Why Join LA Fellows?

It’s a fair question for people considering applying for LA Fellows to ask: What’s in it for me? If I spend those 140 hours in classes, and that 100 hours at a non-profit organization doing volunteer work, what do I get out of it? It takes away from spending that time actually looking for a job, doesn’t it?

As a graduate of Cohort 7 I can tell you LA Fellows is well worth the time spent.

Prior to starting the program, I was spending hours every day hunched over my laptop scanning for job postings and sending out resumes, with nary an interview to show for it. I assumed it was the economy, the fact that hundreds of resumes are received for every job posted. I went to the Work Source centers and invariably found myself in line next to someone looking sad and defeated who said, as if scripted, “I’ve been out of work for over a year.” I had begun to believe that that was just the reality in 2013. I had begun to believe that I would have to continue on this way until, as if by magic, some soulless employer with a job that paid even less than my previous one, and had nothing to do with my goals in life, called and agreed to let me serve a portion of my existence in their employ.

It seemed pretty bleak.

Through LA Fellows, I found that I was only doing 25% of what I could have been doing to find a job. Yes, the internet is one tool that everyone should use, but it’s not the only tool and certainly not as effective overall as other things one could be doing. The instructors de-mystified things like social media (Did you know you can get a job through Twitter?) and taught me about building my online brand as a job searcher. I learned that networking is not a four-letter word (I used to be so much better at spelling and math – what happened?) and it’s not as intimidating as it sounds, especially if you bring a friend. And I never would have thought to “bother” a stranger by calling/emailing them to ask to tap into their expertise through a short informational interview. All of these things help to make an individual more the known candidate, tap into the hidden job market and cut through the suck effect of the black hole that is the internet job search.

In addition, I got help on my resume. Prior to starting the program, I had gotten lots of free advice on what I should say and how I should format it. But many of the “experts” in person, in print and online, gave conflicting information. No version seemed markedly better than another. In class, Lynnette gave us sensible counsel on what the resume should look like and why. As a group, we got to know what each person’s experience was, what their strengths are, and where they wanted to take their careers; we helped each other translate that for potential hiring managers. I learned to stop advertising what I wasn’t selling, but to instead focus the document to play up the strengths I *did* want to use in my next position. We learned to change bullet-pointed duties to actual accomplishments, even when we took it for granted that we had none.

In LA Fellows, I met and got to know amazing people that I hope I stay in touch with for the rest of my life. Seeing myself through their eyes was a revelation, and a boost to my sometimes-lagging self-esteem. My spirits were raised because we laughed a LOT. When we struggled, or broke down in tears (yes, that’s how close we got), there was always a strong shoulder, Kleenex and help to move forward. Unlike before I joined, I no longer feel alone in this journey; they understand even better than family and friends because they’re right there on the path next to me. I frequently send job leads to my classmates that seem to match what they’re looking for, and they do the same for me. Did I mention we laugh a lot too?

I see the results of working the program, even now so soon after our graduation: Fellows landing jobs, getting more interviews, meeting interesting and influential people, finding the career path they want instead of the one they went down because it was there. I don’t panic when others succeed because I know it will happen for me too, thanks to everything we learned and thanks to the support of the program, the instructors and my fellow Fellows.

One caveat: you have to be willing to say “yes” to the opportunities offered and do the work. It’s a chance to learn (free for you!) a better way to job search. You just have to be open to it, and give it a try. If some part doesn’t work for you, you don’t have to keep using it, but you’ll have that resource if you need it.

So, will we see YOU at the next orientation?

Mary Turner

LA Fellows, Cohort 7

Accountability

I have a box of comic strips I’ve collected over the years that make me laugh. One strip dates back to the last time I was unemployed. The recently laid off hero of the strip is shown typing at his home computer in the first panel looking fresh and professional, thinking “Scan all recent job postings…” That panel is labeled First Week. The second panel is Fifth Week. He has traded the dress shirt for a T-shirt, his face is stubbly and he stares at the newspaper pondering “Which sounds cooler, CIO or COO?” By the third panel, Week Eleven, still stubbly, he’s kicked back on the sofa, in the same rumpled T-shirt, hair looking shaggy, eating potato chips and thinking “Oh, what would Mayberry do without you Andy?” as the TV blares in front of him.

Does this sound familiar?

