

For a long time I bought into the common "wisdom" that the best place to network is a room full of people you don't know. If you walked into a room of people you knew, it was assumed that was a dry well for networking.

After being in business for myself for awhile, I've now come to believe this philosophy is part of the business-card collecting syndrome. I've been a victim of this syndrome myself and have piles of cards of people I met at networking events once and remember nothing about them.

But I've come to realize that in any business, people want to deal with someone they trust. So if they are going to refer you for a job, give you business, give you contact information for a high-placed friend, they need to feel comfortable with your abilities, integrity, and character. Maybe that will happen when you first meet, maybe not.

If you show up at a networking event one time, pass out business cards and maybe make a few appointments for coffee, but never show up again, what does that say about you? Your potential leads will wonder if you really are that interested in them or if you're even still in business or on the market. That is, if they think of you at all.

After attending a variety of networking events, I've come to realize that it usually takes attending three or more of each group before I start to make contacts that turn into business or job leads. Perhaps it's because I get more comfortable at the event over time. Perhaps it's because those who show up start to get more comfortable with me as they see me more often. For whatever reason, I've learned not to give up but to keep going.

It's a truism of sales that people are buying you, not your product or service. This goes for those of you looking for jobs as well -- they are hiring you, not your skillset.

Now I go to networking events and concentrate on meeting a couple of people that I can have a long conversation with and ask out for coffee later or follow up with in another way. Their business cards get special attention. I still meet as many people as I can. I organize the rest of the business cards by event and make any notes about any conversation so that the next time I go and see them again I will recognize them. Then maybe I will build relationships with them and develop the trust that will make us happy to do business together.

Informational Federal Career Day in Kansas City

Thanks to Dave Templeman at Riverpoint for this news:

Wednesday, April 29, 2009
11 am to 3 pm
Donnelly College
608 N. 18th Street
Kansas City, KS

Federal Agencies Represented
Bureau of Prisons
Census Bureau
Federal Student Aid
Department of Housing & Urban Development
Department of Labor
Environmental Protection Agency
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Social Security Administration
Veterans Administration

You will be able to talk directly with agency representatives to get information about Federal careers, educational requirements, preferred work experiences, and application procedures. Each agency will provide brochures, flyers, and various informational handouts.

Check out live demonstrations of the computerized application process, and get valuable tips on how to complete a competitive application.

Apr 16 Careers Unlimited Expo to explore training options

Thinking you need to change careers or brush up your skills in your current career? Metropolitan Community College is hosting a Careers Unlimited Expo to help you find out what training you may need.

From the website at http://mcckc.edu/main.asp?G=Activities&pg=2&item=10812#Cal
Date: Thursday , April 16,2009 8:00AM-8:00PM
Contact: Karen Goos
Phone: 816/759-1085
Email: Karen.Goos@mcckc.edu
Careers Unlimited (Business and Technology)
Join us on Thursday, April 16, anytime from 4:30 to 7 PM for an interactive expo where you can see our 80+ career and technical training programs and meet the instructors who will work directly with you. Connect with some of KC's leading employers to find out what education and training they look for in potential employees. We will help you choose a program that's best for you, and work with you to get the funds you need to pay for it. This event is open to the public. No registration or reservations are necessary. For more event info., visit mcckc.edu/careersunlimited, or send an email to Katie.Cone@mcckc.edu or call 816.759.1138.

Putting America Back to Work Job Fair April 14

Putting America Back to Work Job Fair in Kansas City
This appears to be sponsored by employmentguide.com. I can't find any listing of employers who will be participating -- and you know how wary I am of job fairs with no list of businesses. Still, with that caveat, here is the information:

Tuesday April 14th from 10:00 till 3:00 pm at Penn Valley College located 3201 SW Trafficway, KCMO 64111
Event for KC area job seekers
Bring Resumes
Dress Professionally
Meet local companies hiring

http://kansascity.employmentguide.com/jobfairdetails.html?JobfairID=2978

I found different contact information if you want more information:
Employment Guide said:
E-mail Contact: brandas.murphy@employmentguide.com
Contact Phone # (877) 741-9534
Another site gave this info:
Call 816-920-5627 ext 223 seeking additional information.

What is a career coach and do you need one?

In my networking, I've met several professional career coaches but I wasn't really certain what a career coach did. So I asked Susan Ashley of Women's Woods, a professional career and life coach and workshop facilitator to answer some questions. (Susan is a client for my web design business Website Makeovers )

Q. What is career coaching?

A. Career coaching is an interactive process between the client and the coach which explores all work-related issues. The coach is the catalyst and facilitator to move the individual forward in discovering his/ her passion, purpose, values and other critical aspects of their ideal work.

Q. How do I know if I could benefit from career coaching?

A. If you are unhappy with your current position, have been laid off, want to change careers, or feel stuck or lost, then you could benefit from a career coach.

Q. How do I select a career coach?

A. Ask for testamonials, and see if there were some references that they could talk with. Most coaches offer a complimentary session to see if the fit is right for coach and client. They should 'connect' on the first complimentary session.

Q. What questions should I ask when choosing a career coach?

A. The client will ask the potential coach about his or her method of coaching. How does the coach coach? A great coach asks the right questions and also finds out if the client is ready to be coached. A good career coach is not a therapist, consultant, or even a mentor. He or she propels the client forward, remains objective, and is the partner to the client while achieving the results the client wants.

Susan has told me in other conversations that career coaches in the Kansas City area can charge from $30 to $80 per hour, depending on the coach.

April 28 Kansas City Job Fair sponsored by Ferrellgas offers 35+ businesses

You know how picky I am about job fairs because many attract only a few employers and offer only entry level positions. So you can imagine how pleased I am to present this announcement that Ferrellgas has put together a top-flight job fair with an impressive number and quality of employers and businesses -- and sponsorship of a worthy cause.

More than 35 employers have already signed up to participate in the KC Job Fair on April 28, sponsored by Kansas City’s Ferrellgas. In addition to networking opportunities, career assistance services will be available for attendees.

The job fair is free to attendees. All sponsorship proceeds benefit the Women’s Employment Network (WEN), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing women with the skills and confidence to help them achieve economic independence for themselves and their families. (I have volunteered as a tutor at Women's Employment Network and it's a valuable program that has helped many women. Thanks to Ferrellgas for supporting such a worthy cause.)

Details for the KC Job Fair, sponsored by Ferrellgas
· April 28 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
· Marriott Downtown in the Muehlebach Tower; 1301 Wyandotte, Kansas City, MO
· For more information about the KC Job Fair, visit www.usajobtv.com/Ferrellgas_Job_Fair.html.

Participating businesses:

Ferrellgas Allied Global Deer Creek Golf Course Hallmark NAIC Top Resources UPS MegaForce U.S.Army USAJobTV Kelly Services DeVry AdKore

Avila University Data Source Cerner BalancePoint PNC Financial Tri Cor Employment Services Walton Construction AFLAC IEC Bank of Kansas City USA 800 St. Luke's Hospital Mary Kay

Accent Marketing Services, LLC Farm Bureau Financial Services Qualstaff Truman Medical Center Women's Employment Network Lia Sophia Blue Cross Blue Shield of K.C. Kansas City Commercial Realtors Executive Women(KC Crew) Kansas City Recruiter Community

Walgreens Offers Free Clinic Visits for Unemployed

Thanks to Dave Templeman of Crossroads Career Ministry for this tip:

Reuters reports that Walgreens is offering free visits to its in-store clinics to people who lose their jobs on or after March 31, 2009 (and who have already paid for one visit). They also will treat family members without their own insurance.

Read the full article at http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE52U6KY20090331

Non Profit Jobs in Kansas City

Our favorite site for nonprofit jobs, kcphilnet.org, has now become Nonprofit Connect. And you can find nonprofit job postings at their website at http://www.npconnect.org/

The great news is that the job postings page seems to have changed very little. Everything I loved about it is still there including

• Actual salary information! -- Many of the postings here include information on pay that aren't included even with the same job posting on general job boards.
• A real person to contact! -- Many postings contain the name, email, and phone number of someone you can actually talk to about the job.

"I don't see why I need to join Facebook or LinkedIn"

I hear this all the time from jobseekers: "I keep getting invitations to join LinkedIn or Facebook or some other site. I don't see why I should. And aren't they dangerous?" To be blunt, I only get these comments and questions from jobseekers of a certain age -- an age that grew up decades before social networking and isn't comfortable with it.

If you are of a "certain age", then one of your primary concerns is how to get employers to get past any subtle or not-so-subtle age prejudice. When considering an older jobseeker, employers wonder if you can stay current with trends or learn new things or have energy to keep up with the pace in their business. "Of course I can!" you say. I agree -- but your refusal to learn about and participate in social networking is sending the wrong message to employers who know that it's a primary way to build relationships in the modern world.

It's the age of social media. During the Kansas City snowstorm last week, I heard a reporter say "It's nothing to write home about or Twitter or post on your wall (Facebook)." Pretty soon they are going to drop the "write home about."

Of course you want to be smart -- I always say that you shouldn't put anything online you wouldn't want your employer or your grandmother to see (and it's likely they are both online). Everything can be Googled. But there is still plenty you can do. And be honest with yourself, are you really afraid of losing privacy, or just afraid of trying something you don't quite understand? If you have fears, ask those who use Facebook or LinkedIn if they've had problems and how they avoid those problems.

Check out these articles in this blog:

Here are some other articles I wrote about LinkedIn
http://www.betweenjobskc.com/2008/05/social-networking-sites-in-job-search.html
http://www.betweenjobskc.com/2008/07/increasing-your-linkedin-connections.html
http://www.betweenjobskc.com/2008/07/increasing-your-linkedin-connections_23.html

There are also many, many other articles online on using social networking in your job search. The very fact that there is so much information and that you are receiving so many "invites" should tell you that social networking should be integral to your job search toolbox. And that's something to "write home about."