You're Fired-But Let's Stay Friends

Due to the poor economy, businesses from every industry have had no choice but to lay off thousands of employees-many of them with years of valuable work experience and company knowledge. However, BusinessWeek reports that businesses are not ready to end their relationships with former employees-instead, they are trying to maintain contact even after the exit interview.

Human resource officials are encouraging former employees to remain as company "alumni" or "brand ambassadors" with the hope of "bootneranging" or rehiring them once the economy recovers. Many companies are using online tools such as social networks in order to maintain a connection. Similar to net­working sites such as Facebook or Linkedin, alumni can estab­lish a profile, make a friends list, join blogs or message boards, or share news or exchange ideas with other former coworkers. In turn, companies can feature industry news or post job leads. Some networks, such as Microsoft's, even offer free job ads to other companies looking to recruit from Microsoft alums. Other net­works give information on company reunions or other corporate events. Alumni can also find deals on reduced healthcare plans. The number of alumni boards has quickly risen; the software com­pany SelectMinds manages at least 60 networks for corporations such as IBB, Lockheed Martin, and KPMG.

It's not all nostalgia, though. Host companies have found alumni networks to be very informative. They are able to iden­tify hot topics, competitors' companies and products, and new technologies. Most importantly, when business picks up, they know where to find the best "new" recruits.

Cape Area Management Program for Lower Cape Employers

Cape Area Management Program for Lower Cape Employers

Lower Cape Information Session at the Snow Library, 67 Main Street, Orleans, MA

Wednesday, October 28, 4:00 -6:00 pm

Meet with training faculty, our practicum leader and staff from the Cape and Islands Workforce Investment Board and the CDP who will provide information about the course and answer questions.

Cape Area Management Program is a 3 year grant-funded cross sector training program targeting management occupations on the Cape and Islands. Industries such as hospitality, retail, healthcare, real-estate, financial services, human services, public administration, construction and the arts can join the program. Employers agree to pay their employees while they are being trained but there is no additional cost to the employer for this training program.

The training is also being offered in Falmouth beginning on November 4, 2009. This training is available to businesses on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard with desktop delivery to trainees. The classes will be delivered in real time to employee's desktops with chat room interactivity so that participants can ask questions, receive immediate feedback and participate in virtual classroom activities. There are seats available for this training session.

The grant is funded through the Commonwealth Corporation's Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund.

For more information please contact Project Coordinator Joan McDonald

joan@ciwib.org or 508-775-5900

Upcoming Meetings

• YC Executive Committee Meeting: Tuesday October 27th 9:00am WIB Office
• STC Leadership Committee Meeting: Wednesday October 28th 8:30am WIB Office
• WIB Planning Evaluation Committee Meeting: Thursday November 5th 1:30pm WIB Office
• WIB Executive Committee Meeting: Thursday November 12th 8:00am WIB Office
• Youth Council Meeting: Tuesday November 17th 12:00pm WIB Office
• YC Mentoring Committee Meeting: Tuesday November 17th 1:00pm WIB Office