When we’re punching the proverbial time clock, there’s always someone or something keeping us accountable for staying on task, whether it’s a client calling, another widget coming your way down the conveyor belt, or the reminder that your review is coming up. Too often when we lose our jobs we find ourselves alone at home with no structure, no set schedule and no one to say, “Is that resume ready yet?” or “Did you research your list of target companies today?” It’s easy to succumb to the siren song of that big box in the kitchen  that lights up when you opens its door and hums appreciatively afterwards, or that wicked temptress of the internet known as Hulu (Did you know they have 58 full episodes of Project Runway – FREE?).

Without accountability, it’s easy to get sloppy and waste time as you lose focus on your job search. Being a part of LA Fellows is a great way to get back on track and keep your eyes on what’s going to move your search forward. Having those 3-4 days per week where you have to get dressed in your work attire (most cohorts agree that PJ’s and bunny slippers are not acceptable), be on time and be engaged really helps to put you back in the headspace of being a professional with a mission.

Moving on when those classes are over is easier too. There are classmates who are willing to check in once a week for coffee and an accountability meeting: we’ll practice interview questions, go over updated resumes (we’re still working on out non-profit internships --- brand new bullet points to add!), update each other on progress, and brainstorm on how to get over the snags we may hit along the way. You can reach out to other jobseekers too, whether from other cohorts, job clubs at LAVC or the Work Source centers, or if there was a layoff at your last job you can reach out to former coworkers and help each other through this new adventure of unemployment. As long as you don’t let it devolve into a “woe is me” whine fest or gripe session, and you focus on the goal, accountability sessions are a wonderful tool.

For Cohort 7 there are weekly accountability emails to our caseworkers at EDD, CC’d to Allison and Keri at LA Fellows describing our job search activities and what we’re doing to work the program and move forward. Even if you never join LA Fellows, keeping your caseworker informed can be a great practice. They have resources you may not know of or have access to on your own. If you don’t have a caseworker, make a pact with an unemployed friend to exchange an email at a set time every week. The act of writing it alone helps. Even if you’re not going to ‘fess up to the Mayberry marathon in print, you’ll think about it and be more averse to taking on that guilt the next week.

Mary Turner

LA Fellows Cohort 7

Job Seekers: Find your next job through free training and volunteerism. Become an LA Fellow!

Los Angeles Valley College Job Training is searching for unemployed men and women for the LA Fellows program. The program will provide unemployed individuals with skills training and volunteer opportunities while they seek full-time positions.

LA Fellows participants will be selected through an application and interview process. They will receive nine weeks of training at Los Angeles Valley College covering executive level topics, including, critical thinking, advanced job search skills, and how to generate effective business leads. In return, participants will volunteer their time and talents by sharing their professional expertise through project based roles at local nonprofits.

The LA Fellows participants will acquire new skill sets, encounter countless opportunities to network with professionals, and project a marketable career candidate impression while presenting a community-focused image.

We hope you can join us at one of our informational sessions to learn more about the LA Fellows program and application process, and get your questions answered. Job Seekers only need to attend one informational session.

LA Fellows Informational Sessions

When:            

All sessions begin at 9:00am. Be prepared to stay two hours.

Wednesday, May 8

Wednesday, May 15

Wednesday, May 22

Wednesday, May 29

Wednesday, June 5

Where:           

Los Angeles Valley College

5800 Fulton Avenue

Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096

Monarch Den – located near the cafeteria         

Parking:         

Free parking in available in Lot B at the corner of Oxnard St. and Fulton Ave. Parking tickets will not be issued during the informational sessions.  

An application is available online and you are encouraged to fill it out prior to attending the informational session – but it is not required to attend.

If you know other job seekers who might be interested in the program, please encourage them to attend one of the informational sessions.

For more information about the LA Fellows program, please visit: www.lafellows.org or call 818.947.2941.

Congratulations Cohort 7!

 

Cohort 7 Graduates - Maureen Lestelle's Speech

Maureen Lestelle

Cohorts 7 Friday, March 22, 2013

Los Angeles Valley College

Welcome President Dr. Sue Carleo, LennieCiufo, and members of the Job Training staff, WorkSource Center Counselors, Trainers, former cohorts, non-profit partners and valued guests.

To my Cohorts: I want to thank you for the absolute privilege of representing you today and for the confidence you have placed in me to be your “voice”. I hope I live up to your expectations. I hope I can get through this without blubbering. On the other hand I hope you remember that “Born to be Wild” is my anthem.

There is an old fairy tale/parable/fable in many cultures that is a very similar story. I am most familiar with the version from India – you may be as well. It is called the Blind Men and the Elephant – for our purposes we’ll say the Blind persons and the Elephant. (I am nothing if not politically correct). I have also shortened it somewhat.

So a certain Raja told his servant to gather blind people and show them an elephant as he wanted to hear how they described it.  Once the people were assembled the Raja said, “Here is the Elephant.” “Tell me what you see.” The first person felt its tusks, the second its ears, the third its leg, and so on through its foot, skin, tail, back and even the tuft on the end of its tail. Then the Raja gathered all the people and said,” So, tell me, what sort of thing is an elephant?”

As you can imagine, the answers depended on the body part they touched. One saw a tree because he touched a leg; one saw a rope because he touched the tail, one a wall because of the stomach, one a pipe because of the tusk and so on. They couldn’t agree on what they “saw” because in reality, none of them saw the elephant.

This illustrates that different people have distinctly different perceptions of the same thing. And that people need to develop sensitivity to others’ points of view. They also need to have as much information as possible before coming to a conclusion or forming an opinion.

How does this relate to the cohorts you ask?

 Back at the beginning of January, Keri Luna and Allison Silver choose 22 blind people to become part of Cohort 7.

Each individual saw unemployment or under-employment as part of the elephant. Each person was dealing with their own piece of the elephant – their own angst, their own drama, their own anger, their own isolation, their own financial crisis, their own bewilderment at trying to explain to family members or partners or friends why they couldn’t “just find a job.”

They were so inwardly focused they didn’t realize that right down the block, or around the corner, in the next aisle to the supermarket someone had the same part of the elephant. So through divine intervention or serendipity or through much information or just plain luck – 22 people came together – and “clicked”. Oh, not right away mind you. But It started that first day when we were apprehensive, scared, anxious and defensive (and a little sleep deprived) and Larry made us not only sing but write our own song.

Ahhh! No one knows the power of a common enemy to bring strangers together quickly!

But we stuck it out, and showed up and changed seats and mingled and commiserated-and started to combine our pieces of the elephant so we could have a whole picture. Because without each ‘piece,’ we wouldn’t have had a whole elephant.

So we learned from each other, and supported each other and at times crabbed about each other – but we continued to show up (still sleep deprived by the way). And it got easier to open up and easier to wake up and easier to do our 15^th rendition of our dang resume – but most importantly it became easier to reach out to each other.  And we became empowered and more importantly empowered each other, and supported each other and encouraged each other, and cried with each other. And we had each other’s backs. And we found our voices that we had lost.

And nobody but nobody can teach that if it isn’t there – nobody. But we are lucky. And I hope our luck continues.

… Now we are engaged in a great civil war…… Just wanted to see if you were still paying attention..

I asked my cohorts for input and a few points were made.

1)      Administration support was superb – Allison, Keri, Camille, Helen and all.

2)      Instructors were awesome – Lynnette, Larry, Jim, Maxine, Andrea, Tony, Joan, Doug and Roberto. Made our brains start working again and stretched and tested our skills.

3)      As one of us said, I am a bright, shiny penny able to be more flexible and able to clarify my thoughts better.

4)      To remain positive and support each other after today – DO NOT retreat back into isolation-

Reach out!

5)      Keep the Voice you’ve found in the program! Kick butt and take numbers! ( I cleaned that up) Remember – we need your piece of the elephant to make a whole!

I have another quote from a well-known southern philosopher. It’s one I try to remember all the time. I hope the instructors remember this as well. Her name is Naomi Judd. She has one daughter on Dancing with the Stars and the other possibly running for Senator from Kentucky. Her family puts the fun in dysfunctional but she gave me a gem I try to remember.

“Just because you’re riding in the same car don’t mean you’re taking the same vacation”

Think about it – think about siblings in the same home and people in the same class with the same focus. Back to the elephant, everyone sees things differently.

If Cohort 7 were placed in a reality show called Build a Company from Scratch we would win, hands down. Without a question. We have our own in-house counsel, our own CFO, sales, marketing and product branding department covered, HR department covered, project management team covered, customer service department covered, and if we decided on a non-profit we’d have a complete development department along with an education and outreach program. These positions are all V.P., Director and Manager Positions, all we would need is support staff. That’s how good we are.

