Maryland Professional Outplacement Assistance Center

(POAC)

Affinity Group Schedule

Affinity Group Guidelines 

 


Our Affinity Groups are customer led and customer focused and are open to ONLY those customers who have COMPLETED the POAC JumpStart program in the last three years. If you have not attended the POAC JumpStart program, or if you attended JumpStart prior to 2007,
please go to our website:

http://www.dllr.state.md.us/poac

 

and click on Enrollment Procedures.

 

Once you have completed the two day program, you may attend our Affinity Group sessions!

 

For additional information on POAC programs and services, please visit:

 

 http://www.dllr.state.md.us/poac 

If you are interested in participating in any or all of these interactive sessions,  you MUST contact Nancy Fink, in advance, at:

 

nfink@dllr.state.md.us

 
Sessions have been filling up early so please RSVP with your entire name as soon as you can! Once you reply to POAC, you will receive a response with OK in the subject line. This will serve as  your confirmation.  If you do not receive the confirmation email, your attendance is NOT confirmed.     If you do not RSVP to an event, you may be denied entry to that session. It is IMPERATIVE that you arrive on time for sessions.  If you will be late, please notify POAC.

Sessions begin promptly at the announced time. 

 

Being on time is a courtesy to other affinity group participants
and guest speakers.  

 

If you have signed up and cannot attend, please let us know so that we can give your seat to another deserving POAC customer. If you repeatedly sign up but do not show up for sessions, your affinity group privileges may be limited.   

Unless otherwise noted, sessions will be held in the POAC Conference Room at: 

 

POAC
7161 Columbia Gateway Drive Suite D
Columbia, MD  21046
410-290-2630 
http://www.dllr.state.md.us/poac/poacdir.shtml  

Please park in the rear of the building

and use the door marked "POAC Customer Entrance."    

 

 

While you are at an Affinity Group session, we would also ask that you minimize your travels through the rest of the Columbia Workforce Center.

 

 

HUCAP
The Human Capital Affinity Group

 

Since most of us work with human capital (people), the HUCAP group is open to all!  

The topic will be: 

 

 

QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS

 

Review of "200 Questions Job Candidates May Ask" (Rather than be Asked)

 

We'll talk about the questions designed to get you the information you want and share the types of questions you've asked.

  • Questions for Headhunters and Recruiters
  • Questions for HR
  • Questions for Hiring Managers
  • High-Level Probing Questions
  • Questions that are Defensive
  • Questions Designed to Get Feedback
  • Questions Designed to Close the Deal
  • Questions Stars May Ask
    • 

Networking to follow if time allows.

 

 

 

One time date change!

Tuesday, May 31

9:30 - Noon

POAC Conference Room 

 

PETAG   

The POAC Engineering and Technology Group

 

This group is designed for Engineers, IT professionals, Technical Writers and Technical Sales folks and anyone who enjoys technology!

The topic will be:

 

Effectively using TweetMyJobs to get your next Job Opportunity

 

An interactive approach demonstrating the how-to as well as the why-to.

 

 

One time date change! 

Tuesday, May 31
1:30 - 4:00
POAC Conference Room  

  

  .

 

 

 

BRAG

The Beltway Region Affinity Group

 

 

The topic will be:

 

 

Getting in the Door 

 

Developing a target market/employer list.

Techniques for building your network around target employers.

BRAG networking help for your target companies

.

  

Tuesday, May 31   

2:00 - 4:00

Bethesda Green

Located on the second floor of Capital One Bank Branch

4825 Cordell Avenue,

Suite 200

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

 

Transportation options:

Public garage is located on Woodmont (near Battery Lane), Metro accessible via Bethesda station. Bike rack is located in front of building.

       http //www.bethesdagreen.org  

 

 

The Non-Profit/Association Management Affinity Group

The topic will be:

 

Sharing the message of Caring Communities, Inc.,

presented by Mona Freedman, RN

 

The executive director and founder of Caring Communities, Inc., a Maryland nonprofit, is the brainchild of Mona Freedman, a Registered Nurse and parent of twin girls, one of which has a developmental disability.  Her professional career spans over 2 decades, which includes pediatric rehab nursing in specialty hospitals and pediatric homecare.

Founded in 1998, Caring Communities is now a well-known and widely respected service organization offering disability-related activities and events for thousands within the entire disabilities community in MD, DC and Virginia.  Through her experiences as an advocate, active parent leader and professional, Ms. Freedman has worked tirelessly to build her organization, producing the World of Possibilities Disabilities Expos, which have now grown into the largest Expos of its kind in the region.  Her knowledge of the disability nonprofit community is unique and extensive.  

Hear her explain why the organization was created, the community it serves, partnerships formed, her areas of expertise, and about related work within the region.  Ask questions and get insight about how this nonprofit had made its markto enhance quality of life regardless of the nature or severity of the disability.

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, June 3
9:30 - Noon
POAC Conference Room 

 

 

 
Maryland Professional Outplacement Assistance Center (POAC) / 7161 Columbia Gateway Drive / Columbia, Maryland 21046 -2617 / 410-290-2630