WELCOME TO PROTOTYPE'S SUMMER WORKSHOP SERIES!
Why come to a workshop?
Well, for starters, because we make it fun. But here are a few of the more practical reasons to choose a Prototype Summer Workshop:
-Job search experts as the leaders
-Small groups (6-8 participants) with lively discussions
-Tested material that we know works
-A relaxed atmosphere where you can get your questions answered
A good price
At $95 per session (discounted $10 per class if you enroll in more than one), these classes are an exceptional value. Every workshop includes discussion, personal attention, in-class exercises, and a materials packet with helpful information for home use.
This summer’s offerings
See the list below for more information on each session, then click on our registration page to save your spot.
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JOB SEARCH JUMP START – Basic and Advanced Strategies
1 session: Tue. June 6, 1-3 p.m.
Whether you’ve been searching for a while, or you’re just starting and want to control the process, you need to take action now. In this fast-paced, information-packed session, you’ll learn:
-Ways to target your job search for maximum effectiveness
-Contact strategies to reach employers before jobs are posted
-The importance of a skill- and strengths-based job search: Selling what you can do
-Troubleshooting steps to correct an unproductive job search
-Productive job search scheduling for 1-20 hours per week
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IDENTIFYING SKILLS & STRENGTHS – The Key to Successful Careers and Job Search
3 sessions to choose from:
Wed. June 14, 10 a.m. - noon / Tue. July 18, 1-3 p.m. / Tue. Aug. 15, 10 a.m. - noon
Okay, so you know what you’ve done in past jobs – do you know what you’re actually good at? And how about skills and strengths you’ve developed in your personal pursuits: Which ones can you transfer to the workplace? This workshop is designed to help you:
-Identify your skills and strengths
-Ask others in your life for feedback to help you grow
-Make the connection between your strengths and the job market
-Set goals for building new skills and maintaining current strengths
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MESSAGING YOUR STRENGTHS – Creating Powerful Key Messages to Sell Your Strengths to Employers
3 sessions to choose from:
Wed. June 21, 10 a.m. - noon / Tue. July 25, 1-3 p.m. / Tue. Aug. 22, 10 a.m. - noon
Knowing your strengths is good, but it’s not enough if you don’t get the word out about what you can do. Whether your goal is to find new work or to advance in your current workplace, being able to translate your strengths into the work processes that employers need will be the key to your success. In this session, you’ll learn:
-How to rank your skills and strengths according to an employer’s needs
-Ways to re-message the same strengths for different audiences
-Six different aspects of job search in which strengths need to be communicated
-How to phrase strengths for casual networking conversations
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INTERVIEW STRATEGIES – Making the Most of Every Question You’re Asked
1 session: Thu. June 29, 1-3 p.m.
Do interviews make you nervous? Preparation is the key, but that doesn’t mean memorizing answers to questions you may never be asked. A better strategy is to apply your key strengths and skills to every part of the conversation – in other words, memorize your selling points, not the answers themselves. The trick is figuring out how to craft answers on the fly while not being overly repetitive. In this workshop you will learn:
-Strategies for phone, panel and one-on-one interviews
-5 styles of questions and ways to respond
-How to craft compelling stories for behavioral questions
-How to handle questions that catch you off guard
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NETWORKING STRATEGIES – Beyond the Elevator Pitch
1 Session: Tue. July 11, 1-3 p.m.
When it comes to networking, most of us feel a little lost. Who do you contact? What do you say? Since most open positions are not advertised, the stakes are high. We need our networks to help us succeed. In this session we discuss:
-The role of networking in job search and in careers overall
-What to say (and what not to say) when networking
-4 kinds of networking contacts and how to find them
-Strategies to convert a networking meeting into a job offer
-The role of social media tools, such as LinkedIn
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SALARY NEGOTIATION – Looking at the “Whole Package”
1 session: Wed. Aug. 2, 1-3 p.m.
Where are you on the salary-negotiation scale: Never negotiate? Seldom succeed? Always improve the offer? When it comes to successful negotiations, the secret is knowing what you want and how to shape the discussion. It doesn’t hurt to have a few helpful phrases to use, either. In this workshop you will learn:
-How to time the discussion for optimum leverage
-What else you can negotiate for in addition to salary (more than 40 things!)
-How to integrate your personal and professional goals into your negotiation
-The difference between a hiring range and a position range
-Key phrases to help you past awkward moments
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CONTRACTING & CONSULTING – Weighing the Decision, Getting Started
1 session: Tue. Aug. 8, 1-3 p.m.
Should you skip the job search and start a consulting business instead? Maybe you can just consult during the interim while you nail down a job offer…or maybe it’s time to consider being a contractor instead of an employee. These aren’t easy decisions to make, particularly if you’ve never thought of yourself as the entrepreneurial type. On the other hand, this may be the perfect moment to follow a dream. In this workshop we’ll discuss:
-Types of work which are well suited for contracting or consulting
-The pluses and minuses of the contract/consulting lifestyle
-Tips for setting rates and collecting payment
-10 startup steps and a timeline
-5 ways to get your first client
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MID-CAREER JOB SEARCH – Where Do You Go From Here?
1 session: Wed. Aug. 30, 1-3 p.m.
Job searching at mid-career? You have a lot to think about: What work are you going to do next? Do you want to move up in your field, or follow a different dream? What other factors play a part in your decision-making? In this session we’ll discuss:
-Career planning timelines that encompass the “golden years”
-Issues that impact your decisions: Housing, relocation, partner career path, health
-How much (if any) retraining to invest in
-Packaging and branding: What are you selling? (Hint: It’s not “experience”)
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