1000 Words: What Is the Drumming Thing All About?

It can be hard to describe to people what the LA Fellows experience is before they've lived it firsthand. Knowing that a picture is worth 1,000 words, here are a few to help you visualize what it's like to be an LA Fellow.

Regular readers of our blog and Twitter account may have noticed all the pictures of people sitting in a circle beating on drums, and wondered, "What does that have to do with helping people to get re-employed?" LA Fellows is an intensive program involving classroom training and 100 hours of real-world project-based volunteerism designed to enhance the job search by kicking it to the next level. It does not put the job search on hold; LA Fellows continue looking for that next job using the skills and experience they get from the training. The drum circle we do each cohort is not just a chance to let loose and have fun, it is an exercise that incorporates many of the concepts touched on in the classroom and presents them in a hands-on way that leads to new insights and confidence.

Participants gain greater insight on:

• leadership
• integrating in and contributing to an established structure
• conflict resolution
• creativity
• effective listening and communication

The Job Training Office at Los Angeles Valley College, and the LA Fellows program, has been lucky to have musician Roberto Gutierrez on staff to lead the circle for all 11 Cohorts. The drum circle is cited by many Fellows as one of the most memorable days of the training.

Learn more about the LA Fellows program at www.lafellows.org.

1000 Words: Questions and Answers

It can be hard to describe to people what the LA Fellows experience is before they've lived it firsthand. Knowing that a picture is worth 1,000 words, here are a few words to try to explain.

It's challenging being a job seeker and having questions that no one can seem to answer, or getting different answers depending on who you ask. The cohort experience gives Fellows a chance to ask questions in a safe, non-judgmental environment where they can learn from both the instructors and the other people in the class.

Learn more about the LA Fellows program at www.lafellows.org.  

1000 Words: Attitude is Everything

It can be hard to describe to people what the LA Fellows experience is before they've lived it firsthand. Knowing that a picture is worth 1,000 words, here are a few to help you visualize what it's like to be an LA Fellow.

If all you know to do as a job seeker is sit at your computer, find leads and submit resumes, it can be a pretty solitary and sometimes depressing undertaking. As one of our instructors reminds the LA Fellows: "No one wants to hire Sad, Tired and Angry - that person probably already works there!" It's important for applicants to project a positive attitude, and to show the hiring manager that they are the kind of person their employees would want to work next to for 40 or more hours a week. LA Fellows gives participants a supportive, team learning environment, with lots of opportunities to laugh and celebrate their individual and collective wins.

Learn more about the LA Fellows program at www.lafellows.org. 

1000 Words: When You Give, You Get

It can be hard to describe to people what the LA Fellows experience is before they've lived it firsthand. Knowing that a picture is worth 1,000 words, here are a few to help you visualize what it's like to be an LA Fellow.

It's not uncommon for people who hear about LA Fellows to think "I need to find a paying job, how can I spend 100 hours of my job search time to volunteer - for free?" The volunteer component of the program actually helps Fellows get back to work faster in several ways:

• The matching process is structured to give Fellows an opportunity to practice the skills they learn in class someplace other than the high-pressure environment of an interview.
• It gives structure to the job search, encourages time management and improves focus.
• Working for a cause they feel passionate about, and making a difference, bolsters confidence.
• It's a chance to learn new skills and exercise established ones to show employers current relevant experience on a resume.
• The Fellows project a community-focused image and expand their networks to include active leaders in their communities.

Here are images from just a few of the 300+ LA fellows who've used their time to make a difference in the community while making a difference in their job search.

Center for Nonprofit Management

My Friends Place

Center for Nonprofit Management

Operation Gratitude

Habitat for Humanity

Operation Gratitude

The Soldiers Project

Learn more about the LA Fellows program at www.lafellows.org. 

Free Workshop: Motivating Your Employees

Orientation Dates for LA Fellows Cohort 12 Announced

1000 Words: Networking, Interviewing, and Resumes - Oh My!

It can be hard to describe to people what the LA Fellows experience is before they've lived it firsthand. Knowing that a picture is worth 1,000 words, here are a few to help you visualize what it's like to be an LA Fellow.

There's an old joke wherein a tourist asks a New Yorker he meets on the street, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" and the New Yorker answers "Practice, practice, practice." The same is true of someone seeking a job. Although everyone would assume they know their own story, it takes practice to present it concisely and clearly in a way targeted to show an employer why they are the best candidate, whether in person at an interview or networking event, or on paper. LA Fellows provides a safe, supportive environment to hone interview skills, learn the art of networking, and craft a resume that a candidate can be proud to present.

Learn more about the LA Fellows program at www.lafellows.org. 

1000 Words: Classroom Instruction

It can be hard to describe to people what the LA Fellows experience is before they've lived it firsthand. Knowing that a picture is worth 1,000 words, here are a few to help you visualize what it's like to be an LA Fellow.

The training in LA Fellows gets participants back into the classroom, many after a long time of being out of school and busy making a career. Our instructors are top-notch, experienced in their fields, and up on the current trends in what gets candidates hired. We even have a hiring manager, currently working for a large local employer, who comes in two days to give the Fellows insight as to what the person on the other side is thinking in a job interview and how to frame their answers to best convey their brand. Classes are taught academy style to keep learning dynamic, and interactive exercises are included to reinforce lessons and create a bonding team experience that supports the cohort model.

Learn more about the LA Fellows program at www.lafellows.org.