We don’t need etiquette lessons or financial advice. Most of us can teach budgeting at the master’s level. We have years of experience among us and an incredibly impressive list of degrees and advanced degrees.  What we do need is the respect for what we were and, more importantly, what we will be again. Because WE WILL BE THERE AGAIN. Make no mistake, we will be again.

Even though we are riding in the same car – all of us are taking those different vacations. 

 I’d like to end with a little story that means a great deal to me. I’m having some envelopes passed by a couple of my cohorts. Inside is the “star” that guides me and, I hope, will be of relevance to some of you.

I wear a silver starfish on my ID lanyard from the USO and also on my charm necklace to constantly remind me  of  my purpose, my reason, my rent for living this life regardless of its trials and tribulations.

 My fellow cohorts think of this as you volunteer at the non-profits you’ve chosen. And my honored guests, think of it every time you meet someone who needs an ear, or a hand or a smile. The difference you make can be immeasurable – and you might even never know it. 

There are many versions but for those of you who are unfamiliar with the starfish story it goes like this:

A rough and terrible storm came up one night and left a sandy beach strewn with hundreds of dead and dying starfish. The next morning, in the bright after storm light, a child walked along the shore stopping every few feet to pick up a starfish and fling it back into the ocean.

An old man out walking his dog watched the child for some time and finally shouted at him.

“Hey there, why are you bothering with that? There are too many starfish on the beach. How can you possibly think you make a difference?”

With that the boy looked down, quietly picked up another starfish and looked at it intently before heaving it out to sea. 

Then, with a solemn look on his face, slowly turned to the old man and said, “It made a difference to that one.”

IT MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THAT ONE.  It’s not that it made a difference to hundreds, or thousands of starfish but it made a difference to that one.

Sometimes in life we’ll be the starfish. I like to think LA Fellows came for some of us right in the nick of time and threw us back into the deep blue – able to breathe once more and ready to try again with renewed hope and purpose.

Sometimes we’ll be the little boy. When we have that opportunity, throw as far as you can – because it will make a difference to that one.

Thank you again for the honor and opportunity to represent you, my fellow Cohorts 7. I hope I’ve used the opportunity well and been able to voice the words you asked me voice for you.

Cohort 7 Graduates - Janet Walters Speech

LA Fellows Graduation Speech: Cohort 7, March 22, 2013

By Janet Walters

How many of you have ever lost your job? It used to be a shameful topic, but being laid off, downsized, and terminated has become the norm in today’s working world. This morning, I’d like to talk about the LA Fellows experience and thank everyone who made LA Fellows Cohort 7 a reality.

Thanks to our trainers, we are leaders and team players who are bright, shiny pennies. We quit trying to be clever and became obvious. As a matter of fact, we boosted our emotional intelligence, learned how to write proposals and SOARS. That is S-O-A-R. Plus, we take our back packs overfilled with our skills, talents, and career tools wherever we go. Let me explain.

Our first trainer, Larry Braman taught us team building skills. On our very first day of class he sang us his rendition of “Baby, You’re a Fellow Now.” Cohort 7, let’s sing the bolded portion of Larry’s song:

Cuz baby you’re a Fellow now

These teachers gonna show you how

To get you where you want-to-go

And we’ll learn from you too-we-know

                                 

Cuz baby you’re a Fellow now

These teachers gonna show you how

To get you where you want-to-go

And we’ll learn from you too-we-know

Boom boom boom

Good things coming to you soon soon soon

You know it’s still inside of you you you

Now you’ve got some work to do

Cuz baby you’re a Fellow now

These teachers gonna show you how

To get you where you want-to-go

And we’ll learn from you too-we-know

Boom boom boom

Good things coming to you soon soon soon.

Then Larry had us team up with each other and made us sing in front of the class—this was our first day of class!

What is the purpose of singing in front of each other? It’s about taking risks, venturing into the unknown and working together as a team—with people you barely know. Operating with this mindset is crucial if you want to work and succeed in today’s job market.

Fast forward to our next trainer, Lynnette Ward. Lynnette, you reminded us that we all have a mental backpack that’s filled with our job experience, skills and talents. You also reminded us to be the bright shiny penny; which means to stand out. One more thing, you don’t mess with Lynnette. Thank you for your tough love and priceless career advice.

Then we met our EQ Creative Expert, Jim Marteney. He revealed that if you want to get work and keep your job, emotional intelligence, EQ is more important than IQ We also discovered our dominant personality traits which in turn made us owls, doves, road runners or eagles

The most energetic trainer award goes to Maxine Shapiro. Maxine, you uncovered two simple AND profound truths: You said, “Quit trying to be clever. And, be obvious.” Maxine taught us how to liberate ourselves and make others look good by using the simple phrase, “Yes AND.” Say “Yes AND,” and you will open the doors of opportunity.

Grant writing expert Andrea Mitchel, you gave us the nuts and bolts of grant, or better said, proposal writing. Andrea, you told us NOT freak out. You taught us that if we used our common sense, conducted thorough research, and set up the Logic Model, we can dive into the world of proposal writing—a useful skillset indeed. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

Roberto Gutierrez, You correlated the ancient are of drumming with the jungle life in the workplace. Through drumming, we learned how to listen, how to lead, how to be a team player, get out of a funk and into a groove. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to let go, explore and discover.

Speaking of drums, the next drum roll goes to Jobs Guru Tony Jaramillo. Tony, thank you for showing us how to make the Internet work for us. We no longer get lost in the virtual black hole. You also showed us how to use Twitter to get the job opportunities hot off the press; so we can be the first 100 to apply. We now know that recruiters don’t have the time to go through and read 500 plus resumes for each job posting.

Keri Luna, thank you for teaching us about Interviewing Techniques by examining the Ecosystem of the Workplace. You are a dynamic presenter. Thank you for always being there to answer our questions and concerns.

Camille Stewart from Cohort 5, thank you for your authenticity and encouragement to us to keep going and not give up. You made it easy for us to get to class early every day.

Allison Silver, you are our foundation. You’ve helped make our LA Fellows journey an enjoyable one. Thank you for guiding us in our job search and incorporating your stories into lessons that we can use in our career paths. You’re story on how you networked your way to becoming an Oscar Meyer Hot Dogger riveted all of us.

I also wanted to point out three outstanding LA Fellows who transformed right before our eyes. They’ve made a tremendous impact in our cohort:

Geni Cobb, Thank you for sharing your honesty, creativity and wholeness. I have no doubt that you will make a difference using your voice in the political realm. You have my vote.

Mary Turner, thank you for your calm intellect. You see things in ways others don’t even consider. We witnessed a quiet, talented person evolve into a confident, dynamic and articulate woman.

Matt Donato, you are a technical genius in the entertainment industry. What we didn’t know is that you have a humorous side. Thank you for sharing your wit and humor. You are a celebrity in your own right.

Cohort 7, thank you for making our LA Fellows experience a positive one. You are all shiny pennies. You freely shared your expertise, guidance and your experience. Because of your contributions, we are experiencing career success victories right now and many more are on the horizon.

We, LA Fellows, Cohort 7 would like to thank Worksource Center Representatives for believing in us and giving us the financial opportunity to receive specialized training in the LA Fellows Program.

We would also like to thank our Non-Profits for providing us hands-on training and work experience that is making us in demand the competitive job market.

Thank you everyone who is involved with LA Fellows. You took us under your wing. Because of you, we transformed from broken, frustrated, and hopeless job seekers to confident, articulate and intelligent professionals who are making a difference in our workplaces, communities, and economy.

LAVC - LA Fellows Program

Become an LA Fellow!

Los Angeles Valley College Job Training is searching for unemployed women and men for the LA Fellows program, Cohort 7. 

The program will provide unemployed individuals with skills training and volunteer opportunities while they seek full-time positions.

LA Fellows participants will be selected through an application and interview process. They will receive nine weeks of training at Los Angeles Valley College covering executive level topics, including, critical thinking, advanced job search skills, and how to generate effective business leads. In return, participants will volunteer their time and talents by sharing their professional expertise through project based roles at local nonprofits.

  

Attend one of the four LA Fellows Informational Sessions:

          

All sessions begin at 9:00am. (Be prepared to stay two hours.)

Thursday, November 29

Wednesday, December 5

Wednesday, December 12

Monday, December 17

Where:           

Los Angeles Valley College

5800 Fulton Avenue

Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096

Monarch Den – located near the cafeteria         

Parking:         

Free parking in available in Lot B at the corner of Oxnard St. and Fulton Ave. Parking tickets will not be issued during the informational sessions.  

An application is available online and you are encouraged to fill it out prior to attending the informational session – but it is not required to attend. For more information on the LA Fellows program, please visit: www.lafellows.org or call 818.947.2941. Training begins January 14, 2013.