Some of the local Teaneck shuls have decided to build a grass roots networking system that will assist our members in the pursuit of their professional goals. This effort is a direct response to the particularly difficult economic climate, but it will hopefully thrive and become a resource, G-d willing, in better economic times as well.

If you don't have the time, patience or inclination to read this letter, then please complete our online form! If you are reading this on your blackberry, please read this on your desktop/laptop.

WHY YOU SHOULD HELP

For many in our community, the economic downturn has touched uncomfortably close to home. Professionals who have long been gainfully employed now find themselves out of work. While many in our community reach out to support those out of work with sincere offers to help, the most effective way we can assist is via networking.

The overwhelming majority of professional jobs are obtained through networking. A personal introduction by way of a phone call or e-mail sent to a contact, can open doors that no cold call can do. Blindly sending resumes into the black hole of cyberspace is a frustrating game candidates play when they have no better options. But reaching out to the personal contact of a friend or neighbor takes them and their resumes in a whole new direction.

Everyone in our community knows about the game of networking. You may have nothing to do with finance and as such assume that you can be of no help to your neighbor down the block who just lost his job. Yet, if you have friends, colleagues or even relatives in that industry, you can offer a connection.

Spend some time looking in your address book, your client lists, your alumni lists, and think about whom you know. Think about how easy it would be to drop an e-mail or put in a quick call to ask if a friend of yours can be in touch. Your contact may be in a position to offer your unemployed friend advice, insights or connections or simply be a good listener. They also may be able to direct them towards a real job opportunity.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO HELP

In order to provide the framework for effective professional networking that our Shul should be providing for its membership, we are launching Networking@CBY.

Program Leads: Eli Davidoff, Steven Margulies, Malkie Mayer, Josh Rochlin and Yaakov Sheinfeld

Program Structure:

Volunteers: Networking Liaisons; to provide assistance to candidates.

Networker: Forwarding resumes via email to your contacts, and making phone calls to your contacts on behalf of candidates.

Mentor: Mentoring, networking coaching, industry-specific specialization.

Employment Candidates -

You will have the freedom to choose the method of assistance that works for you - low-tech, hi-tech, private contacts or public forum. Please reach out to us by completing the on-line form. The committee will then customize its assistance to your needs through integrating the resources of the CBY Network's database.

Program Description: The program has a few simple components.

Candidates - from the point of view of the candidates, the following two steps will provide maximum results:

Volunteers - from the point of view of volunteers you can choose to help in an intensive or less intensive manner:

Summary -- How Do You Get Involved: