4th Tuesday of Each Month

On the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 PM (e.g., January 24, February 28, March 27) the Career Ministry offers Career Coaching by appointment. Started in the summer of 2011, its popularity has made it a standard part of our program.

Pre-registration is required. Registration opens around the first of each month and registration closes at 10:30 AM on each 4th Tuesday. Coaching slots are limited, so sign up early!

Topics covered include: resume assistance, career selection, networking, personal finance, interviewing, social media, or any other topics you request – as long as we have someone who can help! You will be matched to one of our volunteer career coaches based upon your background and area where help is requested. Based upon the number of slots available, you may have one or more coaching appointments that evening.

To register: www.career-coach.eventbrite.com

How to Build a Resume That Gets Attention

Creating a resume that highlights your experience and skills and gets the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter is critical during job search. Every job seeker struggles with the question of “what is the best resume for you to submit for this job.” This program will provide an overview of different types of resumes, length of resume, gaps in work history, companies no longer in business, career changes, and how best to present yourself on paper and get the attention of the hiring manager.

This program will be offered on February 14, 2012 at 7PM in the Wesley Room at Dunwoody UMC and will be led by Barbara Blevens. Barbara is an experienced human resources professional, a member of Dunwoody UMC and has been involved in our Career Ministry Program since 2008.

Barbara is Director of Talent Acquisition with Randstad US and manages the recruiting function for internal hiring. Prior to Randstad, Barbara spent 16 years with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS) in marketing and human resources. Her last role prior to leaving Turner was oversight for the talent acquisition team to identify, select and hire approximately 2000 individuals annually for the company. Upon leaving Turner, she went through the job search process herself, created a consulting practice and provided career counseling and coaching to individuals through an outplacement firm in Atlanta.

Expanding Your Network

Ask any community leader, politician, or small business owner which single skill helps them excel most in their career and a majority will respond with “networking!” Relationships are the catalyst for success in many fields and effective networking provides you with a very effective skill to help you build relationships. To continue to be successful, you must continually connect with new people, cultivate new relationships and leverage your network.

Our program on March 13, 2012 will teach you how to build, expand and cultivate your personal network. While all of our programs are aimed at helping those who are in career transition, this program will help anyone improve their networking skills.

A Complete Career Development Course in Just 2 Weeks!

The process of searching for a job has changed dramatically over the past few years. With high unemployment and increased competition for available jobs, those in career transition must adapt and use updated techniques to be successful. A career search usually involves these steps:

• Assessing career interests and skills to pursue opportunities for which you are well matched
• Building a great resume and cover letter
• Figuring out the best resources for finding jobs
• Networking with those who can help you find your next opportunity
• Learning Effective interviewing

Training to help in career transition should be available when you need it, so our Career Ministry has teamed with 9 Northside Atlanta churches (including Peachtree Presbyterian, Johnson Ferry Baptist, Mount Paran Church of God, Eastside Baptist and others) to offer a monthly Crossroads ‘Crash’ Course. This is a comprehensive program completed in about 2 weeks that takes you through each step of a career transition. It includes an online assessment of your career interests, a personalized resume review, and a mock interview in addition to 20 hours of classroom instruction. This course is highly recommended for anyone considering a transition or starting a job search!

The Crossroads ‘Crash’ Course is offered at various Northside area churches during most months and is hosted at Dunwoody UMC about once a year. If you need this course, you should attend wherever it is offered since these skills are needed early in the job search process! There is a small fee for the class to cover the cost of the online assessment, workbook, printed materials and refreshments. The meeting facilities are provided by the churches and our qualified facilitator team are all volunteers. In the past 2 years (as of January 2012) more than 300 participants have been through this course!

For more information or to register for the next course, visit: www.xroads.eventbrite.com

Nationwide Career Assistance Network and Online Resource

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 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

In a church as large as ours, we interact with many others, but most of us still know only a fraction of our membership. Fellow church members offer a tremendous resource for business and professional networking, which benefits those seeking employment, and can be the foundation for new friendships as well. According to labor experts, more than 70% of all jobs are found though personal networking. One study found that an individual who is personally referred to an employer has 40 times greater probability of being hired than a candidate not referred to the employer!

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.

Nine 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 consider sharing them with other Dunwoody UMC members and our Career Ministry participants.

The best way to do this is to post them on our Dunwoody UMC Network group on LinkedIn (see above for information on how to join this group). You will find a “Jobs” tab which is where position openings should be posted. If you are not on LinkedIn, then please contact the Dunwoody UMC 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.

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!

Please join us for the next women's C3G support and accountability group. Please email JoAnn Akers at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .