June 8 - "Fast Track Your Job Search through Networking" - by Richard Kirby

Most career seekers lack a clearly defined plan of action when it comes to networking. In this discussion we will learn specific strategies you can implement immediately to your job search networking far more effective. Bring questions, horror stories, and success stories to share!

Richard Kirby (www.executive-impact.com) is an Executive Career Coach and entrepreneur, experienced in sales, human resources, and engineering. Since 2002, he has been helping professionals and executives get “better jobs faster” by upgrading their job search skills to meet 21st century market demands. Richard has coached a wide range of job seekers, and his most frequent clients have had successful backgrounds in finance, marketing, sales, and corporate management. He recently published a new book titled Fast Track Your Job Search. Richard and his wife, a psychologist, share offices in Dunwoody.

June 22 - An Insider’s View: How to Get Around HR in Your Job Search - Jim Cichanski

From an insider's viewpoint, Jim Cichanski gives you the information you need to win that new job! Jim shares the view he sees on a daily bases in servicing 150 clients in their HR needs. He points out the mistakes one makes in going after a position. Jim’s presentation can give you ideas on how to win your next job.

Jim Cichanski, is founder and CEO of FLEX HR, Inc. (www.flexhr.com) and has 30+ years experience in human resources, holding senior level positions in companies that were privately held, pre-IPO, foreign owned, joint venture, Fortune 50 and one labeled the “fastest growing Fortune 1000 in America.” He has a solid background in high tech, manufacturing, services and management. Flex HR manages the Head of HR function in an outsourced design for over 100 companies and helps grow value, and reduce risks for clients with an exit or growth strategy. Jim’s experience includes operational HR management knowledge globally in 32 countries, and has merged or transitioned well over 280 companies from 30 to 67,000 employees worldwide. Jim also spent 25 years in the Army National Guard achieving the rank of Colonel, was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame, and received numerous awards including the Legion of Merit.

July 13 - Success Stories From Our Career Ministry Participants - Phil Sidwell, moderator

Hear the success stories of some of our own career ministry participants! You will learn about their career journey, including the most valuable lessons they have learned as they faced career transition. What helped them get them job they wanted? Who helped them along the way? What tips were most valuable? What detours did they experience? How did they grow from the experience? Following the presentations, there will be a panel discussion with the chance for you to ask them the questions that you have. We will also have members of our career ministry team there to answer other questions that you may have.

Serving as moderator for this event is Phil Sidwell, PhD. Phil is a licensed industrial psychologist with more than 30 years of experience, including extensive experience working with family-owned businesses. Phil is also an active member of the Dunwoody UMC Career Ministry team, serving as program chair, and is the program chair for our Career Ministry team. He recently completed a multi-session program at Dunwoody UMC entitled "The How of Happiness - What We Have Learned From the Field of Positive Psychology."

Future Programs (more information to come!)

7/27 - Speed Networking - Marilyn Bloom

8/10 - Resume Review Tips and Workshop - Gary Davis

8/24 - Interview Tips and Workshop - Randy Lucius

The Dunwoody UMC Crossroads Career Ministry meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 PM in the Asbury Room. The Career Ministry will kick off 2010 with renewed vigor and a focus on interactive, experiential learning. The first meeting of the year will be this Tuesday, January 12. Dr. Phil Sidwell will open with an interactive session titled “New Beginnings," which will enable participants to assess and reflect upon the effectiveness of their job search efforts in 2009 and to take a fresh look at how to focus their efforts in 2010. In the second half of the program, Dr. Randy Lucius will help participants build upon these reflections by teaching them a method for “Creating an Individual Career & Job Search Plan for 2010.” Please contact the Career Ministry at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information, to share job opportunities, or to volunteer.

The Dunwoody UMC Career Ministry is growing rapidly and we need help planning and executing our bi-weekly programs and special events. A few hours a month of your time will prove to be a worthwhile and rewarding way for you to serve your church family. Please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get involved!

Ten percent of Georgians—and of our congregation—are unemployed. If you are a hiring manager with available positions, or if you know of openings of any kind, please contact The Dunwoody UMC Crossroads Career Ministry at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We will ensure the information gets to our Career Ministry job seekers.

Welcome to the DUMC Career Ministry website. This page is intended to serve as a resource for those that are:

• out of a job and looking for employment
• currently in a job but want to change jobs/careers
• simply looking for ways to build their career
• hoping to post jobs or find potential employees within the DUMC congregation or the Christian community at large

For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
-Jer 29:11

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.
-Romans 8:28

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
-John 8:28

Crossroads Career Network

Dunwoody UMC has also joined Crossroads Career Network, a Christ-centered job search and career assistance program supported by a team of professionals and volunteers.  Crossroads Career Network offers extensive internet-based resources including a job board where employers can connect with job seekers, dozens of articles, and links to other churches and their events in the Atlanta area and elsewhere.

Crossroads Career Network provides tools for career explorers to help in their job search, including online career tools and assessments, resources for employers, downloadable guides and extensive program materials for career ministry volunteers.  Want to know what the Bible says “if you are between jobs?”  You can find it online at www.crossroadscareer.org!

The Crossroads Career Network resources are available to all DUMC members and offered as an outreach program to community members as well. In order to obtain access to the full resources of Crossroads Career Network, you will need to register (as an “Explorer”) select Dunwoody UMC as your church and provide the Dunwoody UMC access password.  Our password is “cedumc” (all lower case). After providing some brief contact information, you will create your own login (your email address) and personal password.  Contact Dunwoody UMC Career Ministry if you need help.

Online Professional Networking for Dunwoody UMC

Many jobs today are not advertised; according to labor experts, more than 70% of all jobs are found though personal networking.   One recent study found that an individual who is personally referred to an employer has 40 times greater probability of being hired than a candidate who is not referred to the employer!

In a church as large as ours, we interact with many others, but most of us still know only a fraction of our membership.  Think about how many people you pass in the hallways on Sunday but how many names do you know?  And what do they do the rest of the week (Monday thru Fridays)?  Fellow church members offer a tremendous resource for professional networking, benefit those seeking employment, and can be the foundation for new friendships as well.

Online social networks (such as Facebook) are common among younger crowds, but there are also networks such as LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com) that provide professional networking for the rest of us.  LinkedIn is an online network of more than 30 million experienced professionals all over the world representing 150 industries.  In order to allow DUMC members to network online, a new LinkedIn group called “DunwoodyUMC Network” has been established and is open to all DUMC members.   Membership requires approval by a group manager, but any DUMC member will be welcome; DUMC non-members will be approved only if they demonstrate an established relationship to DUMC. 

If you are interested in professional networking with fellow DUMC church members, please join the DunwoodyUMC Network group at LinkedIn.  If you are already a LinkedIn member, search the group directory for “DunwoodyUMC” and join the group.  If you are not a LinkedIn member, go to www.LinkedIn.com and join.