The Dublin Job Club A Network For Unemployed Professionals

Posted by: Krishna De | Posted on: May 18th, 2009 | 10 Comments | Posted in: Career, Coaching, online video, Social media, Social Media Ireland, Social networking

Earlier this year I met Aaron Downes a coach and trainer in the area of peak performance when he attended a workshop I was facilitating.

I recently had the opportunity to attend an event by world renowned leadership expert Robin Sharma hosted by Celtic Guru and Aaron and I had the opportunity to catch up.

He shared with me a project he has been working on for some months – supporting professionals in the Dublin area who have recently been impacted by redundancy. The network meets each week, is free to attend and provides practical help to the attendees from how to prepare for interview through to critiquing each others CV’s.

In my time as an SVP of HR over the years I’ve used outplacement consultancies to help people in career transition. One worrying concern I have though in the current economy is that short cuts are being made – Aaron talked to me about two marketing professionals who had just worked with an outplacement company and both had the same CV. A quick tip from me – never ever hand over the complete development and writing of your resume or CV to anyone without ensuring that it reflects your unique skills, strengths and personal brand. Frankly that outplacement consultancy should be fired themselves for letting this happen!

Aaron shares information about the Dublin Job Club in this video. I hope you will pass the details on to professionals you know who have been impacted with a recent job loss.

And if you are a cafe or restaurant or venue that can provide free of charge a venue and refreshments for the network even just for one of their meetings, I know Aaron would love to hear from you.

If you prefer to listen to the audio either through streaming audio or to download it your computer you can do so here.

Post Script: within just 4 days of my posting this video on just one of of my online networks (not even on my channel at YouTube or hear at the blog), Aaron had received approaches from recruitment companies who are offering assistance, potential joint venture partners and was featured in an online newspaper. I then invited Aaron on stage to share his case study at an event I spoke attended by over 200 businesses leaders last week which generated even more interest in his network. If anyone tells you online video is not relevant to your business, Aaron’s case study may encourage you to think differently.

Aaron didn’t have to hire a videographer, he didn’t record or edit the video, he didn’t send it to his network, he didn’t have to spend a cent. What he did have to have were what I think are the 3C’s for successful online video:

1. a compelling message

2. courage to get in front of a camera

3. and connections to a community of people who would be interested in what he had to say.

What else do you think it needs for an online video to help create visibility and reputation and attract more clients or customers?